Surf Resorts & Camps for Sale
Surf resorts, surf camps, eco-lodges and boutique surf hotels for sale, many as running businesses with staff, brand and bookings. Most are on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, from the Osa Peninsula and Uvita to Manuel Antonio, with more in Popoyo, Nicaragua, Santa Catalina and Bocas del Toro in Panama, and El Salvador. Compare room count, price and the wave out front, then contact the seller directly.
Atami Surf House for Sale
Beach Close Boutique Hotel
Buying a Surf Hotel or Camp: Licences, Staff and Seasons
Buying a surf resort means buying two things at once: the property and a hospitality business. Check each one on its own.
Asset sale or company sale
Some resorts sell as property plus equipment. Others sell as shares in the company that owns and runs the hotel. Buying the company is often simpler for licences and contracts, but you also take on its tax, labour and legal history. Ask your attorney which structure suits the deal, and have an accountant review the company’s books before you agree on a price.
Licences and permits
A hotel usually needs a municipal business licence, a health or operating permit, a separate liquor licence for any bar or restaurant, and registration with the national tourism authority, such as the ICT in Costa Rica or INTUR in Nicaragua. Some licences transfer with the business, others have to be reissued in the new owner’s name. Get a list from the seller and check each one with a local attorney. Boats and surf guiding may need their own permits too.
Staff and labour law
Your team is a big part of what you are buying. Across much of Central America, employers pay a mandatory thirteenth-month bonus (the aguinaldo) plus social security contributions. In several countries, a new owner who keeps the staff can also take on severance owed for their past years of work. Agree in the contract who pays what has already built up, and ask whether the manager and head surf guide plan to stay.
Seasons and occupancy
Surf seasons and tourist seasons don’t always line up. On Central America’s Pacific coast, the biggest south swells arrive in the rainy months when general tourism slows, which can keep a surf-focused hotel busy while others empty out. Ask for monthly occupancy and rates for at least two years and read them against the local swell calendar.
- Monthly occupancy and average nightly or package rates
- Where bookings come from: direct, online travel agencies or tour operators
- Reviews and repeat-guest numbers
- Utility, maintenance and staff costs by month
- Bank statements that match the reported revenue
Location and access
Remote breaks such as Cabo Matapalo or Carate on the Osa Peninsula are a big part of the appeal, but they also mean longer guest transfers, harder supply runs and a thinner pool of local staff. Price those costs in.
Read our guide to Costa Rica surf resorts and hotels for sale, or browse Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador. Selling a surf camp or hotel? List it with us.
Explore by Destination
Popular Cities
Surf Resorts, Camps & Lodges for Sale Worldwide
Surf resorts, surf camps, eco-lodges, yoga and surf retreats and boutique surf hotels for sale near world-class waves. These properties pair real estate with a hospitality business — guest rooms, a restaurant or kitchen, boards and a lineup within reach. Surf hospitality is a lifestyle business with real fundamentals: guests travel for the wave, and a good one brings them back season after season. Many listings are sold as going concerns with the brand, website and forward bookings, so you can step into a running operation rather than build one from scratch. Others are buildings and land ready for a new operator. Use the country links on this page to compare what is for sale in each destination, and contact the owner or listing agent directly from any listing.
Frequently asked questions
What licences does a surf hotel or surf camp need?
Requirements vary by country, but most surf hotels need a municipal business licence, a health or operating permit, a liquor licence for any bar or restaurant, and registration with the national tourism authority, such as the ICT in Costa Rica or INTUR in Nicaragua. Surf guiding, boat trips and transfers can need separate permits. Ask the seller for every current licence and check with a local attorney whether each one transfers.
Should I buy the resort's company or just the property?
Buying the company that owns the resort can keep licences, contracts and booking accounts in place, but you also inherit its debts, tax filings and any labour claims. Buying just the property and equipment gives you a cleaner start but means setting up a new operating company and reapplying for some permits. A local attorney and accountant can tell you which suits the deal and the country.
What happens to the staff when a surf resort is sold?
In many countries, staff who stay on keep their years of service, so a new owner can end up owing severance and accrued bonuses built up under the old owner. Across much of Central America, employers also pay a mandatory thirteenth-month bonus and social security. Agree in the purchase contract who pays what is already owed, and ask early whether key staff plan to stay.
How seasonal is a surf resort business?
Quite seasonal, and the pattern depends on the wave. On the Pacific coast of Central America, the strongest south swells come in the rainy months when general tourism is slower, so surf-focused hotels can stay busy while others are quiet. Indonesia's main surf season falls in its dry months. Ask for monthly occupancy for two or more years and match it to the local swell calendar.
How are surf resorts priced and valued?
Buyers usually look at two numbers: what the land and buildings would be worth on their own, and what the business earns after operating costs. Ask for verified income, not just the seller's summary, and check it against bank deposits and booking-platform reports. A resort with strong reviews, repeat guests and a consistent wave can justify a higher price than its rooms alone suggest.
Can I finance the purchase of a surf resort?
Bank loans for hotels abroad are hard to get as a foreign buyer, so most deals are paid in cash, through investor partners, or with seller financing. Some listings on this page say owner financing is available, such as a hotel in Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. Ask the listing agent or owner whether terms are possible, and have a local attorney review any financing agreement.