Buyer’s Guide · Guide #13 of 13
Internet and Utilities in Guanacaste: What New Owners Need to Know
How internet, electricity and water work on the Gold Coast, who provides them, what to check before you buy, and a step-by-step checklist for setting up utilities as a new owner.
A Note from Melanie
I’ve been selling luxury real estate on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Gold Coast for a decade. I’ve watched hundreds of foreign buyers navigate this market — some smoothly, some not. The questions in this guide are the ones I answer on almost every first call. My goal here is to give you exactly what I’d tell a close friend who called asking about buying in Costa Rica. No fluff. Just what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- Many beach-town homes can get fiber or cable internet, and Starlink covers places the cables do not reach.
- Electricity across much of the coastal Nicoya Peninsula, including the Santa Cruz and Carrillo cantons, comes from the Coopeguanacaste cooperative.
- Water comes from the national utility AyA, a community water association (ASADA) or a permitted private well.
- On a lot, a water availability letter is essential. You usually need it for a building permit.
- Confirm every provider at the exact address before you close. Service can change from one street to the next.
Question 01
What internet is available in Guanacaste?
Direct Answer
Most homes in Guanacaste beach towns can get fiber or cable internet from providers such as kölbi, Coopeguanacaste or Liberty, and Starlink satellite internet covers places the cables do not reach. Coverage changes by street, so confirm the exact address.
- Fiber optic. Fiber is the fastest and most stable option where it exists. kölbi, the brand of the state utility ICE, and Coopeguanacaste, the regional cooperative, both offer fiber internet, and Liberty, Costa Rica’s largest fixed internet provider, has been expanding its fiber network.
- Cable and other fixed lines. In some neighborhoods, the best wired option is cable or an older line. Speeds vary, so ask neighbors or the HOA what they actually get.
- Starlink satellite. Starlink was approved in Costa Rica in 2023, and by mid-2025 the country had about 26,900 satellite internet subscriptions, most of them Starlink, according to the regulator SUTEL. It is a good choice for rural lots and hillside homes, and as a backup.
Our advice for remote workers: ask for two independent connections, such as fiber plus Starlink, or fiber plus a mobile hotspot. Ask the provider to confirm service at the exact address before you close, and test speeds during your visit.
Question 02
Does Starlink work in Costa Rica?
Direct Answer
Yes. Starlink has operated in Costa Rica since 2023. Residential plans started at about ₡23,000 a month in late 2025, plus a one-time equipment fee, with typical speeds of about 50 to 200 Mbps. Prices change often, so check the current rate.
Question 03
Who supplies electricity in Playa Flamingo and the Gold Coast?
Direct Answer
Much of the coastal Nicoya Peninsula, including the Santa Cruz and Carrillo cantons, is served by the Coopeguanacaste cooperative. Other parts of the province have a different distributor, so check the electricity bill for the property you are buying.
Coopeguanacaste distributes power to homes and businesses across a large part of the peninsula and runs its own hydro, solar and wind plants.
What to expect. Air conditioning is the biggest driver of the bill. Our relocation guide puts typical monthly electricity at about $50 to $150, depending on how much air conditioning you use. Large homes with pools and full-time air conditioning can pay far more. Power cuts happen, especially in storms, so many owners add a surge protector, a battery backup for internet, or a generator.
Solar. Some owners add solar panels to cut their bills. Ask your provider about the rules for connecting a system to the grid before you buy equipment.
Question 04
Where does water come from in Guanacaste?
Direct Answer
Water service comes from one of three sources: AyA, the national water utility; an ASADA, a community water association that runs a local system under an agreement with AyA; or a permitted private well.
- AyA. The Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados is the national water utility and the technical authority over community systems. On our part of the coast, AyA runs the Playa Flamingo system, according to its 2023 plan for the Potrero aquifer.
- ASADAs. In 2025 there were 1,089 ASADAs, supplying about 21% of Costa Rica’s population. Around Potrero, AyA’s plan lists ASADAs for Potrero, Surfside and Lomas del Pacífico. Quality varies: a 2026 review by the Contraloría, Costa Rica’s national auditor, found that many of the ASADAs it audited were not running all the required water quality tests.
- Private wells. Some properties, especially larger lots, use a well. Groundwater belongs to the public, so drilling a well needs a permit from the Dirección de Agua, part of the Ministry of Environment (MINAE). Wells must be registered, and uses beyond household needs require a water concession. If a property has a well, ask for the permit and registration before you buy.
Many homes also add a storage tank and pump so the house keeps water during short supply cuts.
Question 05
What is a water availability letter and why does it matter?
Direct Answer
A water availability letter from AyA or the local ASADA confirms that a property can receive water service. You usually need one to get a building permit, so for a lot it should be in hand before you commit.
Coastal Guanacaste has a long dry season with real pressure on water. Our due diligence guide covers the water letter and the other checks in detail.
Question 06
Can I drill a well on my property in Costa Rica?
Direct Answer
Only with a permit from the Dirección de Agua. Wells must be registered, and uses beyond household needs require a water concession.
Question 07
How do I set up utilities as a new owner in Guanacaste?
Direct Answer
Before closing, confirm the electricity, water and internet providers for the address. Get the account numbers and latest paid bills from the seller, transfer each account into your name at or after closing, and order internet early.
- Before closing: confirm the electricity provider, the water provider (AyA, ASADA or well) and which internet providers serve the address.
- Get the account numbers for electricity and water from the seller, and ask for the latest paid bills.
- At or after closing: transfer each account into your name or your company’s name. Bring your passport, a copy of the deed or registry record, and the account number. Requirements vary by provider, so ask what they need first.
- Order internet early. Installation can take time in busy seasons. Order as soon as you know your closing date.
- Set up payment. Most owners pay by local bank transfer or automatic debit. Pay on time, because services can be cut for unpaid bills.
- Add backups: a water tank and pump, a surge protector, and a second internet connection if you work online.
- If you rent the home, check that the internet is strong enough for guests and that a manager can handle outages quickly.
We help our buyers with these steps as part of moving in. Ask us for the contacts in your community, and see our living in Playa Flamingo guide for the rest of daily life here.
About Flamingo Beach Realty
Flamingo Beach Realty is the #1 luxury real estate brokerage on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Gold Coast, with 500+ five-star reviews and $900M+ in closed transactions. We serve buyers and sellers across Playa Flamingo, Reserva Conchal, Hacienda Pinilla, Las Catalinas, Peninsula Papagayo, and the surrounding Guanacaste communities.
Have questions about a specific property?
Talk directly with Melanie Engel, principal broker and founder of Flamingo Beach Realty — 500+ five-star reviews, $900M+ in closed transactions across Guanacaste’s Gold Coast.
