Frequently asked questions
Imagine your future in Ecovilla
Let's answer some questions
Can I buy a lot as a foreigner in Costa Rica?
Yes, as a foreigner, you can purchase property in Costa Rica with the same rights as local citizens. The country’s laws permit foreign individuals and corporations to own property outright, without the need for residency or citizenship. The only exception applies to the first 200 meters from the high tide line along the coast, which is subject to specific regulations. However, none of our properties are located within this restricted area.
Is there a selection process for community members?
The first step is to meet with one of our property team members. During this meeting, they will take the time to get to know you, share details about the project, and together, you can determine if there is a mutual fit.
Generally, people who feel drawn to our project are deeply aligned with its vision, making them ideal future neighbors.
If I buy a lot in Ecovilla San Mateo, what do I get?
The legal structure of the project is a condominium, which means that you will own your lot and also co-own all the surrounding common areas. These include natural spaces such as a private reserve, parks, and a river, as well as shared amenities like pools, sports areas, yoga shalas, community kitchen, a permaculture garden, and playgrounds.
Each lot comes with the following infrastructure: water supplied from wells, underground electricity, fiber-optic internet, and an ecological treatment plant (BioNest) for your grey and black water. This eliminates the need to build a septic tank.
Will you help me build my house, or do I have to do everything myself?
You are free to choose any architect or builder you prefer to work with.
However, we also offer a selection of architects, builders, and project managers for turnkey projects. This option is designed to simplify the process for you and provide better pricing due to the volume of construction we are managing.
How much should I plan for the building costs?
Construction costs in our area vary, based on factors such as design complexity, material quality and finishes. For standard materials and finishes, we are talking about $800–$1500 USD per square meter (approximately $74–$139 USD per square foot), though it can go up to $2000+ per square meter (approximately $186+ per square foot) for high-end materials and luxury finishes.
Will I need to acquire residency? How easy is that process?
What about school for my kids?
For families considering life at Ecovilla, education is an important part of the picture. Right next to Ecovilla San Mateo you’ll find the Real World School.
Click here to discover more about the school.
What do Ecovilla neighbours do for a living?
People here do many different things for a living.
We have remote workers, freelancers, therapists and healers, entrepreneurs, consultants, writers and teachers. Some run online businesses or offer their services globally. Others use the local community as a base to develop new, impact-driven ideas and projects.
In Ecovilla you’ll find people with diverse skills and flexible careers, which creates a supportive, collaborative atmosphere where professional and personal growth naturally blend.
What are the age ranges in Ecovilla
Currently 0 to 80+ years old!
For countless reasons, Ecovilla is an exceptional place to raise your children or to embark on a new chapter of your adult life. Whether you’re a remote worker, entrepreneur, single, creative, retiree, healer or impact-driven human.
Our intentional community in Costa Rica nurtures a harmonious balance between nature, personal growth and meaningful connections for people in all stages of life.
Children thrive in a safe, supportive environment surrounded by natural beauty, where they can explore, play and learn from the world around them. And with The Real World School located right next to Ecovilla San Mateo, families enjoy an innovative, learner-led education model just steps from home.
Adults of all kinds find the space to design a lifestyle that aligns with their values: one that encourages well-being, creativity, contribution and a deeper sense of purpose.
Here, families, founders, digital nomads, artists and changemakers live side by side, each adding their own spark to a community that feels both grounded and inspiring. A place where you can grow roots… or wings.
How is the social life at Ecovilla?
Each person or family owns their own lot. We do not live together.
What we do share are the common areas, where we can gather for a variety of activities, such as movement classes, kids’ activities, workshops, potluck dinners and more!
Participation is always optional, everyone is encouraged to decide how socially engaged they want to be. We place great value on what we call a Gift Economy, where neighbors are encouraged to share their unique gifts and passions with the community. This could be anything from offering a yoga class to sharing a batch of freshly baked cookies.
Over time, some neighbors grow so close that they become like an extended family: sharing laughter, support, and moments that make everyday life feel richer and more meaningful. It’s a bond that goes beyond just living near each other. It’s about finding a true sense of belonging and knowing you’re surrounded by people who are on a similar journey to build a more coherent life for themselves and their families.
What are the values of the community?
Ecovilla San Mateo neighbors have crafted two documents that help build coherence about what we’re co-creating.
Please click here to download our Design Principles for Community Culture
What is the governance structure like?
The good thing about our governance structure is that it is time-tested and has proven successful in our original community, La Ecovilla, since 2012.
For Ecovilla San Mateo, we are adopting the same model with some improvements. We surveyed a variety of models and processes, drawing inspiration from Western democracies, Quaker meetings, and decentralized blockchain systems, to integrate their best practices.
Our governance structure uses a circle-based, representative system for community decision-making while striving to minimize the number of decisions requiring collective input.
Here are the principles informing our governance system :
- Consent-based decision-making; rather than seeking full consensus where everyone must agree, we use a consent-based model that ensures no one strongly disagrees. This approach fosters a “do-ocracy,” encouraging initiative, iteration, and experimentation.
- Small is beautiful: the challenging work of sense-making, weighing tradeoffs, and framing decisions happens in small, dedicated groups.
- We avoid long, drawn-out meetings: relying instead on well-crafted proposals from accountable teams.
- Our HOA structure focuses most decisions at the neighborhood level: empowering residents to directly shape policies and outcomes.
- Conflict happens: recognizing that conflict is inevitable in any community, we’ve designed specific processes to navigate disagreements respectfully and constructively. These processes support individuals in having difficult conversations and emerging with stronger relationships and greater understanding.
How does Ecovilla San Mateo integrate with the local community?
At the heart of the Ecovilla is the Village Center, which serves as a gathering place for both residents and the broader community, with a strong emphasis on supporting local Costa Rican businesses.
Several Costa Rican businesses are already established there. The space is currently utilized to host a weekly farmers’ market, where local farmers and artisans can showcase and sell their products.
This not only supports local livelihoods but also fosters a culture of sustainability by connecting people with fresh, locally sourced goods. A key element of integration is our school, Real World School and future Art Village, which are open to the wider community. Ecovilla prioritizes creating job opportunities for locals, from construction and landscaping during the development phase to long-term roles in community management, hospitality, and maintenance.
Bridging with the local community is important because it helps us grow together, build strong cultural connections and create a shared purpose. We are always mindful of our impact and look for ways to improve how we support the region and its well-being.
Meet Dennis and Diana, the founders of DiFranco Private Kitchen:
Meet Jairo Guzmán Soto, the former Mayor of San Mateo.
In this video, he shares his perspective on the local impact of La Ecovilla Original and Ecovilla San Mateo in Costa Rica. He explains how these eco-villages have supported economic growth, strengthened integration with local residents, and helped preserve the authentic rural character of the region.
I'm curious how real community living feels. Can I experience Ecovilla?
To visit the community, you can rent a house at any moment and try it out this way.
Alternatively, we also offer one-week immersion experiences so that families, couples & individuals can try out the community. It will include lodging, healthy meals & all sorts of activities. This week is for you if you’re considering buying land or investing in Costa Rica, and you want a test-run of a life aligned with your values. You will go on a private tour of available lots with your dedicated agent. By the end of the experience, you’ll know whether this is the place where your next chapter wants to unfold.