Wonderful Costa Ballena: An Expat’s and Property Investor’s Paradise!

WELCOME TO COSTA BALLENA

The Costa Ballena (Whale Coast) region has exploded in popularity over the past couple of years – with the towns of Dominical, Uvita and Ojochal becoming the stars of our local area. And is anyone surprised? After all, Costa Ballena is where civilization, jungle wilds, stunning beaches, cascading rivers and waterfalls, culinary delights, eco & adrenaline activities, and lively expat communities all come together to create a perfect little paradise! Let’s take a look at all the reasons for the red-hot popularity of our special place.

Costa Ballena is considered to extend, roughly, from just north of Dominical, down to Uvita, through the Ojochal area and on to its southern terminus at the Sierpe Wetlands and the Terraba River delta. It roughly corresponds to the Bahia Ballena district of Puntarenas province.

The Bahia Ballena district which roughly corresponds to Costa Ballena - although Costa Ballena extends a bit north of Dominical and a bit south of Ojochal. c/o google maps. — The Bahia Ballena district which roughly corresponds to Costa Ballena – although Costa Ballena extends a bit north of Dominical and a bit south of Ojochal. So, roughly, Costa Ballena would cover all of the coastline in this map. c/o google maps.

Table of Contents

1. Natural Beauty and Climate

The towns of Costa Ballena are surrounded by towering and jungle-clad coastal mountains to the east and warm & inviting waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Lush rainforests teeming with famous animals like sloths, toucans, macaws, and monkeys are always within an arm’s reach. The beaches are clean and pristine, many featuring sparkling dark sand flanked by coconut groves and towering cliffs descending into the surf.

As for the weather – the dry season lasts from December to April, while the green season fills the rest of the year. We love Costa Ballena every month of the year, as each season brings out something very unique to our area. The green season amazes with towering waterfalls & misty mountains, and refreshes with cooler weather (‘cooler’ by Costa Rican standards – it is still very warm!) – while the dry season sunshine and starry nights delight many tourists who flock to our area. We still get some rain during the dry season, and many green season days or entire weeks are sunny and clear.

Pavon waterfall during the green season.

cave water — The thundering sea-caves of Playa Ventanas.

2. Expat-Friendly Community

Friendly expats and visitors are around every corner – whether organizing community fundraisers, beach clean-ups, social & sporting events, karaoke nights, community group meetings, pickleball tournaments or fun outings there is always something going on and the seasoned residents of Costa Ballena are always eager to welcome all newcomers. Numerous Facebook and WhatsApp groups, social clubs, and planned outings connect the residents and communities ensuring a vibrant and engaging lifestyle for all.

Beach clean-ups take place every weekend.

3. Affordable Property Prices

Our area, while experiencing unheard-of popularity, is still somewhat ‘undiscovered’. As the interest moves south from Guanacaste, Jaco and Quepos, newcomers and investors are falling in love with our unspoiled, lush and tropical surroundings – with a Monsoon climate our jungles are much greener than the Savannah dry forests that spring up just to the north of Costa Ballena and cover popular areas like Guanacaste. The air and the vibe are much more ‘Costa Rica’ in Costa Ballena!

But…the property prices here are still miles below those just to the north such as Manuel Antonio, Jaco or Tamarindo. All the while we have SO MUCH MORE to offer – our mountains are higher and much more spectacular, our jungles are lusher and greener, our beaches are unspoiled and clean, our animals are wilder and more plentiful, and we have the energy of a newly-discovered gem. On offer are large ocean-view villas, secluded mountain & jungle hide-aways, compact retirement-type communities, commercial land & properties with untold potentials, lots and land ready for immediate development, riverside retreats, sprawling haciendas, and everything in between!

4. Tranquil Lifestyle

While there is no shortage of fun activities and friendly neighbors, every Costa Ballena resident will acknowledge the peace, quiet & serenity that permeate our area. The mountains, jungles, rivers, waterfalls, beaches and mangroves create an ever-present natural backdrop while the plentiful wildlife is a constant reminder that you are surrounded by the flows of nature. The green season thunder, dry season cicada chorus, the sounds of the monkeys and birds of the jungle, the roar of the Pacific waves and the burble of the countless rivers & creeks are the sounds of Costa Ballena.

A typical work commune may involve helping a Sloth cross the road!

5. Culinary Delights

With so many diverse cultures being represented in such a compact area there are very tasty benefits – the French, Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Fusion, Chinese, American-styled, local Costa Rican eateries and many other restaurants sit within a short drive in every direction! Costa Ballena is known as the culinary capital of Costa Rica, and it is not hard to see why. From roadside ceviche stands to open-aired restaurants, burger & wing shops, themed establishments and fancy & posh hilltop eateries, you will be spoiled for choice!

The culinary options of Costa Ballena are endless.

From roadside ceviche stands to elaborate fusion creations, you will be spoiled by choice!

