The Digital Nomad Visa in Costa Rica has been receiving applications for some time now and we keep getting asked by clients and readers about the process of applying for a stay under this migrant category. Our office was able to secure one of the first approvals for our clients that was approved in September 2022 and we want to share more about the steps we took, how long before it was granted, and the benefits of living in Costa Rica under this class of temporary residence visa. Costa Rica’s Digital Nomad Visa Costa Rica’s digital nomad visa is intended for remote employees, business owners ..read more

Buying electric cars in Costa Rica just got cheaper with the approval last month of the bill that exempts electric vehicles from the general sales tax and the selective consumption tax. Hybrids do not qualify for import tax exemption or other benefits ascribed to electric vehicles in Costa Rica. This most recent bill was stalled in the legislative process for the past two years but has now received final approval. Once the bill is put in action, it will exempt electric vehicles being purchased in Costa Rica from paying taxes on a sliding scale. Fully electric vehicles costing less than US$30 ..read more

Buying hotels in Costa Rica is an up-and-coming real estate market for families looking to move to the tropics who want to continue to earn a living while living in their dream location. Properties in Costa Ballena (Dominical, Uvita, and Ojochal) are a hot destination for high-end hotels because they fill the gap in the market between the community benefits of lower-end hostel-type accommodations and the more sophisticated private rental homes that don’t have the social atmosphere that digital nomads and eco-travelers are looking for today. Both hostels and high-end home rentals are abundant i ..read more

Uvita, Costa Rica is the fastest growing region in Costa Ballena on the country’s South Pacific coast. This is an area that is exceedingly popular with expats from the United States who long to live near Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches and jungle yet still near to stores, restaurants, and other amenities that this commercial hub offers.  Uvita is the town in the Southern Zone where you will find banks, lawyers, accountants, large grocery stores, pharmacies, service centers, and more, without feeling like you are ever in an overly-commercialized area. The town has a unique aesthetic and eve ..read more

As per the latest update to Costa Rica’s tax exoneration law for new residents, here is our newest guide for how to import a vehicle to Costa Rica tax-free. Hint: it is not easy or straightforward! Purchasing a new vehicle in Costa Rica is considered expensive to expats because of the high taxes on vehicles in this country. This begs the question: does it make more sense to import a vehicle into Costa Rica? It turns out that importing a new or used vehicle will cost about the same – if not more – than buying a similar car in Costa Rica. To combat these prohibitive import taxes, in 2021, Costa ..read more

Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity is being heralded around the globe in our current age of growing environmental consciousness. This country’s commitment to the protection and restoration of nature has been recognized through a number of awards given for its role as a green leader, such as the Earthshot Prize in 2021, or as the best Wildlife and Nature Destination in 2019. It is estimated that some 4% of the total world biodiversity can be found in Costa Rica (some have suggested 6%), even though the country represents only 0.1% of the land surface of the planet. Below is a brief geological histo ..read more

Our Osa Tropical Properties Costa Ballena real estate office released our detailed market wrap up for the fourth quarter of 2022 and a recap of the whole of the year last week and this week we want to follow up with our personal views about what is happening in the market.  Anyone living in or visiting Costa Rica in 2022 could see that it was an incredible year for growth in business and real estate in this region. Tourism and vacation rentals were solid all year as people scrambled to get out of their home-based routines and return to travel and adventure. This growth began in 2021 and e ..read more

Welcome to our 2022-2023 annual market recap and quarterly-market report for Costa Ballena real estate for the fourth quarter of 2022 (October to December). Osa Tropical Properties is the only office in the Costa Ballena region that provides a quarterly market report, offering sales totals and statistics that give a fair representation of our local real estate market.  This report is not intended to be a form of financial advice as it is not verified information by any governing body and is the result of our independent research and reporting. Costa Rica real estate does not currently hav ..read more

“Trying to decide….Panama, Nicaragua, or Costa Rica?” When the idea of flying south for the winter turns into “hey… why don’t we move there?,” people will typically compare similar destinations, especially those nearby their first choice. Costa Rica is the number one nation in Central America for tourist visitations, but it is not the top earning destination, which is taken by Panama. And Nicaragua is the quiet underdog that has everyone wondering if it will be the next hot tourism spot because of its raw nature and cheap prices. “Now could be the time to buy in!” Or is it? What is it that has ..read more

We all know that Costa Rica is the great escape that we have all been looking for amidst a tumultuous past few years. People are burnt out and they want to be in a place that is tranquil, friendly, and beautiful. But do we all know where the best areas are to buy in Costa Rica and why? Or how to price a property so that it can sell in a short amount of time?  Osa Tropical Properties is the expert real estate team to list your property because we are the top real estate company that is focused on the region of Costa Ballena. Since 2005, Osa Tropical Properties realtors have helped hundreds ..read more