Resorts, Hotels and Turnkey Businesses for Sale in Nicoya, Costa Rica

People searching for a "resort for sale in Nicoya" usually mean one of three things: an operating hospitality business with staff and bookings, a set of rental cabins that can be run remotely, or a property with the zoning and infrastructure to become either. The southern Nicoya Peninsula - Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Mal Pais and Cabuya - has all three on the market right now, and this guide covers what actually matters when you evaluate them.

What "turnkey" really means here

A genuinely turnkey hospitality purchase in Costa Rica includes more than buildings. Look for:

• Business and liquor licenses already issued - transferring an existing license is dramatically faster than applying fresh
• A documented operating history - occupancy through the December-April peak season, review scores on the booking platforms, repeat-guest rates
• Registered water - a well with concession, or an ASADA/AyA connection; hospitality volume needs legal, reliable water
• Staff and management arrangements that survive the sale

An established operation like Jungle Lodge Montezuma - fifteen-plus years of operation, capacity for 40 guests, business and liquor licenses included, a 9.1/10 rating across 400+ reviews - is priced for what it earns, not just what it is made of.

The cabin-compound model

Between a private home and a hotel sits the most flexible format on the peninsula: a compound of independent cabins sharing a pool and grounds. A five-cabin retreat 200 m from the Los Cedros surf break or a multi-home rental property on the Montezuma road can be run as short-term rentals, converted to a retreat business, or held as a family compound - and the surf-and-yoga tourism that fills them runs year-round, not just in peak season.

Seasonality and the revenue calendar

Peak season runs December through April, when occupancy across the Montezuma-Santa Teresa corridor is strongest. The green season (May-November) has been shortening as remote workers and surf travelers spread bookings across the calendar. Underwrite conservatively on peak-season income; treat green-season revenue as upside that good marketing, retreats and events can unlock.

Due diligence specific to hospitality

1. Verify the license transfers with the municipality of Cobano, not just the seller
2. Confirm water legality - a well needs a registered concession; "there is water" is not the same as "the water is legal"
3. Walk the utilities - backup tanks, power reliability and internet speed decide guest reviews here
4. Check the zoning allowance - building-footprint percentages vary; expansion plans need room in the coverage ratio
5. Review the booking history directly on the platforms, not from a spreadsheet

What it costs in 2026

Entry into an operating cabin business currently starts in the high six figures, with established lodges above one million dollars. Commercial lots with utilities in place - a faster path for building your own concept - start far lower: a 922 m2 commercial lot in the heart of Mal Pais with municipal water and power meters already connected represents the build-your-own route.

Where to look

Each town has a different guest profile: Montezuma draws the waterfall-and-bohemia crowd, Santa Teresa the international surf and luxury market, Cabuya quiet nature stays beside the Cabo Blanco reserve, and Mal Pais a balance of surf and seclusion. Match the business model to the town before comparing prices.

Browse all current commercial and hospitality listings, or contact us - we walk every property we list and can tell you which operations actually perform.