Zancudo

Introducing Zancudo

The tiny town of Zancudo sits on a slender finger of land that juts into the Golfo Dulce, 15km south of Golfito. On the west side, gentle, warm, Pacific waters lap up onto its black sands, inviting swimmers, sunbathers and surfers to frolic on these shores. On the east side, a tangle of mangrove swamps attracts birds, crocodiles and plenty of fish, which in turn attract fisher people hoping to reel them in.

In the midst of these natural habitats, the town of Zancudo is constituted by one dirt road, which leads from the boat dock in the north, past the lodges that are strung along the shore and out of town south toward Pavones.

Zancudo is a popular destination for Ticos, especially around New Year and during the annual Fishing & Blues Festival held in early February. Nonetheless, seeing another person on the beach means it’s ‘crowded.’ The surf is gentle, and at night the water sometimes sparkles with bioluminescence, tiny phosphorescent marine plants and plankton that light up if you sweep a hand through the water – the effect is like underwater fireflies.

The largest store in town is the Super Bella­vista (opposite Cabinas Tío Froylan), where there is also a public phone. Oceano (776 0921; www.oceanacabinas.com) offers Internet access. There is no bank in town and very few places accept credit cards, so bring your cash from Golfito.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009