Where is Playa Zancudo?

Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica

Playa Zancudo || Cabinas Sol Y Mar || Sportfishing
Map of Costa Rica

Playa Zancudo is located on the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, on the shores of the Golfo Dulce, just south of the old banana shipping port of Golfito.

Most travelers to Playa Zancudo will first fly into San Jose, Costa Rica, then go on to Playa Zancudo from there. If you need help/recommendations with your travel arrangements, e-mail us at solymar@zancudo.com

Getting There: From San Jose, Costa Rica to Golfito

Flights: Sansa and Travelair offer daily morning and afternoon flights (about 40 minutes in length) to Golfito. You can book SANSA flights through the internet or through your travel agent. If you have difficulty, we can recommend Costa Rican travel agents who have access to more SANSA flights than are available internationally.

Bus: There are several buses daily to Golfito (about 8 hours). Cost is about $6.

Car: Cars can be rented in San Jose for about $50/day. Drive south on the Pan American Highway to Rio Claro, turn right toward Golfito. Just before Golfito, take a left at “Nuevo Bar Rodeo,” continue to the water ferry. After the ferry, the road is dirt. Just continue taking right turns at every intersection, and you'll end up in Zancudo. During the rainy season (particularly in September, October, and November), a high-clearance 4-wheel-drive vehicle is a must. Driving takes about 8 hours from San Jose.

Taxi: A taxi can be arranged straight from San Jose Airport. The negotiable price is about $250 one way. This can be a good option for groups, those with lots of luggage (surfboards?) or if you want to see the countryside on the way down.

Getting There: From Golfito to Zancudo

From Golfito, you can call Cabinas Sol Y Mar for a pre-arranged water taxi, or water taxis can be arranged on the spot from the public dock in Golfito [next to the only gas station in town]. An inexpensive public ferryboat leaves most days at 5:00 a.m. and noon from Golfito's smaller public dock (muellecito - pronounced moy-yay-see-toh) to Zancudo's public dock. Consider your stamina and luggage weight before choosing this option. There are lots of watering holes along the 30 minute walk to Sol Y Mar from Zancudo's public dock, but it can be HOT! Lastly, land taxis can be arranged in Golfito for about $30-$40.

Getting There: From Panama City, Panama to Zancudo

Flights: There are numerous flights daily from Panama City to David. From David it is a 1-hour bus ride to Paso Canoas at the Panama-Costa Rica border. Taxis can be hired from the border to Zancudo. Negotiable price is about $20.

Bus: There are several buses daily from Panama City to David or the Panama-Costa Rica border.


Playa Zancudo || Cabinas Sol Y Mar || Sportfishing


Sol Y Mar, in Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica