Gulf of Papagayo

Costa Rica, Costa Rica

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The Gulf of Papagayo is a large bay on the northwestern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in Guanacaste Province, opening off the ocean near the Papagayo Peninsula and known for its calm turquoise waters, white‑sand beaches, and dry‑tropical‑forest backdrop. It is a major tourism zone developed around a designated “Tourism Pole,” with popular spots such as Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal, and the marina‑centred resort area of Culebra Bay drawing visitors for luxury resorts, water sports, and beach holidays. The gulf is also biologically rich, with shallow to moderate depths that support coral reefs, rocky seabeds, and diverse marine life, including dolphins and the occasional orca, and several of its beaches have earned the Blue Flag for high environmental and water‑quality standards.