PLAYA ZANCUDO

Getting there: it is located on the Osa Peninsula, some 6 miles in boat from Golfito, or 8 miles in boat from Port Jiménez. Take the route to Golfito. Just before Golfito, turn left at the “Nuevo Bar Rodeo” and continue until arriving at the ferry. After the ferry ride, turn right at any intersection.

Available services: water, restaurant, cabins and hotels, electricity, telephone, and Internet.

What to do: body surfing, boogie boarding, sport fishing, camping, kayaking, swimming in the ocean or river, tours to the Islands, horseback riding, tours to the mountain and nearby rivers and bird watching.

Activities that are prohibited: swimming where the lifeguards indicate that it is dangerous, throwing garbage on the beach or in the streets. The maximum speed limit in town is 25 km/h. Driving of motor vehicles is prohibited on the beach (according to law of traffic #7331). Hunting or the abuse or pursuit of wild animals such as garrobos, iguanas, birds, as well as fishing with poison is also prohibited. Bonfires are also restricted as much of the firewood is home to many creatures.

Where to Stay and Eat: There are many lodging options in the area, many directly in front of the beach. The prices vary between $7 and $200/ night depending on location and amenities offered. You can rent a room for a few nights or even a house for an extended stay or even camp right on the beach.
A few options are as follows: Bar y Cabinas Suzy ( Tel. 776-01-07), Cabinas Sol y Mar (Tel. 776-00-14, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Cabinas T�o Froylan (Tel. 776-01-01), Restaurante y cabinas Tranquilo (Tel. 776-01-31), Cabinas la Palmera de Oro (Tel. 776-01-21), Rancho Coquito (Tel. 776-01-28), Latitud 8 (Tel. 776-01-68, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Zancudo Beach Club (Tel. 776-00-87, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

For more information on Hotels or Restaurants, visit the Hotel or Restaurant categories on this site.

Playa Zancudo is located on the Osa Peninsula, in the peaceful southern zone of Costa Rica. The community of Zancudo is small, around 300 locals and a few foreigners. Many make their living fishing in boats made from the trunks of trees, while most others work in some tourism related trade.

Many years ago, the area was mostly banana plantations, later on it changed to the cultivation of the African Palm, and it produced the largest quantity in the country.

Many visitors to Playa Zancudo are from neighboring towns such Villa Neily, San Vito, and Sabalito, on the border of Panama and Golfito.

At the present time, Playa Zancudo is a developing beach town that offers some hotels, restaurants, tours in the mountains, surfing, a safe place to swim, and world class sport fishing (sport fishing packages cost around $2000 to $4000 for 3 to 7 days, or you can try to bargain for a better price by contacting some of the fishermen of the area, or inquire at: Roy's Zancudo Lodge (Tel. 776-00-08, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Visitors soon fall in love with Playa Zancudo and many bring hammocks to put up among the palms to read a good book or just relax and enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings. For those who like to swim, this is an ideal spot for it. The waves here or not too large and are great for body surfing or boogie boarding. For the surfers, a relatively short walk (10 min) up the beach and you will see a noticeable increase in the size of waves. If you didn’t bring a surfboard you can rent one in town. You can also rent kayaks and enjoy a tour in the calm ocean or explore the estuaries and inlets of the Coto River, where the plants, flowers and wildlife are plentiful.

Or if you enjoy walking, you can visit the shops and many gardens of the hotels, where you will see many kinds of plants, flowers and orchids. You can tour the Coto River (about 4 hours long and $40/person). It is a slow and tranquil river, but abundant in wild life. You will be able to observe many types of wild animals: monkeys, birds, crocodiles, bears anteaters, and many others, as well as heliconias, large trees, orchids and many flowers.

Other activities: horseback riding: You can rent horses to explore Playa Zancudo, the price is about $8/h. surf lessons: you can learn to surf in Pavones for about $20 per hour (Billy, tel.776-00-14) or rent a surfboard for about $15 per day. Rent a bike: you can cruise around town or near the beach.

Tours: Tours in the mountains are available in town, many choose to visit the Corcovado National Park, which you can arrive at by boat. Botanical Garden, House of Orchids: Rum and Trudy MacAllister have created a botanical garden at their house, one they have been cultivating during the 20 years that they have been in this region. They have collected a great quantity of tropical plants with flowers and fruits.

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