Puntarenas, Costa Rica: Pacific Houses and Land for Sale

Puntarenas is both a port city on a narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya and the name of Costa Rica's largest province, which stretches along the Pacific coast from the Nicoya Gulf to the Panama border. Listings tagged Puntarenas may therefore cover beaches, hills and farmland far apart, so check each property's exact location, road access and distance to services.

The Pacific side has a pronounced dry and wet season. Buyers are generally North American and European retirees, remote workers and investors looking at tourism-related property.

Foreigners enjoy the same property rights as citizens, but the coastal strip is different. Land within 200 metres of the high tide line (the maritime zone) is mostly state-owned, with only concessions available beyond the public first 50 metres, and foreigners face restrictions on holding concessions. Always check whether a titled property is outside the zone. Hire an attorney, who will run a title search at the national registry and arrange the transfer, usually costing a few percent in taxes and fees. Annual property tax is low, at about 0.25% of registered value.

See the Costa Rica buying guide and financing guide.

Jaco and Atenas are the closest, with Santa Ana, Escazu and Alajuela in the Central Valley, and Nicoya across the gulf. See the Costa Rica page.