With a different profile of visitor and slower pace of development, rental prices in this area are much lower than in Northwest Guanacaste. In the surfing areas like Malpaís and Santa Teresa, visitors can expect to pay about $800 per week for a studio, $1,200 per week for a three-bedroom house on the beach, and $2,500 per week for an ocean-view home with a pool that sleeps six, according to Ruth Offer of Journey Costa Rica.

Montezuma will probably be a little more expensive once it has product to rent. The surf crowd that doesn’t trouble itself much about its sleeping arrangements won’t be staying in the area, so houses in Montezuma will probably be targeted toward the more affluent vacationer.

Tambor will have a market all of its own, once the condotels and other resorts open, and will likely be quite a bit more expensive.