Welcome to Paquera

A living model of what’s possible when land, ecology, and community work in harmony.

Part Of The Nicoya Peninsula: Blue Zone

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of the world’s five official blue zones-regions where people live significantly longer, healthier lives. Between tourist attractions and small rural towns, Paquera is one of the most under-seen locations from this Peninsula.

 

Paquera Brights Up The Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula boasts some of the most pristine coastline in Costa Rica, much of it virtually unspoiled. The small town of Paquera is located at the southern tip of the peninsula and is most frequently visited by travelers who need to take a ferry to Puntarenas. But this town is also an ideal place for those who want to experience true Costa Rican life.

Before the arrival of the Spanish Colonizers, the Nicoya Peninsula was inhabited by various indigenous communities. These cultures were part of a region known as the Intermediate Area, which served as a contact zone between Mesoamerican and South American cultures.

Paquera has a rich history intertwined with the development of the Nicoya region, evolving from its pre-Columbian origins, through Spanish colonization and development as a fishing center, to becoming a renowned tourist destination that prioritizes sustainability and conservation.

El Guarial sits in the heart of the Paquera, in the Nicoya Blue Zone, a place known for long life, clean living, and abundant nature. We steward over 1,300 hectares of land—a diverse portfolio of cattle, mangos, timber, aggregates, eco-tourism, and conservation assets.

— Peter LoPresti, Co-Founder of The Stoic Team. Raised in Paquera.

The Jiménez Family & Ganadera El Guarial S.A

Don Bernardino Jiménez, the founder of Ganadera El Guarial S.A, understood the value of public-private partnerships before the term existed.

He organized with the community development organization (Organización de Desarrollo Comunitario) to establish the affordable “Lancha El Don Bernardino” to provide more accessible communication between Puntarenas and Paquera.

He convinced the government to allow homesteading in Paquera and quickly began consolidating his holdings in the region as an important community leader.

We Restored The Peninsula Biological Corridor

With INDER and the local community, we restored the Peninsula Biological Corridor—bringing back forests, wildlife, and a coastline now reserved for artisanal fishing only.

This experience brought us into direct contact with the Rural Territorial Development Plan, a vital framework for ensuring the sustainable and equitable growth of Costa Rica’s rural communities. More than just a policy document, the Plan is a shared vision—designed to guide the actions of public institutions within rural territories under the legal foundation of Law No. 9036, with the Rural Development Institute (Inder) serving as a key facilitator.

Why Invest In “El Guarial?”

Here at El Guarial, we’ve built a living investment portfolio:

  • Organic mango groves

  • Teak & melina timber

  • Cattle bred for climate resilience

  • A fully permitted rock quarry

  • 568 hectares of protected forest generating carbon credits

  • Rustic hotel + tourism licenses ready to activate

  • Floating seafood restaurants, ocean-view eco-lodges, and wellness trails right where nature does the healing.