Getting There

Where is
Playa Zancudo?

• Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

• On the shores of the Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf)

• Just south of the old Banana Port of Golfito

To see a detailed road map of the southern section of Costa Rica, go here.

Getting There from San Jose, Costa Rica

• Sansa and Nature Air operate morning and afternoon flights.
• International flights land at the Juan Santamaria International Terminal (SJO).
• The domestic airline Sansa is located in a building next to the international airport.
• The domestic airline Nature Air is located in Pavas, about a 30-minute taxi ride from the International Airport.
• Domestic weight restrictions are 25 pounds... pack lightly! You'll be charged for overweight luggage.
• Some surfboards will fit on the airline - contact them directly and reserve luggage space for your board if you can.
• Have your printer ready to print a receipt for your ticket if you book online.
• Domestic travel agents have access to seats that are not available online or internationally - if you have trouble finding a domestic seat, we can recommend a local travel agent.
• See the information below for boat taxi or land taxi to Zancudo.

• http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/LEYES/pdf/ItinerarioBuses_es.pdf shows the bus and public ferry schedule.
• There are two daily buses from San Jose to Golfito leaving from the Tracopa Terminal - see below for boat taxi or land taxi to Zancudo.
• Often it's more direct to take the bus to the Panama Border at Paso Canoas - see the section about traveling from Panama for bus or taxi to Zancudo.

• We can pre-arrange a water taxi who will meet you at the dock in Golfito - land transfer from the Zancudo dock to the Sol y Mar is included.
• You can book your own water taxi (negotiable - about the same price) from the public dock next to the only gas station in Golfito.
• An inexpensive public boat leaves Golfito's smaller public dock (meullecito - pronounced moy-yay-see-toh) on weekdays at noon
• Consider your stamina if you choose either of the last two options. There are lots of watering holes along the 30-minute walk to the Sol y Mar from Zancudo's public dock, but it can be HOT! Sometimes you can arrange a ride from the dock to the Sol y Mar with someone who was on the boat with you.

• Negotiate the price with any of Golfito's official red taxis.

• Realize that driving times are a lot slower than you are probably used to.
• Rental cars cost about $50/day and can be rented in San Jose.
• If you drive, you need to cross a river on a car ferry, near Zancudo, that stops running at about 7:30pm, so you'll have to leave San Jose no later than 11am to avoid having to drive the long way around near the Panama border. Also, you'll be able to find your way a lot easier.
• During the rainy season (particularly in September, October and November), you'll need a high-clearance 4-wheel-drive vehicle.

Getting There from Panama City, Panama to Zancudo

1. Domestic flight or bus to David, Panama.
2. Bus or taxi to the Panama border: Paso Canoas.
3. Go through immigration procedures to exit ("stamp out of") Panama.
4. Go through immigration procedures to enter ("stamp into") Costa Rica (separate building on other side of the border).
5. Bus or land taxi (about $35) to Zancudo.