Actor and director Mel Gibson has purchased a us$25.8 million ranch that sprawls across 163 hectares (402 acres) on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.

The property was acquired by a corporation controlled by the director of “he Passion of the Christ”, and the purchase closed on April 30.

The ranch faces Barrigona Beach in Guanacaste on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, A where urban and tourist development is minimal.

In the area where the property is located, most of the inhabitants live off ranching and farming in a wooded, mountainous landscape bordered by beautiful beaches.

Locals seemed enthusiastic about their new neighbor, but some say the purchase of the ranch will cost them jobs, since apparently Gibson has no plans for any type of economic activity on his property and will only use it as a vacation home.

In recent years the actor has been a frequent visitor to Costa Rica, which led to speculation in the press that he was looking for possible locations for his movies or was seeking investment opportunities in Costa Rica

Puntarena’s old cannery will be transformed into a modern mall with a movie theater and office center.

What really has people excited in the $78 million Puerto Azul development. When finished it will boast 176 condominiums including 16 penthouses in four buildings. A 60 room hotel with 44 shops, a marina and supermarket will also be part of the development.

A second marina will be built nearby at a cost of $22 million.

The Ministry of Public Works is honoring its commitment by taking steps to finish the last section of the costal highway between Quepos and Dominical. The government has already built three bridges and is working on more and road has been graded between Quepos and the Savegre River.