Costa del Sol is a town in Final Fantasy VII visited at the end of the quest "Dangerous Voyage". Though there are no major story objectives in the town, while there, Cloud can see what others who aren't in the active party are doing, visit the shops, and meet Professor Hojo and Johnny.
Because the town is close to Mt. Corel, which is filled with petrification-inflicting monsters, the town specializes in making Softs. The player can purchase President Shinra's summer cottage, the "Villa Cloud", for 300,000 gil. It serves no purpose except being a place to sleep.
The player can take the cargo ship back to Junon after having acquired the buggy by paying 100 gil at the docks. The buggy can be taken aboard the ship by driving it into Costa del Sol from the world map.
Layout[]
Overview[]
Costa del Sol is on the eastern coast of the western continent.
Costa del Sol is located to the east on Gaia's western continent. It is enclosed by the mountain range to the west and the river to the south. The nearby river can be crossed on a buggy or some chocobo types, and driving the buggy to Costa del Sol lets the player take it across on the cargo ship; this is needed to get Mythril for Aeris's ultimate Limit Break.
The beach near Costa del Sol on the world map has Beachplugs as random encounters, which reach the useful Big Guard enemy skill when manipulated.
The world map area where Costa del Sol is situated is known as the Corel Area.
Harbor[]
Harbor.
This is where the ship from Junon pulls in. Various holidaymakers lounge on the nearby water planes. A helipad serves as a base for presidential transport.
Town[]
Town.
Here Cloud can visit Butch's Materia shop, an Item shop, find out more about Costa del Sol from the tourist center near the bridge, and access the beach to the right. The main street to the left leads to the world map at Corel Area. When not in the active party during the player's first visit, Red XIII will lie down in the shade of the buildings here, complaining of the heat. The nearby kids are playing football, and the player can kick the ball to hit Red XIII, making him yelp. If the player already recruited her, Yuffie works part time at the Materia shop where the player can interact with her to buy Materia.
Bar del Sol[]
Bar del Sol.
Mukki and his friends are found enjoying themselves in the bar, and Cloud can buy equipment from a merchant desperate to make ends meet.
Inn[]
Inn.
The Inn's owner can be found playing pool. During the player's first visit, the if Barret is not in the acyive party he will be in the bathroom here, admiring himself in the sailor suit disguise he used when crossing the ocean on the cargo ship in the mirror, imagining what Marlene would think of it. Knocking on the door has him violently exclaim that the bathroom is taken and the player can't enter and talk to him directly. After meeting her at the beach, Aerith lies on the bed contemplating her loneliness as the last Cetra. If Cloud sleeps in the inn at Costa del Sol, they are told the rest of the party already left.
During Meteorfall the innkeeper be lounging upon a bed, despairing. The inn is free to stay at this point.
Villa[]
Villa.
Dubbed "House for Sale" on the map, the villa was once owned by President Shinra, earning it the name "Shinra Villa" from the locals. The villa can be bought by any party leader at any time for 300,000 gil. As well as having luxury furnishings, it boasts a basement containing various items. The player can take the items even before they buy the villa. The villa can be slept in for free after purchasing, although Cloud is the only one who can use it for this purpose. Once bought, the receipt message reads "Bought Villa Cloud!" in the text window. The menu name for the location is "House for Sale" prior to purchasing it. Once purchased, the menu name becomes "Cloud's Villa" (even if purchased with Tifa or Cid as party leader).
- Cellar
Even after purchasing the villa, a man lives in the cellar. Here, a Fire Ring, Power Source, and Motor Drive can be found.
Johnny's New Home[]
Johnny's New Home.
After leaving Midgar, Johnny settled down in Costa del Sol with a new girlfriend. During the party's first visit to the town, Tifa can be found catching up with her friend. Johnny's girlfriend is always taking a bath in the locked bathroom and Johnny is seen attempting to peek through the door as the party enters the house, but quickly moves away from it.
Beach[]
Beach.
