playas del coco — papagayo gulf
Beach village on the Gulf of Papagayo, a departure point for coastal fishing for roosterfish and snapper and for deep water off Costa Rica's northern Pacific.
Playas del Coco sits in a bay on the Gulf of Papagayo, in Carrillo canton, near Liberia airport. Pangas and launches leave from the beach for coastal fishing around the gulf's islands, rocks and bays: roosterfish on poppers and live bait, Pacific dog snapper and red snapper on the bottom and along the rocks, and Pacific jack and sierra on casts. Farther out, trolling produces sailfish, mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna. To the north lies the Papagayo Peninsula, with a yacht marina in Bahía Culebra, and then the marine sector of Santa Rosa National Park, with the Murciélago islands, where fishing is not allowed.
best season
Coastal fishing all year. From December to March the papagayo wind blows hard and limits trips to the north of the gulf; from April to September the sea tends to cooperate more.
Local rules: INCOPESCA sport fishing card for each angler. Marlin and sailfish are catch and release, with the fish kept in the water. The marine sector of Santa Rosa National Park (Guanacaste Conservation Area) extends up to 12 nautical miles off Playa Naranjo and has a surveillance base on the Murciélago islands; fishing is prohibited in national parks. Confirm with the operator where they fish. Confirm local rules.
- getting there
- Daniel Oduber International Airport, in Liberia, about 40 minutes by car. From San José, about 5 hours via the Interamericana and Liberia.
- facilities
- Hotels, restaurants and fishing and diving operators in the village, with boats anchored in the bay. Marina Papagayo, in Bahía Culebra, has 180 slips for yachts.
- country
- Guanacaste, Costa Rica
tip
When the papagayo blows, look for sheltered bays early in the day. For large snapper, live bait next to the rock and a firm drag: it runs for its hole on the first surge.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Costa Rica
Every sport angler must carry the INCOPESCA sport fishing card (license), for nationals and foreigners alike. It can be obtained online on the INCOPESCA website or at regional offices. For boat fishing, the INCOPESCA table lists US$16.95 for 8 days, US$28.25 per month and US$56.50 per year (fees set in 2018, kept for 2025 by agreement AJDIP/296-2024, including tax). The annual card for shore or kayak fishing is for nationals and residents. Inside refuges and parks, inland-water fishing may also require a SINAC license.
- Marlins and sailfish: in sport fishing, catch and release in the water, according to INCOPESCA.
- In SINAC protected areas, the rules of each area's management plan apply (for example, at Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge fishing is only allowed with hook, rod or handline, and nets are prohibited).
- Anglers must observe minimum sizes, catch limits and closed seasons set by INCOPESCA.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Área de Conservación Guanacaste — Sector MarinoMarine sector of Santa Rosa National Park (IUCN category II) up to 12 nautical miles off Playa Naranjo, Nancite and Punta Varas; surveillance station on San José Island, Murciélago archipelago
- official ACTo/SINAC — Información turística Parque Nacional TortugueroThe SINAC website states that fishing is prohibited inside Costa Rica's national parks
- official INCOPESCA — Pesca deportivaLicense required for nationals and foreigners, including boat-based anglers; marlin and sailfish catch and release, with the photo taken in the water
- market Peninsula Papagayo — Marina PapagayoMarina in Bahía Culebra, with 180 slips and a charter fleet, including offshore fishing boats