Large hotel resorts that include a gated community on their grounds are becoming increasingly popular in Costa Rica, especially in Guanacaste and in the area around Jacó. The homes in such resorts range from pricey to very expensive. As an example of the latter, we refer you to the Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, the first premier hotel resort in Costa Rica with private homes, some of which have sold for several millions of dollars.

At many resorts, you can choose between different kinds of properties: condominium, moderately sized home, or private estate. Likewise, ownership comes in a number of forms. Many resorts sell fractional ownership, which is the refurbished name for what was once called a timeshare. Or owners can place their property into a rental pool operated by the hotel chain. Under this agreement, the owner of the property receives rental income for part of the year and also gets to enjoy use of the home for the remainder of the year. Finally, of course, the buyer can choose to purchase the house or condominium without placing the property into a rental pool.

The terms and conditions at resort gated-communities can vary greatly from one project to the next, as can the concept for the resort itself and its gated community. You will need to check, for example, whether (and to what degree) you are allowed access to resort facilities such as restaurants, spa, and golf course. In some developments, regulations specify what percentage of your lot you can build on—or even whether you are allowed to hang your washing out to dry in your patio area. (Note also that some gated communities operate completely independently from the resort whose grounds they share. In these cases, the developers are simply trying to leverage the prestige that the resort lends to the surrounding area—and to benefit from the resulting boost in the price of contiguous land.)

Earlier in this chapter we talked about gated communities that are not associated with a resort development, and we pointed out a few features of those that some home buyers might view as undesirable. These include the perception that gated communities project a suburban, sterile atmosphere; concerns about a lack of privacy; and the notion that a home located within a gated community might be perceived as less luxurious than a stand-alone home. In point of fact, there are a number of independent gated communities that share none of these features, and, when it comes to gated communities that operate in conjunction with a resort, that is almost universally the case. These developments are anything but suburban in feel; homes on very large lots are secluded from each other; and everything about the development conveys a sense of luxury. This all comes at a price, of course.

Following on the success of the Four Seasons resort on Peninsula Papagayo, a number of prestigious hoteliers have plans to open up resorts in the area, and several of them will incorporate gated communities. These include Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, the Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Regent International Hotels. These and other companies have all either reached a deal with developers or are or conducting research into possibilities.

A description of several resort/gated communities:

Four Seasons, Peninsula Papagayo (Guanacaste Province)

The first and still most prestigious of its kind, the Four Seasons Resort and gated community is a vast development of 2,300 acres stretching across a prominent, dramatic peninsula that affords stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. This five-star hotel includes the Arnold Palmer golf course (more courses are promised), fine restaurants, bars, and a spa. The resort will also have a 340-slip marina, the first phase of which was scheduled for completion in early 2009. Although just 30 minutes from the Liberia International Airport, this development has an elegant, serene atmosphere that seems light years away from much of the rampant construction growth further south.

The residential community consists of 635 home and low-rise condominium properties—most with ocean views—that are situated on the periphery of the Arnold Palmer golf course. Residential services include concierge services, in-house catering, and home maintenance.

This project has been so successful that land prices in the area have zoomed upward. The success of the project has also attracted the attention of other luxury resort developers, several of whom have plans to also build on the peninsula.

Tamarindo Heights, Tamarindo (Guanacaste Province)

The first phase of this 168-lot upscale gated community was under construction when the research for this book was conducted. Located on sweeping hills just outside the bustling (some would say “bursting”) surf town of Tamarindo, this project is less isolated from the amenities of town life than many other comparable developments, though that does come at a price, as Tamarindo Heights residents—when they leave the grounds of the community—are also subject to the tourist crowds and petty crime that typifies all popular beach spots in the world.

The entire master plan of Tamarindo Heights, says developer Shon Kapeta, was designed according to the principals of feng shui. Kapeta promises an “eco-friendly” approach, in which just 30% of the 125-acre property will be utilized for development. The project will also rely on recycled rainwater to meet some of its water needs. All utilities have been installed underground, and Kapeta employs a work crew to keep project grounds tidy, all of which indicates that he is dedicated to rendering a quality project.

The centerpiece of the project is a 1.5-acre lake fronted by a Bali-style shopping center, the Garden Boutique Plaza, which is already up and running. It has an Automercado supermarket—perhaps Costa Rica’s finest supermarket chain—along with a Scotia Bank, restaurants, and several boutique shops.

Customers who buy lots can either work with the developer’s architect and builder or they choose their own team, although all architectural plans must harmonize with specifications set down by the developer. A five-star boutique hotel, a tennis club, and a beach club will be added during later stages of development.

Hacienda Pinilla, south of Tamarindo (Guanacaste Province)

Having opened its doors in 2001, Hacienda Pinilla is one of the first and best known resort/gated community projects in the country. Even though it has been in business for a number of years, however, many of the lots on this 4,500-acre property have yet to be developed. In part, this is explained by the fact that it opened somewhat ahead of the baby boomer curve, and, as some have speculated, it may have also been the case that the sole owner of the property, HG Patillo, felt no particular sense of urgency about rapidly developing his land. That’s all set to change over the next couple of years, however. A newly revamped marketing team has begun to sell many of the lots, and in 2008 the elite JW Mariott Hotel brand will open a 310-room resort and spa, which will function as a valuable anchor to the gated community project.

The development, which is about an hour’s drive south from the Liberia International Airport (and about 30 minutes from Tamarindo), already has an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, equestrian facilities, restaurants, and several boutique hotels. Surfing, fishing, and scuba diving are other activities that residents can enjoy.

The green grass on the golf course, which is irrigated with recycled water, contrasts sharply with the arid landscape that is typical of most of Guanacaste Province. The development backs onto six beaches, or three miles of coastline. By law, all beaches in Costa Rica are public beaches, but the coastline bordering Pinilla is pretty much inaccessible to anyone other than residents of the development, as estuaries form a natural barrier that prevents beach strollers from outside the property gaining access. After driving through the main entrance, you need a good 10 minutes to reach the main phases of development. The flat and undulating land (once used for cattle grazing), the distances between homes, and the arid heat, all this combines to give an abiding impression of remoteness and serenity.

Modern colonial-style architecture is the dominant theme at Hacienda Pinilla, where most homes are owned by North Americans. The majority of homeowners are not year-round residents; they spend vacation time here and rely on the development’s property management company to rent out their property when they’re away.

 Ramada Resort and Condominiums, Jacó Beach (Puntarenas)

A mere two-plus hour drive from San Jose, Jacó Beach probably gets more visitors than any other beach town in the country. This Ramada Resort and Condominiums project—one of several underway in the area—is radically different from, say, the developments in the Guanacaste area that we just talked about. For one, it is aimed at the middle-income economic bracket instead of the luxury market. Condominiums are on offer instead of stand-alone homes, and the entire project—even though it’s located in a fairly small town—will have a decidedly urban feel to it. The gated community consists of seven condominium towers that will hold a total of 276 units. Each of the towers will have two penthouse condominiums on the top floor. Completion of the first two towers is slated for March, 2008.

Condominium owners can affiliate themselves with the RCI Global Vacation Network, a rental management service that also offers a points exchange program, in which condominium owners can exchange twelve weeks yearly use of their condominium for stays in more than 3,800 resorts in more than 100 countries.

The Ramada Resort Hotel—scheduled for completion is December 2008—will offer Internet access, concierge service, tour desk, full bar service, 24-hour restaurant, business center, and a spa and fitness center.