Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is a small inland town in Guanacaste’s Santa Cruz canton, on the road between Tamarindo and Hacienda Pinilla. It is a working Costa Rican community rather than a resort town, with local families, a handful of sodas and corner shops, and homes set along quiet streets. Tamarindo’s beaches and restaurants are 10–15 minutes away.
For buyers, Santa Rosa’s appeal is value and space. Homes and building lots here generally cost less than comparable property at the beach, lots tend to be larger, and you are still minutes from Tamarindo, Hacienda Pinilla and Playa Avellanas. It suits full-time residents, families and anyone who would rather live among neighbors than among vacation rentals.
Property for sale in Santa Rosa
Most of what comes up in Santa Rosa is single-family homes: Costa Rican–style houses in town, newer builds on the edges, and homes in small gated communities. Building lots come up too, for buyers who would rather build. Inventory here is small and changes quickly, so the best way to see what is available right now is to ask us.
Living in Santa Rosa
Daily life is quieter and more local than at the beach. Everyday errands are close by: Villarreal and Huacas have supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and hardware stores, and Tamarindo has the widest choice of restaurants and services in the area. Several private bilingual schools serve families around Tamarindo, and the main hospitals for the region are in Liberia.
Like the rest of Guanacaste, Santa Rosa has a dry season from about December to April and a green season from May to November. A car is a must here, and most residents drive to the beach.
Getting around
Santa Rosa’s location is its main practical advantage: it sits between Tamarindo and the beaches to the south, so most of what buyers want is a short drive in one direction or the other.
- Tamarindo: 10–15 minutes
- Hacienda Pinilla (main gate): 10–15 minutes
- Playa Avellanas: 15–20 minutes
- Liberia International Airport (LIR): 60–75 minutes
Times are from the center of Santa Rosa and vary with season and traffic, particularly during peak tourism periods.
Around Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the inland base for some of the best-known stretches of this coast:
- Tamarindo: Guanacaste’s best-known surf town, with the widest choice of restaurants, services and property in the area.
- Hacienda Pinilla: the gated resort community to the south, with golf, a beach club and larger lots.
- Playa Avellanas: a long, uncrowded surf beach right next to Hacienda Pinilla.
Thinking about buying in Santa Rosa?
Whether you’re after a home in town, a place in a gated community or land to build on, our team can help you find the right fit in Santa Rosa and around Tamarindo. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll take it from there.
Get in touch and let us find your place in Santa Rosa: Talk to an Agent.