Location: Golfito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
SANCTUARY LA GAMBA — Rainforest & Water Sanctuary | La Gamba, Golfito, Costa Rica 46.7 Acres | Fully Titled |
Some properties are real estate. This one is a living legacy.
Sanctuary La Gamba is a 46.7-acre rainforest and water sanctuary established in 2007, situated in the COBIGA Biological Corridor of southern Costa Rica's South Pacific region. Nestled between Piedras Blancas National Park (just 2.5 miles away) and the Golfito National Wildlife Refuge, the property sits at the heart of one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, with 0.4 miles of pristine river frontage along the protected Quebrada Bolsa reserve.
Of the total area, 33 acres are dedicated to tropical rainforest conservation under Costa Rica's National Program of Ecological Services for Water Protection, generating environmental services income while preserving irreplaceable habitat. The remaining 13.7 acres include established building areas, ornamental gardens, and working organic agriculture developed under permaculture principles.
A Property That Made Scientific History
In 2014, renowned botanists Barry Hammel and Reinaldo Aguilar discovered an endemic plant species within the property's gardens — a small tree new to science, formally named Pentagonia gambagam in its honor. This discovery, published in peer-reviewed botanical literature, is concrete proof of the property's extraordinary biodiversity and the depth of its ecological significance. There are very few privately held properties in the world that can make that claim.
Water as a Core Asset (Water Concession Approved)
The property controls two independent potable water springs, producing between 43,200 and 86,400 liters of fresh water per day. The primary spring feeds a 4,200-liter catchment tank with overflow back to the creek, pumping into a 6,400-liter distribution tank delivered by gravity to all infrastructure. The second spring remains untouched — a reserve of extraordinary value in a water-scarce world.
Infrastructure Ready for Activation
Existing improvements include a kitchen and dining area (900 sq ft), a versatile wood platform (754 sq ft) with solar power infrastructure in place, two indoor showers, two flush toilets, one composting toilet, and a storage room. The property comes fully equipped: a 225-watt solar panel, fuel water pump, propane stove and refrigerator, kitchen and dining utensils for up to 30 people, and a full set of garden and maintenance tools. A trusted network of local caretakers and workers is available and in place.
The Opportunity
Sanctuary La Gamba is a rare, multi-use asset suited to a wide range of visionary buyers:
1. Conservation investors and NGOs seeking a titled, operational rainforest sanctuary with proven ecological value.
2. Eco-lodge and ecotourism developers ready to activate an already-equipped site in a high-demand region.
3. Universities and research institutions looking for a tropical field station with endemic species, dual water sources, and proximity to national parks.
4. Private retreat or wellness buyers seeking a deeply private, self-sustaining sanctuary in one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots.
5. Bioprospecting and tropical research enterprises drawn to the confirmed endemism and scientific prestige of the site.
Location & Access
La Gamba, Golfito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Accessible via the Interamerican Highway (km 37) or from Golfito, which offers a regional airport with direct connections to Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.
Land is fully titled and transferable.
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