Holidaymakers sunbathe and swim on the beach. The player can walk a little bit into the water and intercepting the swimmer in the shallows has him complain that he will drown. Hojo retired to Costa del Sol after resigning from Shinra Electric Power Company, and enjoys himself on the beach, surrounded by admiring girls. Aeris and Tifa are found here if they are not in the player's active party during the player's first visit to town.
Quests[]
Main scenario[]
Costa del Sol is visited in "Dangerous Voyage", though there is no major story objective. Costa del Sol is visited briefly as the location where the Cargo Ship arrives. The player can simply leave town after checking the villa basement for some items. However, exploring the town can find some unique dialogue that cannot be repeated and amusing scenes with the party members. The new item purchasable from the shops here is the Soft, so the player may want to buy a few.
During this time, characters who are not in Cloud's current party can be found around the town and spark certain dialogue interactions:
- Aeris and Tifa are on the beach, having found Hojo sunbathing. After the scene with Hojo, Aeris can be met in the inn and Tifa at Johnny's place to catch up with him. Aeris ponders over her loneliness as a Cetra, and Cloud can try to cheer her up.
- Barret can be found in the inn's bathroom checking himself out in the sailor suit he had used as a disguise for the party's stowaway. If Cloud tries to open the door, Barret will drive him away.
- Red XIII "plays" ball with the kids on the street, and Cloud can kick the ball at him.
- Yuffie gets a part-time job at the Materia Shop, and becomes the store clerk that the player talks to to browse Materia. If Cloud sleeps in the inn at Costa del Sol, they are told the rest of the party already left, and the shopkeeper will mention Yuffie has stolen the shop's Materia and gil. However, the player will not see any of Yuffie's supposed spoils.
None of the interactions affect Cloud's date mechanics for the Gold Saucer scene later.
The player never needs to come back to Costa del Sol after, but if they speak to the innkeeper with Tifa as party leader, he will suggest the party look for Mideel, which is the location for the next story objective. The weapon shop will also sell a new tier of weapons at this point, but the player may want to save their money for the crystal equipment in Mideel instead.
Villa Cloud[]
Cellar of Villa Cloud.
The first residence since leaving the dock is up for sale for 300,000 gil. The player can buy it any point in the game, although they are unlikely to have the gil until endgame. If the player buys the property they can sleep at the villa, but the Costa del Sol inn is also free after Meteorfall, and the player has the Highwind where they can heal for free, so buying the house is mainly to just give the player something to do with their money late game.
Items[]
Shops[]
Before acquiring Highwind[]
Item Shop[]
| Name | Cost |
|---|---|
| Potion | 50 gil |
| Hi-Potion | 300 gil |
| Phoenix Down | 300 gil |
| Soft | 150 gil |
| Antidote | 80 gil |
| Eye drop | 50 gil |
| Hyper | 100 gil |
| Tranquilizer | 100 gil |
| Tent | 500 gil |
Weapon Shop[]
Though being called a weapon shop, the shop mainly sells armor and has no equipable weapons.
| Name | Cost |
|---|---|
| Platinum Bangle | 1,800 gil |
| Carbon Bangle | 800 gil |
| Four Slots | 1,300 gil |
| Molotov | 400 gil |
After acquiring Highwind[]
Item Shop[]
Even though the town is said to be "famous" for its Softs, Soft is the only item the item shop stops selling after the party has the Highwind, it being replaced by an Ether.
| Name | Cost |
|---|---|
| Potion | 50 gil |
| Hi-Potion | 300 gil |
| Phoenix Down | 300 gil |
| Ether | 1,500 gil |
| Hyper | 100 gil |
| Tranquilizer | 100 gil |
| Tent | 500 gil |
Weapon Shop[]
| Name | Cost |
|---|---|
| Solid Bazooka | 16,000 gil |
| Centclip | 14,000 gil |
| Spiral Shuriken | 14,000 gil |
| Long Barrel R | 13,000 gil |
| Gold M-phone | 15,000 gil |
| S-mine | 1,000 gil |
Musical themes[]
The music track that plays in Costa del Sol in Final Fantasy VII is the eponymous track, "Costa del Sol" (太陽の海岸, Taiyō no Kaigan?).