Playa Cabo Matapalo Beach

Puntarenas Costa Rica

Information for Surfers:
This beach offers perfect waves in one of the most beautiful and untouched areas left in Costa Rica. Located just across the bay from Pavones, it catches the same swells, but is much less surfed. There are actually 3 places to go surfing in Matapalo: Two world-class right rock / point breaks that can get excellent, breaking for 200 meters when it is good. Both are very rocky in the beginning and the end of the wave, experts only surfing with a bigger board if there is a serious swell. These breaks are in the two bays right before the huge landslide. Pan Dulce (sweet bread) is a much smaller an mellower beach break. There is also a cloud break-type right that only breaks on the biggest swells. this wave breaks off the landslide in front of rocks. There are lots of Sharks in this area, adding to the element of danger.

There aren't any stores or restaurants in this area, so come prepared if you are not staying in any of the jungle lodges and stock up. One can get here from Puerto Jiménez, Pavones or Golfito.

Text by Angela and Jörn Malek. The team of 1-CostaRicaLink wishes you the best of times in our little paradise called Costa Rica.