Pool construction in Costa Rica

Yes. A pool needs a municipal construction licence. Costa Rica’s construction law only lets small works skip a licensed professional, and never when the structure is involved, so a pool’s plans are signed by a CFIA-registered engineer or architect. We prepare the plans and file the permit.

Yes. We first check access for the excavator and concrete truck, the soil, drainage, setbacks and where the equipment room can go, then design the pool around the house and garden you have.

Usually, and a slope is often the best place for one. The vanishing edge and its catch basin are a structure in their own right, so they are engineered from the soil study and the topographic survey before we quote.

We plan the first fill by water truck so it does not draw on a local supply that is already stretched, and design covers, rain capture and storage to cut top-ups. On parts of the Guanacaste coast, local water boards had no capacity for new connections in 2024, so this is planned up front.

Yes. Near nesting beaches such as Ostional by Nosara and Las Baulas at Playa Grande, lighting visible from the beach is restricted. Pool and garden lighting there is designed low, shielded and pointed away from the sand.

We usually suggest a saltwater chlorinator with a variable-speed pump: softer water, fewer chemicals to store and lower running costs. Equipment is housed in a ventilated room that keeps salt air and sun off it.

It depends on the size, shape, site and finish, and an infinity edge or a hillside adds structure. Send us the size you have in mind and a few photos of the site on WhatsApp, and we will give you a written quote from real drawings.

An experienced crew typically builds a concrete pool in about four weeks, then comes the deck and equipment. The permit can take longer than the build, so we file it early and give you a schedule with the quote.

It can be on a flat lot with truck access and a standard shape, though the shape and size are fixed by the mould. We build in reinforced concrete, which suits slopes, infinity edges and custom shapes.

It needs to be non-slip and cool underfoot. Coralina stone stays cool but is soft and porous, so it needs sealing and collects dirt and algae. Outdoor porcelain tile on a concrete base is easier to maintain. We choose with you from samples.

Yes. A solar water heater on the roof is a common way to warm a pool here. We size it and plan the piping with the equipment room.