Vistas del Lago is a vacation and retirement community governed by a non-profit association called Vistas Owners Community (VOC). Through financial support from owners, we are able to maintain day-to-day operations. This includes funding our security team and our part-time Administrative Assistant.

FAQ: Visitors & Guests

Yes. In 2020, the owners began the process of forming a non-profit association to function as a self-governing HOA. As of November 2021, we are waiting for approval from the government. Monthly dues are collected and used for administration and security staff.

Some lots are owned by Costa Rican residents, but most lots and almost all the homes are owned by vacationers and expats from North America. 

There are 60 lots and 36 homes completed as of April, 2026. 

Visitors – Interested in buying? You may view property if you are escorted by your realtor or by Beverly Sheatz at Vistas del Lago (+506 8354-1458) 

Renters – Staying at one of the homes? Contact your property manager. 

Guests – Visiting a resident? You can be let in by your Vistas resident host. 

Local – Tronadora is the closest small town and has basic groceries and a few restaurants. Tilaran is the nearest full service town where you have multiple choices for groceries, fruits and vegetables, housewares, hardware, auto parts and services, doctors, attorneys, restaurants, hotels, churches, clinics, plant nurseries and more.

Liberia – 1.5 hours from Vistas, Liberia is a small city with even more services, plus a Walmart. 10 miles south of Liberia is the nearest international airport and a Pricesmart for Costco-style warehouse shopping. There are also numerous auto dealerships here.

San Jose – 3.5 hours from Vistas, San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and has everything you cannot find locally or at Liberia.

If You Are Thinking of Living at Vistas del Lago

The owners at Vistas del Lago share a desire to live in a special place with beautiful scenery and wildlife in the best climate Costa Rica has to offer. We are a thriving and active community of caring and supportive neighbors.

Vistas del Lago is a private gated community governed by a non-profit association called Vistas Owners Community (VOC). Through the financial support from owners, we are able to maintain day-to-day operations. This includes funding our security team and our part-time Administrative Assistant. To accomplish this, we depend on Vistas owners to pay a $200 initial fee and a modest level of monthly dues:

Owners of unimproved lots – 37,787 colones per month

Owners of homes – 92,750 colones per month

Board of Directors

The VOC elected a group of volunteers to serve as a Board of Directors in 2020, and we filed for official government status in early 2021. As in other communities, there are expectations for how we function as a group of neighbors that desire to be a help to others and not a burden. To that end, we have created a set of Bylaws and a Code of Conduct Addendum that serve as our guidelines for helping everyone at Vistas derive maximum enjoyment from their time here and maximum value for our investment in this wonderful and unique Lake Arenal community. 

  • Chair – Kirk Hill – kirkh784@gmail.com

  • Vice Chair – Jim Roberson – jameshroberson@earthlink.net

  • Secretary – Cole Grace – cgrace1@email.davenport.edu

  • Treasurer – Phil Watson – pewatson@live.com

  • Security & Maintenance Chair – Bev Sheatz – beverlyjane2@msn.com

  • Vocale – Penny Pauletto – pgepeggy@gmail.com

  • Vocale – Susan Scoggins – susanmscogginss@gmail.com

  • Fiscalia – Delena Bratton – delena.Bratton@me.com

Security

Guards – Owner dues pay for the guards that patrol the grounds, check empty homes and much more.

Gate Access – Owners and renters have access to a gate fob for easy 24/7 access.

Utilities

Electricity – Power is available to each lot and is installed by ICE (“EE-Say”), the electric company who also owns Lake Arenal and its dam along with the windmills you see on the mountain ridges in the area.

Water – Vistas has its own water distribution system with each lot having access to a water line. Owner installed meters are read each month and bills are sent to owners each quarter.

Sewer – Each lot owner must install their own underground septic system.

Trash – Behind the guard house there are receptacles for trash and recycling. This service is included in the Owners’ dues. 

Internet – There is no fiber optic or cable internet at Vistas but there are many over the air options available from different providers with varying speeds and costs. More details are contained in the Owners’ Dashboard.

Surveying

It is important to obtain a boundary verification survey before building a home in Costa Rica. There have been some instances where Vistas owners have discovered significant changes to assumed lot lines. Owners can view more detailed information in the Owners Area.