Active Pursuits in Playa Zancudo

The main activity at Zancudo is relaxing, and people take it seriously. Every lodge has hammocks, and if you bring a few good books, you can spend hours swinging slowly in the tropical breezes. The beach along Zancudo is great for swimming. It’s generally a little calmer on the northern end and gets rougher (good for bodysurfing) as you head south. There are a couple of bars and even a disco, but visitors are most likely to spend their time just hanging out at their hotel or in restaurants meeting like-minded folks or playing board games. If you want to take a horseback ride on the beach, your hotel can arrange it.

Susan England, who runs Cabinas Los Cocos, also operate Zancudo Tours (tel. 8400-5185), which offers kayaking tours, hikes on the Osa Peninsula, a trip up the Río Coto to watch birds and wildlife, and more. A boat trip through the Río Coto mangroves will turn up a remarkable number of sea- and shore-birds, as well as the chance to see a crocodile resting on a riverbank or a white-faced monkey leaping overhead. Tour prices are $50 to $75 per person, with discounts available for larger groups.

For fishing, ask at your hotel, or contact the Zancudo Lodge. A full day of fishing with lunch and beer should cost between $950 and $1,600 per boat.

Because a mangrove swamp is directly behind the beach, mosquitoes and sand flies can be a problem when the winds die down, so be sure to bring insect repellent. Just FYI, zancudo means “mosquito.”