Papagayo Bay holidays

Holidays to Papagayo Bay in Costa Rica serve up tropical forests, sugar-white beaches and big helpings of local culture.

Beach hop around the bay

Papagayo Bay is made up of a string of white sandy beaches, each with their own stunning vistas. Work your way around the bay and you’ll be treated to views of everything from volcanic peaks smothered in tropical forest to craggy headlines sheltering deserted white sands. The Pacific here is warm year-round and watersports are everywhere. Take your pick from snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking or paddle boarding, to name just a few.

A world of wildlife

Park yourself under the tropical palms that provide welcome shade at the edge of the Papagayo Bay’s beaches and chances are the local wildlife will come to you. You’ll often spot whales and dolphins frolicking in the surf, or fish leaping from the water. Turn your gaze inland and Costa Rica’s rainforest is home to hundreds of species of bird, many of them indigenous to the country. If you fancy leaving the lounger, it’s around one and a half hours to the nearest national park, Santa Rosa, where more wildlife awaits.

Local culture on the doorstep

Don’t worry if you hear people talking about “ticos” at Coco Beach, it’s not a creepy crawlie but a nickname given to the city dwellers who come here to escape. At the southern tip of Papagayo Bay, Coco Beach is a great place to try authentic Costa Rican food. Many of its bars double as restaurants that serve only the freshest, local ingredients – rice, beans and fish are staples of most dishes.