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Costa Rica Marinas

Seeking Safe Harbor? A Guide to the Best Costa Rica Marinas

Costa Rica is a popular destination for boaters and anglers from all over the world. In this article, Justin DeBoom provides a brief overview of the best Costa Rica marinas, north to south down the Pacific coast.

After moving to Costa Rica in 2009, I began working in the tourist industry. It was a great fit that allowed me to enjoy the “pura vida” life while making a living. What I loved most was arranging sport fishing trips for my clients. It was a dream job for a lifelong angler like me. The dream job. I quickly became our travel agency’s main fishing specialist, a position I still hold and enjoy to this day.

Being a sport fishing specialist means a lot of sport fishing. Which means a lot of time out in the ocean and a lot of time hanging out in marinas. We now have five full-service marinas in Costa Rica, providing practical security, safe harbor (Costa Rica sits well below the hurricane line), and a great place to dock your boat (or super-yacht) while exploring inland.

Let’s take a look at the best marinas in Costa Rica, north to south down the Pacific coast:

Marina Papagayo

On the exclusive Papagayo Peninsula in Guanacaste, Marina Papagayo offers yea-round safe harbor for yachts. And it’s only 30s minutes from the Guanacaste International Airport!

The marina provides 180 fully serviced berths for yachts up to 250 feet LOA. Each berth includes mooring assistance, 24/7 monitoring, yacht support, provisioning, fuel bunkering, and a concierge service. The marina’s concierge team assists with airport transfers, shuttle service, car rentals, dining reservations, and crew activities.

While at Marina Papagayo, captains and crews can access Peninsula Papagayo facilities, including beaches, a championship golf course, the Andaz Costa Rica Resort Beach House, and hiking/biking trails.

The marina accommodates a range of boats from super yachts to sport fishing charters. With plans for 350 slips, it aims to be Costa Rica’s largest and most advanced marina.

Flamingo Marina

Flamingo Marina is a full-service marina, also on the Guanacaste coast. Technically, it’s located at the southern end of Playa Potrero rather than Flamingo itself, but that’s kinda splitting hairs. Opened in 2023, it offers 92 slips with floating docks of all lengths and beams.

There are exclusive marina residences, a first-class hotel, and a variety of shops and restaurants. This makes Marina Flamingo a great place to visit or live, whether you are a boater or not. And you might even spot some folks sporting custom boating apparel, which adds a personal touch to their sailing experience! These unique pieces not only embody the spirit of the sailing but often feature prints of their own boats.

Los Sueños Marina

The next marina is way south of Guanacaste, on the Central Pacific coast. Located in Herradura, outside the tourist town of Jaco, Los Sueños could be Costa Rica’s most renowned marina.

Opened in 1996, the Los Sueños Marina was Costa Rica’s first government-approved marina. It offers 200 wet slips, 166 dry slips, a fuel dock, and dedicated staff. The wet slips accommodate vessels from 30 to 180 feet, while the dry storage spaces fit boats under 41 feet. Los Sueños is home to one of Costa Rica’s premier charter fleets, offering options for full-day, half-day, and overnight trips to explore the finest fishing grounds onshore and offshore.

The resort development around Los Sueños includes a marina village with restaurants, spas, and shops.

Marina Pez Vela

Marina Pez Vela in Quepos was established in 2014 and has become a central hub for Costa Rica’s sport fishing culture. The marina hosts international competitions and serves as the base for a large charter fleet. Its location, with easy access to Manuel Antonio, makes it super-convenient for tourists seeking a day out on the ocean. The marina village features condos, restaurants, and shops.

The marina offers more than 195 wet slips, accommodating vessels up to 200 feet in length. A state-of-the-art concrete floating dock system ensures practical functionality, and the safe operating depth of 14 feet guarantees easy access. Each slip is equipped with fiber optic high-speed internet and digital cable, and the basin is well-protected by a coffer dam.

Marina Pez Vela also features a comprehensive dry dock storage rack. This option is particularly suitable for smaller vessels or boat owners who don’t use their boats consistently.

Marina Bahia Golfito

Way down south at the near bottom of Costa Rica, between the mainland and the Osa Peninsula, is the Golfo Dulce. Here, you’ll find Bahia Golfito, a unique “gulf within a gulf” and home to the Marina Bahia Golfito.

Marina Bahia Golfito accommodates vessels from 40 to 350 feet. Its 45 slips are protected by mangroves, which safeguard against heavy swells and bad weather. The marina also offers bunkering services and their team includes trained dockhands and fuel attendants.

The Marina Bahia Golfito also has its own hotel, beach bar, and restaurant.

Banana Bay Marina

Also in Golfito (this part of Costa Rica is made for marinas) is the Banana Bay Marina. This small marina offers offers 60 wet slips and an additional 12 dry slips, catering to boats of up to 150 feet LOA. For docking, the marina accommodates vessels up to 120 feet in length.

The marina also offers dry dock facilities. A service shop handles minor repairs, while a comprehensive center caters to outboard motor service and repairs, as well as electronic equipment repairs.

That wraps up our guide to Costa Rica marinas

You’ll see from the list above that there are no marinas on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. This doesn’t mean that you can’t go fishing or diving on that side of the country. But it’s true that – as yet – there are no marinas along the lines of those found on the Pacific. If you’re sailing along this stretch of Central America’s Caribbean, I’d recommend heading towards Panama to find a marina.

Whether you seek sport fishing opportunities, a place to park your boat, or simply like the vibes of marinas and nautical life, I hope this guide helps. These five Costa Rica marinas each have their own attributes and attractions. I enjoy them all and hope you will too.

Justin DeBoom lives in Jaco, Costa Rica where he works as a travel consultant and fishing specialist. He can be contacted at justindeboom@namutravel.com.

Justin DeBoom

Justin DeBoom

Justin DeBoom first came to Costa Rica in 2005 with friends and fell in love with the country. As an avid angler in his home state of Florida, he quickly decided Costa Rica would be his primary destination for travel until he made the permanent move in 2009. After two years living, traveling and fishing throughout Costa Rica, he met his Costa Rican wife, Lucia. They now live in Jaco, Costa Rica and own a fishing charter called Caribsea Sportfishing. Justin also works for Costa Rica Vacations helping people plan amazing vacations. Whether it is Costa Rica, Panama, fishing, family travel, or just simple questions, he is there to help. Contact him at justindeboom@namutravel.com