Coloso Del Mar - Playa Zancudo, Costa Rica a get away to the worlds best surf, sun and relaxation!

www.flysansa.com
www.natureair.com

Sansa has daily flights to Golfito from San Jose's Juan Santamaría International Airport. Trip duration is less than 1 hour. Nature Air flies to Golfito daily from the Tobías Bolaños International Airport in Pavas, which is west of downtown San Jose. Trip duration is less than 1 hour. Contact both carriers for specific luggage allowances.

BUSES
Bus travel is cheap and very good. The trip is about seven hours. The Tracopa-Alfaro bus company leaves from the Tracopa bus depot. This is not the best part of town, so watch for pickpockets and use common sense. Never leave your bags unattended. The area is generally safe during the day, though after dark you might take a taxi rather than walking. Some travelers suggest that you take a cab at any time. Watch your luggage stored in overhead compartments, scamsters will "push" bags to the back of the bus and then pass them out the window to an accomplice before the bus ever leaves the terminal. If you put luggage under the bus use care at each stop to make sure that another passenger doesn't get your baggage by mistake.

Search online for the most update schedules to and from Golfito as departure and arrival times sometimes change.

After you arrive in Golfito follow the water taxi travel directions listed below.

Panama Border (Paso Canoas) to Zancudo

If you intend to travel by bus from the border to Zancudo the bus runs everyday. It departs from a small town about 10 minutes from the border called Laurel. You can either take a bus to Laurel or a taxi which is much easier. If you are coming from Panama keep in mind that Costa Rica is 1 hour behind Panama. The bus usually departs for Zancudo from Laurel at around 2:00pm local time and you arrive in Zancudo around 5:30 – 6:00pm. Make sure you double check from where ever you may be able that is the correct time the bus departs. Bus schedules change often in Costa Rica! The Zancudo bus stops in Conte, stay on the bus and ask the driver to let you off in front of Coloso del Mar.

RENTAL CARS
In San Jose, www.thrifty.com, www.avis.com, www.budget.com and in Golfito, www.solidcarrental.com
If you've got a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can make it out to Zancudo even in the rainy season. To get here, follow the directions for driving to Golfito, but don't go all the way into town. The turnoff for playas Zancudo and Pavones is at El Rodeo, about 4km (2 1/2 miles) outside of Golfito, on the road in from the Interamerican Highway. About 20 minutes past the turnoff, you'll have to wait and take a small diesel-operated crank ferry. (The ferry is about $1.00 per vehicle.) The ferry generally operates from around 5am until 10pm; however, the hours can be erratic. Moreover, at very low tides the ferry can't run, so sometimes you must wait a couple of hours. After the ferry, you should follow the flow of traffic if there is any or stick to the most worn route when in doubt, although the road is fairly well marked.

Renting a car and driving in Costa Rica allows total freedom of movement. You can cover a lot of ground without delay, and you can stop and sightsee wherever you want. Plan your route before you take it, then stop and ask if you need directions. Costa Ricans do not like to say that "I don't know" and sincerely want to be helpful. You may need to ask more that one person and get a consensus.

Remember to never leave valuables in your car. It is best to carry them with you. There are sometimes young boys in parking lots of nicer restaurants who will offer to watch your car for you while you eat. It is best to agree and then tip them a few hundred colones (approx. $1 U.S.).

When you get your rental car, the representative will have you check the car for nicks, dents, and adequate tires. Exaggerate this procedure. Also, be sure to fill the car before you return it, or be prepared to pay $20.00 for a fourth of a tank of gas.

It is best not to speed, and the speed limit signs are in kilometers. If you are pulled over by the police, they will want to see your rental papers and your passport. Be polite, but never let them keep either of these documents. Also, do not pay the police for the ticket. You pay the ticket to the rental car company when you turn in the car. Paying the police creates corruption.

There is about 29,000 kilometers of highway in Costa Rica but only about 14% of that is paved. This is why we recommend 4 X 4 vehicles to most areas.

WATER TAXI
If you’ve arrived by air in Golfito, take a taxi to either of these two launching points for the boat trip to Zancudo.

There's a public water taxi that leaves from behind the Hotel Samoa del Sur in Golfito, daily at around noon. Because the schedule sometimes changes, be sure to ask in town or at the Hotel Samoa about current departure times. The trip lasts 40 minutes and is around $4.00 per person. You will need to take a land taxi to transfer to Coloso del Mar after arrive. Please email in advance if you would like us to arrange the land taxi or be prepared to wing-it when you arrive in Zancudo.

A private water taxi can be hired to make the trip out to Playa Zancudo which includes transfer to Coloso del Mar. If you would like us to arrange a private water taxi for you, just let us know. The private water taxi is rather more expensive but will more or less convey you at the time of your choosing. So, if you have a late arriving flight and don’t feel like spending the night in Golfito, this might be a good option for you.

If you need help arranging any travel plans, please contact us.