Located in Golfo Dulce (the Gulf of Sweetness) and adjacent to Bahia Pavones, Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica exudes beauty from its sun splashed and glimmering waters.

Zancudo beach is one of those off the beaten path locations where the sun and the sea combine to make days and nights and their transitions the commonplace of rejuvenation and reinvigoration. Golfo Dulce and the surrounding area are some of the least developed places within Costa Rica in regards to tourist developments. This makes Zancudo and its 450 residents in a corner of the world that sits outside of the fervor of the bigger venues.

The beach is protected from the heavy winds lapping off the Pacific by the Osa Peninsula, and in the backdrop a mangrove swamp completes the picturesque scenery. The beach is served by a few lodgings such as Cabinas Sol Y Mar, Cabinas Los Cocos and Cabinas Coloso Del Mar. From Zancudo you can participate in any number of aquatic activity from snorkeling, kayaking and surfing to sport fishing further off the coast.

Along with the water recreation, many of the locals are avid yoga practitioners. With all the comings and goings in mind you may wish to bring a yoga mat, a swimsuit, a surfboard, a boogie-board, a camera, a fishing pole, hiking boots and a water bottle. The town only consists of a few restaurants, bars, a school, soccer field and a general store, so you may need some extra provisions and cash when heading to Zancudo.

Making it to Zancudo in the rainy season from September to November is difficult by car or bus. The trip from San Jose to Zancudo is four hours and twenty four minutes. From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia the drive time is seven hours and ten minutes, and Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela is five hours and thirteen minutes away.

Domestic flights to the nearby town of Golfito, Costa Rica, can be found through Nature Air and Sansa Air. Flights to Golfito usually last around an hour, but some ports of embarkation are closer and some are further. In Golfito it should be easy to secure a taxi, mini-bus or boat taxi to complete the trip.

Location: Playa Zancudo
Items to bring: a yoga mat, a swimsuit, a surfboard, a boogie-board, a camera, a fishing pole, hiking boots, a water bottle
Distance from San Jose:4 hours 24 mins
Distance from Liberia:7 hrs 10 minutes
Hotels nearby: Cabinas Sol Y Mar, Cabinas Los Cocos, Cabinas Coloso Del Mar
Ways to get here: plane, taxi, mini-bus, rental car (preferably an ATV), boat taxi