The Master Plan for Marenal

Our community is a private, gated community of residential properties, owned by members who advocate peace, freedom, and the Pura Vida lifestyle. The property owners are a group of self-supporting, self-governing, and friendly neighbors whose goal is to preserve, protect, and enhance the land we use for our living spaces.

Our goal is to create an environment of secure living, where our members can move about freely in a community without artificial fences and minimal automotive traffic. 

The number of houses in Marenal is permanently fixed, and the home sizes are compliant with the restrictions of an agricultural community.

Our governing model is collaborative, adapted to function within an Association of Property Owners, guided by a Board of Directors. 

The central portion of our residential land is divided by valleys, ensuring visual privacy and security. All properties are sloping towards Lake Arenal. All offer beautiful views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Except for the lots fronting Road 143 to Guatuso, all properties are a minimum of 5,000 square meters in size. The location of each home is identified and delineated, with room for a small-scale home garden, for which the owner will be responsible. The remainder of the lot is dedicated to various farm activities or as green space and will be managed and maintained by GLP, our operating company.

All properties carry restrictive covenants that grant the community a first right of refusal to repurchase any for-sale property at market value if the potential buyer fails to meet the Association's compatibility requirements. The funds for the repurchase will be provided by a reserve fund held at a local financial institution. The fund details are a part of the Association documents. 

The Association may also own specific common areas in Marenal, which can be used and further developed by the Association. All properties have access via agricultural road easements, and all have potable water connections.

The roads are graded with pervious material, such as lastre (stone-like gravel), and have controlled water run-off. All infrastructure connections are underground where possible. We have a deep community water well that supplies ample, high-quality drinking water to all homes. A geotechnical soil study of the Marenal land has been performed and approved for residential construction. 

We recommend our ecologically sound construction systems, which employ rainwater collection and greywater reuse whenever possible. Backup batteries will be offered to protect the homes in the event of a power interruption, if the home is grid-tied. If the house is designed for off-grid operation, the batteries will be connected to solar or other recharge systems. 

The self-sufficiency of Marenal will be complemented by utilizing permaculture, aquaculture, and other organic food production methods, along with free-range chickens, waterfowl, and farm animals.

All other pertinent development details are outlined in our published documents, available on our website.

Marenal is a beacon for Liberty, Non-Violence, and Pura Vida!