Is Costa Rica destined to become the Malibu Beach of Central America? The tabloids of the world are awash with reports of Hollywood’s most glamorous power couple coming to spend the holidays in a rented hacienda. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, collectively referred to as “Brangelina” by gossip mavens, might be heading to the Guanacaste province to spend the holidays in a rented hacienda, according to the British daily newspaper The Sun. The tabloid cited an unnamed source who explained that Brad Pitt has a special fondness for Costa Rica and might be interested in purchasing property where his family can relax and unwind.

The glam couple and their six children are known to spend the holidays in eco-friendly hideouts. Last year’s holiday destination for the Pitt-Jolie clan was the African nation of Namibia, the birthplace of their natural-born daughter Shiloh, at the Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary ritzy nature lodge. This year it might be Guanacaste, and since Jolie has hinted that she may want to get pregnant again, there’s a possibility that a Tico baby may be in Brangelina’s future should they decide to settle here. The couple’s plans may be serious; after all, Brad Pitt’s $13 million home in the Hollywood Hills has been pulled from the market, possibly indicating a sale.

Both actors and their children are constantly hounded by the paparazzi and sometimes by the ecorazzi due to their interest in nature conservation, thus a remote beachfront hideout in Guanacaste could be suitable for the power couple. Privacy is highly sought-after and deeply treasured by members of the glitterati, and to this extent Costa Rica has brought solace to some icons of the entertainment world -but not for all. Mel Gibson’s efforts to keep a low profile in the Golfo de Papagayo were thwarted by the pesky photojournalists of the tabloid media world.

Whether Costa Rica is the next Malibu or Cabo San Lucas remains to be seen. There are few locations in Central America and the Caribbean clamoring for the right to be known as a playground for Hollywood celebrities. In recent years Costa Rica has managed to attract its share of celebrities for vacations, weddings and real estate investment opportunities, but in the entertainment world trends come and go like the tides of Playa Zancudo. Here’s a look at some of the spectacular properties and rumored real estate projects around the region involving the glitterati.

Hacienda Dorada

In 2007, Mel Gibson made headlines with his purchase of Hacienda Dorada, a posh estate which features a prominent seven-bedroom mansion surrounded by two large guest homes sitting on 500 acres of pristine land in Playa Barrigona. Gibson acquired the property to get away from the pestiferous tabloid journalists who swore to track him down after the actor got involved in a series of mishaps and altercations. At the end of last year, Mr. Gibson decided to put the property on the market, ostensibly because the paparazzi had once again found a way to intrude upon his privacy by hiking a few kilometers on the sand from Playa Buena Vista or Playa Samara.

Fear of the paparazzi may not be the sole motivation for the star of the Lethal Weapon film franchise to sell Hacienda Dorada. Mr. Gibson is a savvy real estate investor who already owns a small residential empire in Malibu. He reportedly purchased Hacienda Dorada for a little over $25 million; last year he retained the ritzy realtor firm Engel & Volkers to list it at $35 million. Earlier this year it was rumored that the reigning queen of pop Lady Gaga had shown interest in the property, a rumor that was largely unsubstantiated.

Poro Poro

Tennis star Andre Agassi partnered with AOL’s co-founder Steve Case in this ambitious real estate project managed by Exclusive Resorts in the Papagayo Peninsula aimed towards lovers of the tropical resort lifestyle. Lucky residents get to hit the tennis courts with actress Brooke Shield’s former beau by contributing to the Agassi Foundation, an educational charity organization. This upscale resort features an impressive 80-foot infinity pool, a gourmet restaurant, and some of the most amazing oceanfront vistas in Guanacaste.

The Brady-Bundchen Santa Teresa Beach Mansion

Guanacaste isn’t the only province that counts celebrities in its midst. Puntarenas is home to billionaire Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and American football star quarterback Tom Brady. The couple’s mansion in Santa Teresa is an example of sustainable home design; it features solar panels and wind-energy generators, as well as a rainwater collection system. The couple has been busy listing their other properties for sale in Boston and New York, but seem intent on holding on to their luxurious Santa Teresa digs.

When Brady and Bundchen got married at their Costa Rica home back in 2009, two paparazzi sued members of the couple’s security detail for allegedly shooting at them, something that Brady denied in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Lawsuits were filed in New York and Puntarenas; one has already been dismissed.

Blackadore Cay

Before Gisele Bundchen married Tom Brady, she was known as the love of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated heartthrobs. Had they stayed together, a new celebrity resort in Costa Rica may have been developed. Instead, Titanic and Inception star Leonardo DiCaprio got over the breakup by purchasing his own private island in Belize. Since then, DiCaprio has been in talks with the Four Seasons resort empire to transform Blackadore Cay into a refined hideaway for the Hollywood elite. Belize isn’t the only Central American location looking to steal Costa Rica’s thunder as a celebrity destination. Panama has recently been trying to attract the rich and famous.

There is still hope that DiCaprio could be enticed back into Costa Rica. Around the time of Bundchen’s wedding, the actor was reportedly in talks with the writers of the classic gambling films Rounders and Ocean’s 13 to produce and star in a new movie about the gritty world of the online betting and gaming industry in Costa Rica. The film promises to be an exciting look at what goes on behind closed doors at the call centers and server farms in Santa Ana, Río Segundo and the neighborhoods around La Sabana.

Secret Mansion at Playa Langosta

Located just a few kilometers down the sand from Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta is often called “Beverly Hills” by the locals. The swanky resorts in Playa Langosta regularly attract vacationing Hollywood celebrities, but the real estate market there is shrouded in secrecy. While some realtors and brokers lament the lack of a unified Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in Costa Rica, privacy-seeking celebrities relish it.

Real estate agents in Playa Langosta take pride in handling affairs with the utmost confidentiality. A magnificent white beachfront mansion in Playa Langosta is rumored to have been acquired by actor Harrison Ford years ago. Locals have been reporting sightings of the famed actor best known for his work as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, but local realtors are sworn to secrecy and refuse to confirm or deny.

The Genesis Caspi Icon

This super-opulent penthouse property might not be what the Brangelina duo has in mind, but it is certainly awe-inspiring. The Genesis Caspi Icon is currently under construction in Puntarenas, but it’s already listed at a little more than $51 million. With ten bedrooms and 13.5 bathrooms, it is slated to be the world’s largest penthouse. The outrageous amenities planned for this imposing beachfront structure include a roof helipad, a sauna, swimming pools, and even a boxing ring.

The Caspi Icon isn’t the only sumptuous glass penthouse planned in Puntarenas. Such exclusive structures were once solely relegated to places such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the developers of the Genesis Caspi Icon are planning at least two more such buildings in Puntarenas in the next few years. No buyers have yet been confirmed for these properties.