One of the best beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Zancudo is a stunning black sand beach that lies around 20 km south of Golfito in the Puntarenas province. The ideal location for a tranquil holiday, Playa Zancudo provides backpackers, surfers and families alike with a fantastic getaway to an area that is far from the hustle and bustle of Costa Rica’s other beaches. Playa Zancudo has some of the best swimming on Costa Rica’s southern Pacific coast. But this beach is also an excellent surfing and sport fishing destination. The beach offers great opportunities to view much of the local wildlife. Here you may encounter the many birds, monkeys and crocodiles. The crystal clear blue waters of the Pacific calmly roll onto the shores of Zancudo beach to create gentle surf that is best for all to relax and enjoy. Whilst the northern end of the beach is mostly calm, the far south has waves that are intense enough to surf. If you enjoy boogie boarding or body surfing, the central beach area of Playa Zancudo is just right.
With impressive sunsets, Playa Zancudo turns into a thrilling realm on a starry night, as small phosphorescent marine life light up the waters of the beach to present a scene like no other. And in the day, this beach has wonderful views across the Golfo Dulce into the bay. Playa Zancudo boasts of cheap accommodations, great food, a number of bars, restaurants and discos, and a casual atmosphere with friendly locals making it the ultimate holiday escape.
Here you can indulge in a variety of water sports including: scuba diving, sport fishing, snorkeling, water-skiing, horseback riding, kayaking, or tours of the nearby Rio Coto Colorado. Or visit the Casa Orquideas Botanical Gardens or hike trails close to the river.
To get to Playa Zancudo, you can either by bus from Golfito or you can take a water taxi from the docks. If you decide to have a boat ride, be sure to take a camera as you will have plenty of fantastic photo opportunities along the superb coast.
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