Updated February 2023: You may have heard about the new Flamingo Marina, aka Marina Flamingo, located in the Playa Potrero/Playa Flamingo area and just a 7-minute walk to the famed Flamingo Beach. More accurately, though, we should call it brand, spanking new, as Phase One just celebrated its official inauguration on February 19, 2023, after 6 years of environmental efforts and construction development.
So, why “new,” if there was already an existing Flamingo Marina decades ago? The answer dates back to the 1970s, when the original Flamingo Marina first opened; its reign ended in 2004, when the marina closed. In 2007, plans for the new Flamingo Marina were finalized and fresh dreams were born.
Today, the new $50M Flamingo Marina promises state-of-the-art facilities, including 92 wet slips (with plans to expand to 184), full Immigration & Customs services, Marina Flamingo Village (with shopping and dining), rental suites and residences, and plans for a future hotel.
As of February 2023, the 34,500-square-foot, $12.7M Phase 1 of Marina Flamingo is complete and construction has begun on the next phases of the project.
Welcome to the New Flamingo Marina
Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
As Costa Rica marinas go, the full-service Flamingo Marina is the newest – and perhaps the country’s most upscale. Even better, it can accommodate vessels of all lengths and beams (slips accommodate up to 40 meters/125 feet), serving and servicing your yacht with an array of premier services and amenities, including 92 slips (with floating docks and inside the breakwalls), a high-speed fuel dock, and full immigration and customs services onsite.
You’ll love being here. Flamingo Marina is a luxury, oceanfront wonderland of onsite restaurants, marina-view accommodations, an onsite ship store, and a stunning VIP Club outfitted with first-class amenities, including an outdoor pool and bar, for your relaxation and enjoyment.
Need something? Head to the Marina Flamingo Village, which is now open (February 19, 2023) and offers a range of retail options.
Step outside the marina’s 40+ acres of land and ocean facilities, and you’ll have access to many of the Pacific’s best beaches, white sands, sport fishing, sailing, water sports, and other world-class activities. Plus, you’re just a 7-minute walk to Playa Flamingo and its tree-lined shady coasts, lapping waves, and beautiful off-white sands.
New Flamingo Marina Location:
Coordinates: 10° 26′ 18.7542″ N | -85° 47′ 14.229″ W
Phone: (506) 4070-1830
Email: info@visitmarinaflamingo.com
Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
The new Flamingo Marina is located between Playa Flamingo and Playa Potrero, on the southwestern corner of Portero Beach and adjacent to Flamingo Beach proper.
The Flamingo Marina serves Costa Rica’s North Pacific – from central to southern Guanacaste: roughly Playa del Coco south through Tamarindo/Hacienda Pinilla and the Nicoya Peninsula, including Punta Islita, Nosara, Manzanillo, and Santa Teresa/Malpaís. It is flanked by Papagayo Marina, located about 75 minutes north, and Los Sueños Marina (4.5 hours) on the Central Pacific.
A Sustainable Promise
Costa Rica’s spectacular biodiversity and rich ocean life are deeply and intrinsically related to the development around both.
As such, and as part of its sustainability promise, the new Flamingo Marina is committed to social and environmental responsibility: to environmentally responsible building and management processes, ecotourism, environmental monitoring programs, ecological site preparation, ongoing mangrove/estuary and ocean water quality testing, and a 24/7 environmental watch, in addition to other measures the marina undertakes.
In recognition of its efforts, the new Flamingo Marina has earned Costa Rica’s prestigious Ecological Blue Flag for sustainable construction, the rational use of natural resources, proper waste management, and coastal-marine ecosystem preservation. Additionally, the project supports other sustainable development goals by strengthening the region’s socio-economic growth, creating 280+ new jobs, and more.
Flamingo Marina Amenities
Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
The new Flamingo Marina is a world-class facility – a state-of-the-art marina that unfolds over a scenic bay and peninsula, and 15,000 m2 (over 161,000 square feet) of upscale amenities that extend to 92 slips, dry boat storage, an onsite resort Beach Club (coming soon), heliport, restaurants, rental suites and villas, and much more.
So, let’s get into it! The Flamingo Marina is equipped for boats of all lengths and beams (slips accommodate up to 40 meters/125 feet), with the premier amenities that modern boaters, yacht captains, and hobbyists demand.
