Marco Abellán – Director, Costa Rica One of the most critical—and frequently misunderstood—rules in Costa Rica’s immigration system is the obligation to maintain the qualifying investment until permanent residency is formally granted. Unfortunately, this is an area where poor or informal advice often leads to serious legal consequences. Under Costa Rican immigration law, investor residency…
Category Archives: Real Estate & Hospitality
Carolina Diab – Special Counsel, Guatemala In arbitration—as in life—not everything is written. Beyond rules, deadlines, and formalities, there exists a principle that silently upholds the legitimacy of the process: good faith. It is not always mentioned and is rarely expressly regulated, yet when it is absent, arbitration suffers and loses its essence. Revisiting this…
The General Property Registry (RGP) of Guatemala announced that the Electronic Document Management System (GED) became operational on Monday, December 8. This platform allows notaries to submit documents electronically 24 hours a day. Once implemented, most acts (sales, purchase agreements, leases, mortgages, easements, immobilizations, judicial orders, among others) may be submitted online. However, the Registry…
This tax, known as ISO, is a levy imposed on residential properties whose construction value and fixed installations exceed ₡143,000,000 (approximately US$286,000). The tax return must be filed every three years through the Tax Administration’s electronic system. If you filed the return in 2025, you will only be required to make the payment. However, if…
BLP advised the shareholders of Inversiones Turísticas Arenal S.A., owner of the renowned Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa located in La Fortuna, Alajuela, on the sale of 100% of the company’s shares to Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality, Inc. This transaction marks the entry of a new institutional player into Costa Rica’s tourism sector, reinforcing confidence…
As part of the natural process of evolution of any real estate project, opportunities for diversification, structuring, and offering new real estate products arise over time. In Costa Rica, tourist marinas have been a clear example of how the natural conditions of a country, in our case, the coasts, can assertively enable the commercial and…
As part of its expansion strategy and to continue providing value in its solutions through added contact points, BLP is opening a new office in Marina Flamingo, the latest generation marina and resort village in Costa Rica. This new office focuses on transactions related to local real estate under the auspices of BLP’s renowned Real…
As part of our growth strategy and in response to crucial market demands, BLP adds José María Pacheco as Special Counsel to its team in Costa Rica. José María joins our practice areas of Business Law and Real Estate and Hospitality. https://www.blplegal.com/blp-web-2021/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Jose-Maria-Pachecho-400×489-1-245×300.png José María Pacheco Special Counsel | Costa Rica José María has represented regional…
BLP has advised both Banco BCT and Marina Flamingo Development Group on granting a syndicated loan for the development of Marina Flamingo, located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The loan in tranches is intended for constructive financing of the project’s first stage, soon to start operations. Separate BLP teams advised on the structuring…


