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.

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 about current departure times. The trip lasts 40 minutes and is around $4.00 per person.

Private water taxis can be hired in Golfito to make the trip out to Playa Zancudo. When the tide is high, the boats take a route through the mangroves. This is by far the calmest and most scenic way to get to Zancudo. When the tide is low, they must go through the gulf. The ride takes about 30 minutes and is usually $15.00 per person with a $40.00 minimum. We can make private water taxi reservations for you in advance if you would like. The private water taxi’s usually arrive and depart from docks different then the public water taxi. Either from behind the Bomba gas station or behind the tourist building in Golfito, near the Bomba gas station.

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