Marina Flamingo Slip Map (updated 2023) | Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
Among the marina’s amenities:
- 92 Slips with floating docks (inside the breakwalls); plans are to expand to 184 slips
- High-Speed Marine Fuel Dock and Sanitary Pump Outs
- Full Immigration & Customs Services
- Heliport
- Professional Management with First-Class Customer Service, including an Onsite Concierge
- Electric, Water, WiFi (Fiber Optic), and Dock Box
- VIP Marina Lounge
- Exclusive Outdoor Club Pool and Bar
- On-Site Restaurants
- Onsite Ship & Supply Store
- Secure Storage
- Restroom, Shower, and Laundry Facilities
- Golf Cart Transportation
- Well-Maintained Fish-Cleaning Station
- 24/7 Uniformed, Professional Security + Controlled Access Gated Facilities
- Multi-Level Parking
- Trash & Recycling
- Emergency Services
- Coast Guard Station
Marina Village
The Inauguration Event for Phase 1 / Etapa 1 was held in February 2023 | Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
Marina Village, aka Phase One of the new Flamingo Marina, is a destination unto itself. Here, visitors and Playa Flamingo residents will find a wide selection of hospitality, retail, and commercial offerings. Upon the marina’s February 2023 inauguration, Marina Village had already welcomed the following businesses:
- 2 Aves (beach textiles)
- BLP Law Firm (full-service law office)
- Bodega 75 (health & wellness shop)
- Café Britt Bakery (coffee shop and bakery)
- CCA Abogados (full-service law office)
- CR Marine Supply (boat and marine supply)
- Diseño Casa (interior design)
- Gurmé (gourmet groceries)
- Hazel’s Steak & Seafood (restaurant)
- Heladería Cremrica (ice cream shop)
- Nacascolo Holdings (commercial investment)
- Pura Vida Ride (outdoor sports outfitter)
- Surfbox (restaurant)
- Zapotal (Golf & Beach Club)
And there’s much more to come!
The Club at Flamingo Marina
The Flamingo Marina’s VIP Club was designed around world-class amenities, to deliver tranquility, relaxation, and entertainment. Coming soon!
Construction Progress (Updated: February 2023)
Phase One (“Commercial Building,” mid-left on the above map) at the new Flamingo Marina is officially open, as of February 2023.
Construction on the new Flamingo Marina broke ground in December 2019. Phase One was officially inaugurated in February 2023; Phase Two (commercial building) and Phase Three (future hotel & conference center) construction will extend into 2025 and possibly beyond.
While the original marina budget was around $30M, the project has already scaled up to a $50 million investment. Luckily, the project was already ahead of schedule at the start of the pandemic and, per the Flamingo Marina, they are still on schedule; they did not suffer adverse impact from COVID-19-related shutdowns. They report continued adherence to protocols, to protect their construction crews’ safety and wellbeing.
As of this post’s publication, the marina is accepting deposits for slip reservations.
How Will the Flamingo Marina Impact Home Values?
Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
As many predicted, property values began to rise as soon as the new Flamingo Marina broke ground in 2019.
Historically and around the world, marinas create positive growth impact with resulting increases to commercial and residential home values. Estimates predict that Playa Flamingo real estate and existing property values could rise 20-30% when marina construction is complete, with the largest increases in the surrounding towns of Playa Potrero and Playa Flamingo.
Additionally, the new Flamingo Marina itself offers no real estate for purchase: The marina’s only onsite studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom residences and villas are for long-term rental only. If you’d like to own property near the marina, then the surrounding towns are the only option.
This signals big things for Flamingo and Potrero real estate, as much of the area’s beachfront properties are titled – already, a major point of differentiation from much of Costa Rica, where property is held in concession. (What’s the difference between titled. vs. concession property in Costa Rica?)
Bottom Line: Yachters (including yacht captains and crews), boat owners, and ocean-goers – not to mention, anyone who loves a solid investment – may want to give serious thought to investing before the marina’s completion, when surrounding real estate prices are predicted to increase.
Life in Playa Flamingo and Playa Potrero
Playa Flamingo and Playa Potrero have long been a favorite for living at the beach. The area is vibrant and ever-developing, and the people who live in Playa Flamingo enjoy its natural beauty, fantastic amenities, and great restaurants.
For all these reasons, Playa Flamingo is sometimes called the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica: upscale and perhaps a tad exclusive, this paradisical, scenic, and amenity-rich area is almost universally appealing, thanks to its Ecological Blue Flag and white-sand beaches, paired with championship golf, first-class restaurants, incredible amenities and now, a brand-new marina.
Here’s why you might love living in Playa Flamingo and Playa Potrero:
- Flamingo Marina: If you want to get out on the water, then there’s no better place to call home than Flamingo, which hosts Central Guanacaste’s upscale Flamingo Marina. (Completion date: 2022)
- You Love to Swim: Not every Costa Rican beach is well-suited to swimming but Playa Flamingo, with its warm and calm waters, is one that is.
- You Love to Eat Out: Playa Flamingo is home to excellent restaurants – some of the best in the Guanacaste region, in fact!
What About Commercial Real Estate?
The new Flamingo Marina is slated to offer commercial space and commercial investment opportunities around yachting and boating needs, plus lifestyle amenities, including shopping and restaurants.
Mixed-use spaces will also be available, and will extend to retail/office spaces, retail space, and multi-unit residential development opportunities.
Questions About the New Flamingo Beach Marina?
Photo Credit: Marina Flamingo Facebook
You may not know that our entire Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica team lives in Guanacaste – and some of us, in Playa Flamingo and Playa Potrero. Want a first-hand account of what it’s like to call Flamingo home? We’re happy to help, in any way we can!
Because at Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica, we’re committed to you. Not to selling you a property or spamming you with all the options, but to helping – genuinely and with good intent – to match you to the perfect property for your needs and wants. We thrive on relationships and promise the fastest communication and best services in the industry.
At Blue Water Properties of Costa Rica, we’re proud to offer some of the best Costa Rica real estate. We have both condos and homes, land and businesses for sale. Go ahead – try us. Give us a chance to show off our expertise – and wow you with the possibilities! We look forward to it.