6. Proximity to National Parks and Eco-Tourism

The world-famous Corcovado National Park is a bit outside Costa Ballena, but its rainforests and hills are visible in the distance – National Geographic called this gem the ‘most intense place in the world in terms of biodiversity’. Uvita’s Marino Ballena National Park features the spectacular ‘Whale’s Tail’ sand and rock formation as well as some of the most photographed beaches in Costa Rica – in addition to world-class whale watching, sport fishing, surfing and other fun activities. The Terraba-Sierpe Wetland is a maze of mangrove-lined passageways and a favorite spot for wildlife and bird-watching – there are plenty of small operators who conduct daily tours int the thicks of the wetlands. Manuel Antonio National Park, to the north of Costa Ballena, is one of the top eco-tourism destinations of Costa Rica, featuring some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, a concentration of native wildlife, breathtaking jungle trails and endless accommodation and dining options. And let’s not forget Caño Island – this biological reserve, visible from our shores, is a world-famous whale-watching and scuba diving Mecca. It is readily accessible from Uvita where numerous boat operators offer a variety of daily trip options.

Whale watching tours departing from Marino Ballena National Park rarely disappoint!

7. So Much To Do!

Costa Ballena’s activity options are endless: tubing, hiking, deep-sea fishing, ATV-ing, horseback trekking, ziplining, bird & whale watching, team yoga sessions, whitewater rafting, mangrove touring, surfing, Envision music festival vibes, and so much more! You will never be bored in Costa Ballena!

The town of Uvita and, especially, Dominical are world-famous for some of the best surfing breaks in the world. Dominical has transformed itself from a sleepy beach town into a thriving family destination, its multitude of surf schools providing lessons to the youngest of children while the pros tackle the famous breaks in the near distance. Its buzzing beach market is a destination in itself!

A morning scene just to the north of Dominical.

8. Investment Potential

Costa Ballena has grown up – since the road between Quepos and Dominical was first paved around 2010 the interest in the area has only been increasing. It took a while for word to spread but right now Costa Ballena is one of the hottest destinations for tourists, expats, and property investors. People looking for a more ‘natural’ side of Costa Costa will not find a better place – surrounded by towering mountains and pristine beaches, national parks and protected natural areas, and plentiful wildlife that Costa Rica is famous for, Costa Ballena also provides all the services and amenities of modern civilization. It is not often that you can find the ‘best of both worlds’ in a true sense – but you can definitely find that in our area and people are taking notice! In addition, Costa Rica’s laws are very friendly towards foreign home & land buyers, as well as property investors.

There is no better location in Costa Rica - where residential and commercial development options exist in such a close proximity to countless natural wonders and tourist attractions. Pictures is Uvita, with her beaches and activities to th eleft and restaurants to the right. c/o google maps. — There is no better location in Costa Rica – where residential and commercial development options exist in such a close proximity to countless natural wonders and tourist attractions. Pictured is Uvita, with her beaches and activities to the left and restaurants to the right. c/o google maps.

One additional Trump Card is the potential construction of Costa Rica’s third international airport, right on our doorstep – this would cut the trip time from airport to Costa Ballena from 4-6 hours to mere 30 MINUTES! See the section below for more information.

9. Did Someone Say NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT near Costa Ballena?

Costa Rica has two main international airports – in San Jose (Central Valley) and in Liberia (Guanacaste). Both of these airports are located in the northern parts of the country and this is one of the main reasons for why our area has remained so quiet for so long – people simply liked to invest and stay near the major airports to avoid travel time. BUT that is quickly changing as the amazing Costa Ballena is exploding in popularity due to the uniqueness and beauty of our land, many visitors and expats no longer see the distance as a hurdle and happily drive here from San Jose or Liberia. BUT it is still a multi-hour trip along a winding coastal highway.

Currently, the small domestic airport in Quepos is the main air gateway to Costa Ballena. It is about a half hour's drive from Dominical. — Currently, the small domestic airport in Quepos is the main air gateway to Costa Ballena. It is about a half hour’s drive from Dominical.

So imagine what will happen if the 3rd international airport opens within shouting distance of Ojochal – suddenly Costa Ballena will become so much more accessible to the world. Currently, archeological studies are being conducted on the proposed airport grounds so while nothing is yet confirmed, these preparations are moving full steam ahead. Costa Rica’s president, Rodrigo Chaves, has indicated it is his goal for the country to construct this third airport to aid in the socio-economic development of the South Pacific region of Costa Rica, and this includes Costa Ballena. The airport is projected to handle aircraft with up to 200 passengers which means jet flights on Boeing 737 / Airbus 320 family aircraft from across Canada, United States, Caribbean, Central America and large swaths of South America.

9. All the Animals Costa Rica is Famous For

Macaws. Toucans. Sloths. Whales. Sea Turtles. Jaguars. Blue Morpho Butterflies. I could go on and on about all the famous animals that can be seen in and around Costa Ballena. Because the jungles and primeval cloud forests of the coastal ranges are as close as the Pacific surf, all types of tropical and marine animals are always around – all you have to do is look up, look down or head to the beach!

Six types of Toucans you can see in and around Costa Ballena.

Our sloths are EVERYWHERE - but they can be very hard to spot! — Our sloths are EVERYWHERE – but they can be very hard to spot!

Baby sea turtles awaiting release at Playa Hermosa.

SEE YOU IN COSTA BALLENA!

RE/MAX WE SELL PARADISE has been serving the Costa Ballena area for over 13 years – our team includes local Costa Rican property experts as well as real estate professionals from California, Canada, and Europe. We are exactly where a global brand with a global reputation meets extensive local knowledge and experience – contact us TODAY to let your Costa Rican dream take flight! And in the meantime, feel free to browse our hundreds of local property listings.