Costa Ballena Market Update: High-Season Energy Is Back

After a few quieter, rain-soaked months, the rhythm of life in Costa Ballena has shifted. You can hear it in the traffic on the Costanera, see it in the rental cars lined up at the grocery store, and feel it in the energy of buyers walking through properties again.

As predicted, the market has picked up right on schedule. Calendars are filling with showings, listings are going under contract, and people from all over the world are finally arriving for the window of time they’ve been waiting for: that sweet spot between the end of rainy season and the peak holiday rush.

From Green Season Quiet to Busy Showing Schedules

Every year, our region moves through a similar rhythm. September and October are famously quiet months: heavier rains, fewer tourists, and a noticeable pause in real estate activity. Offices focus on paperwork, listings prep, and long-range planning.

Now, as we move into December, that lull is over.

• Agents are booking multiple showings a day.
  
  
• Long-listed homes are suddenly getting fresh attention.
  
  
• New listings are seeing immediate inquiries, with serious buyers arriving on pre-planned “shopping trips” to tour properties in person.
  
  

This isn’t just anecdotal—it fits the broader seasonal pattern of Costa Rica’s tourism and real estate markets, where the high season traditionally runs from mid-December through April and aligns with North American and European winter escapes.

Tourism Momentum Is Fueling Real Estate Demand

Tourism is the heartbeat that drives much of Costa Rica’s economic and real estate activity, and that heartbeat is very strong right now.

Recent data show:

• Costa Rica welcomed 2.66 million air-arrival tourists in 2024, and 2025 is currently tracking about 1.8–3% lower year-to-date — though projections still estimate a final total between 2.7 and 2.9 million visitors once the peak season concludes.
  
  
• Roughly two-thirds (66.2%) of these visitors come from North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico), which matches the profile of many of our real estate buyers.
  
  

Tourism isn’t just “nice to have” for Costa Rica; it’s a structural driver. Estimates show tourism contributes about 8.2% of Costa Rica’s GDP and supports over 21% of the national workforce directly and indirectly.

When visitor numbers rise, you see the ripple effect everywhere: fuller hotels, more restaurant reservations, higher tour bookings—and more serious real estate shoppers in our coastal markets.

Evidence on the Ground: Rental Cars, Traffic, and Busy Businesses

If you live in the South Pacific, you don’t need a chart to tell you high season is arriving—you can see it:

• Rental cars are back in force. Recent travel advice from multiple car rental and travel companies stresses that during Costa Rica’s dry/high season (December–April), rental cars are in very high demand and can even sell out, with prices spiking accordingly.
  
  
• Traffic is heavier. More vehicles on the Costanera, longer waits at key intersections, and busier parking lots at grocery stores and beaches all signal that visitors (and many potential buyers) are here.
  
  
• Hospitality and service businesses are breathing again. After quieter months, hotel and vacation rental occupancy is climbing, restaurants are noticeably fuller, and local tour operators are seeing their calendars populate as we head into the core travel period.
  
  

This is exactly the environment in which real estate activity traditionally ramps up. People don’t just come to the South Pacific to vacation; many are here with a clear intention to explore buying a home, income property, or future relocation base.

Real Estate: A Market That Quietly Reset—and Is Now Moving

Our July 2024 Market Report showed the first clear signs of a market recalibration in Costa Ballena — one that set the stage for exactly the pickup we are experiencing now.

According to the data:

• Inventory had risen across the region, giving buyers more choice and creating a slightly more balanced market after two years of low inventory pressure.
  
  
• Days on market were lengthening, especially for higher-priced homes, indicating more selective, value-driven buyers across all segments.
  
  
• Prices were holding steady, with no dramatic declines — instead showing stabilization after the rapid appreciation of 2021–2023.
  
  
• Sales continued, but at a slower, more deliberate pace, with buyers taking longer to evaluate options and sellers becoming more willing to negotiate.
  
  

What we’re seeing now — the surge in showings, multiple new offers, and a growing number of listings going under contract — is the natural next phase after the mid-year reset reflected in July’s numbers.

The market didn’t cool because of lack of interest; it cooled because buyers were waiting for the right time to return. And that time is now.

What we’re seeing locally now is that this “reset” phase is flowing into a more active, balanced season:

• Serious buyers are back in town, often pre-qualified and ready to move when they find the right fit.
  
  
• Well-priced listings are going under contract, especially those in desirable locations with strong rental or lifestyle appeal.
  
  
• Properties that sat during the wet season are suddenly getting a fresh round of showings as people revisit their shortlists in person.
  
  

Why This Is a Strategic Time to Come Look at Property

For buyers, early high season—right now—is one of the most convenient and strategic times of year to visit:

• Rainy season is largely over. The hillsides are still lush and green, rivers are flowing, and roads are generally more accessible. You see properties in some of their best condition.
  
  
• It’s just before the peak holiday crush. Mid-December through Easter is the most expensive and competitive period for travel, car rentals, and accommodations in Costa Rica.
  Coming in the early wave often means more flexibility in schedules with agents, more availability in hotels and rentals, and occasionally better rates.
  
  
• You can feel the “real” rhythm of the area. Towns are lively but not overwhelmed, so it’s easier to get a sense of what daily life will feel like if you decide to own or relocate here.
  
  

For sellers, this is the moment you’ve likely been waiting for:

• Buyer foot traffic is up.
  
  
• There’s fresh energy in the market.
  
  
• Well-presented, correctly priced properties are much more likely to convert showings into offers in this part of the year.
  
  

The Bottom Line

After a predictable green-season slowdown, Costa Ballena is clearly entering its busy cycle again—exactly as anticipated. The combination of rising international arrivals, high demand for rental cars and accommodations, and a global appetite for Costa Rica’s lifestyle is translating into active showing schedules and more listings going under contract.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines—whether as a potential buyer waiting for the right moment to visit, or as a seller wondering when interest would return—this is a pivotal time to act. The rainy season has passed, the high season energy is here, and the window is open to make smart, well-informed real estate decisions in South Pacific Costa Rica.