An authentic seafaring paradise

Within in a 25 –mile radius of Marina Papagayo, yachts enjoy some of the best cruising in Costa Rica. If you wish to savor nature’s solitude, head to a quiet cove all to yourself, with jungle growing down to the waterline; listen to the howler monkeys serenade in the trees. Bahia Culebra just outside Marina Papagayo is the largest and most sheltered bay in northern Costa Rica; scattered around Bahia Culebra, you’ll find ample cruising locales, some with villages and cantinas ashore, some totally pristine and uninhabited. Bahia Potrero to the south is another comfortable stretch of water with lots of options. To the north, Bahia Santa Elena affords spectacular scenery of Santa Rosa National Park.

Northern Costa Rica lies safely south of the hurricane belt, so all year round it is safe from cyclonic storms. During dry season (December through May) the Papagayo winds blow off the land, creating a sheltering lee close to shore, where seas lie flat, great for yachting activities. During wet season (June or July through October or November), south winds and swells affect only a few areas within Marina Papagayo’s vicinity.

More than 100 small get aways line the shores and islands of northern Costa Rica, between Tamarindo Sea Turtle Preserve and Marina Papagayo, up to the Murcielagos (Bat) Island archipelago and the Bolanos Islands. The fishing, diving and coastal beauty is best enjoyed with full sun, perfect for a day voyage to enjoy lunch on the hook. Depending on your boat’s speed, it’s usually easy to move from the marina to a nearby solitude and return to the marina the same day.