Junquillal, Marbella, Ostional, San Juanillo
Guanacaste’s Last Untouched Coastline
Stretching along Guanacaste’s quieter northern reaches, Junquillal, Marbella, San Juanillo, and Ostional offer distinct flavors of unspoiled coastal living — from protected turtle nesting beaches to rustic surf villages still largely undiscovered by mass tourism.
Overview
What to Expect
A remote, wildlife-rich stretch of coastline where wide, uncrowded beaches, dry tropical forest, and mangroves take precedence over large-scale development, appealing to buyers seeking authenticity over polish.
Your Neighbours
A mix of local Ticos, longtime expats, surfers, conservationists, and forward-thinking developers drawn to the privacy and natural beauty this part of Guanacaste still offers.
The Lifestyle
A slow, nature-first rhythm — beach walks, tide pools, birdwatching, world-class surf, and, in Ostional’s case, witnessing one of the planet’s great wildlife events unfold just steps from home.
Unexpected Appeal
All beaches carry meaningful conservation status — Junquillal and Ostional are protected sea turtle nesting grounds, and Marbella’s proximity to nature reserves keeps its surrounding flora and fauna similarly protected — ensuring the raw character that draws buyers here is legally safeguarded for the long term.
The Real Estate Market
A genuinely emerging market spanning beachfront condos and villas in Junquillal, ocean-view homesites and eco-luxury estates in Marbella, and everything from finished homes to working farms, fincas, and raw development parcels in San Juanillo and Ostional — offering strong long-term value for buyers willing to look beyond Guanacaste’s more established towns.
You’ll Fall in Love With
Beaches with barely a footprint in the sand, dramatic cliff lines, howler monkeys in the mangroves, and — in Ostional — the extraordinary sight of hundreds of thousands of turtles nesting at once.
Attributes
Unspoiled beaches, sea turtle conservation, world class surf, privacy, rustic charm, eco-luxury, off-grid living, farms and fincas, emerging investment opportunity.
Junquillal, Marbella, and Ostional form one of Guanacaste’s last genuinely undeveloped coastal stretches — three neighbouring communities united by wide, wild beaches, deep conservation roots, and a pace of life still set by the tides rather than the calendar.
Junquillal
Junquillal’s nearly three-kilometer beach is framed by mangroves and dry tropical forest, with a crescent shape and tide pools ideal for long walks and quiet exploring. Its beach is a protected Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting ground under MINAE, and community-run conservation initiatives protecting olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles have made it one of Costa Rica’s most respected grassroots conservation success stories. For dining, Mundo Milo is a beloved local eco-lodge and restaurant known for its international menu with a local touch and famously popular Tuesday sushi nights. Just up the beach, BernarDos is a striking eco-conscious restaurant designed by artist Patrick Rey, with a building that pays visual tribute to the sea turtles that nest along Junquillal’s shores. The real estate market here spans beachfront condos and villas to expansive estates and vacant lots, with a small, tight-knit expat and local community centered around boutique hotels and family-owned restaurants.
Marbella and San Juanillo
Once a remote fishing and farming village of around 200 families, Marbella sits between Nosara and Junquillal, offering dramatic cliff lines, powerful year-round surf, and a genuinely rural character. Buyers here find ocean-view villas, boutique eco-communities, modern custom builds, and large homesites, with architecture leaning toward clean lines and natural materials.
Just south, the small fishing village of San Juanillo is home to one of Guanacaste’s most striking natural landmarks: a double crescent-shaped beach joined by a rocky tombolo point, often described as resembling a whale tail etched into the sand. At low tide, visitors can walk out to the point for sweeping views over both bays — calm and swimmable on one side, wilder and better for long walks on the other. Locals have kept San Juanillo deliberately low-key, with hand-painted “No Marina” signs marking the community’s determination to protect its unspoiled character. San Juanillo is also home to a couple of standout dining spots worth the drive: The Restaurant at Tree Tops for elevated Costa Rican and American fare, and Rancho Cocobolo for a lively jungle-meets-beach atmosphere.
Ostional
Since 1984, the Ostional Wildlife Refuge has protected roughly 85.7 square kilometers of coastline and mangrove habitat — home to one of the world’s most extraordinary natural phenomena, the arribada. “Arribada” is Spanish for “arrival,” and it refers to the mass, synchronized nesting event where hundreds of thousands of female olive ridley turtles come ashore together over several days to lay their eggs. Ostional is considered the site of the largest olive ridley nesting population in the world.
Turtles nest at Ostional nearly year-round, but the biggest arribadas cluster in the rainy season, generally August through December, with September and October typically bringing the largest numbers — sometimes exceeding 500,000 nesting females in a single event. Because of the refuge’s ecological significance, beach access is restricted and only permitted with an accredited local guide.
Beyond beachfront condos and villas, this stretch of coast also includes working farms, fincas, and raw development parcels — appealing to buyers looking for larger landholdings, agricultural potential, or ground-up development opportunities rather than a finished home. Development in Ostional itself remains deliberately limited and closely tied to conservation partnerships, making it one of the most tightly protected coastal areas in Guanacaste.
Whether you’re drawn to Junquillal’s conservation-minded community, Marbella’s rustic privacy, or Ostional’s extraordinary wildlife and land opportunities, this stretch of Guanacaste offers something increasingly rare on the coast: real, unspoiled Costa Rica. Contact me to explore available listings.
JUNQUILLAL, MARBELLA & OSTIONAL MARKET SNAPSHOT
As of July 2026, the median active listing price across Junquillal, Marbella, Ostional, and San Juanillo is $530,000, with 71 active properties on the market (9 new listings). Listings range from beachfront condos and jungle villas to working farms, fincas, and raw development parcels across this still-emerging stretch of the Guanacaste coast. New listings are added daily, so this guide reflects real-time market activity, not outdated averages.
Below you’ll find every home for sale in Junquillal, Marbella, Ostional, and San Juanillo currently listed through the official Costa Rican Omni MLS, updated live — including new, active, and pending listings, plus current market reports for this area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this area of Guanacaste a good place to buy real estate?
Yes. Junquillal, Marbella, and Ostional represent one of Guanacaste's last genuinely undeveloped coastal stretches, offering strong long-term value for buyers willing to look beyond more established towns like Tamarindo or Flamingo. Median listing prices run around $530,000, with inventory ranging from beachfront condos to jungle villas, working farms, and raw development parcels.
What makes Junquillal special?
Junquillal's nearly three-kilometer beach is a protected Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting ground under MINAE, with community-run conservation initiatives considered one of Costa Rica's most respected grassroots efforts. The town remains small and tight-knit, with boutique hotels, eco-lodges, and standout dining at spots like Mundo Milo and BernarDos.
What is Marbella known for?
Marbella is a once-remote fishing village known for dramatic cliff lines, powerful year-round surf, and a genuinely rural character. Just south, the small community of San Juanillo is home to one of Guanacaste's most striking natural landmarks — a double crescent-shaped beach joined by a rocky tombolo point, often described as resembling a whale tail etched into the sand.
What is the arribada at Ostional, and when does it happen?
"Arribada" is Spanish for "arrival," referring to the mass, synchronized nesting event where hundreds of thousands of female olive ridley turtles come ashore together to lay their eggs. Ostional is considered the site of the largest olive ridley nesting population in the world. Turtles nest nearly year-round, but the biggest arribadas cluster between August and December, with September and October typically bringing the largest numbers.
Are the property listings on this page updated in real time?
Yes. All listings shown are pulled directly from the official Costa Rican Omni MLS and update automatically, including new listings, pending sales, and price changes.
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