Golfito · Marina
Marina Bahía Golfito
The Golfo Dulce marina once planned as Bahía Escondida
Marina Bahía Golfito is a full-service marina in Golfito on the Golfo Dulce, taking boats from 40 feet up to large superyachts, with high-speed fuel, a crew lounge and help with Port Captain clearance. It's the project that was first promoted as Bahía Escondida, and it suits cruisers and yachts arriving from or heading to Panama.
What it is
When this page was first written, the marina in Golfito was still a plan called Bahía Escondida, with drawings of a waterfront village around it. That project stalled around 2009, and the concession later passed to new owners. Today the site operates as Marina Bahía Golfito, owned by the Costa Rican hospitality group Enjoy Group and listed among the IGY Marinas group of marinas. It's the main full-service marina in Costa Rica's far south and a natural stop for yachts moving between Costa Rica and Panama.
Golfito itself has a long history as a port: the banana company built the town in the 1930s because the bay is deep and well sheltered. That same shelter is what makes it a good place to leave a boat today.
Berths and services
IGY lists 54 slips, 13 of them for superyachts, taking boats from 40 feet up to 350 feet, with a maximum beam of 76 feet and draft of 29 feet. An expansion toward roughly 120 slips was announced in 2023, so ask the office for the current count. Other services:
- High-speed fueling, up to 210 gallons a minute.
- Shore power from 30 and 50 amp up to 100 amp single-phase and 480-volt three-phase.
- Pump-out, waste disposal and 24-hour dock security.
- A tour desk, concierge help and car, scooter and Vespa rentals.
- A crew lounge with a rooftop deck, La Playa Restaurant and a small marina village with shops.
- The Amaka Ocean Living Lodge, a hotel right on the water, if you want a night ashore.
Arriving and clearing in
Golfito is a port of entry, and the marina handles much of the paperwork. Notify customs at least 72 hours before you arrive, with your planned arrival point and time, and let the marina know your ETA. Call on VHF 16 as you approach for a slip assignment. After you've tied up, register at the marina office; staff then contact the Port Captain, who comes to the boat with clearance documents. If you get in after hours, fly the quarantine flag and report in the next morning. Passports need at least 6 months' validity, and you'll need a zarpe (a domestic clearance document) to move between Costa Rican ports.
The office keeps weekday hours plus Saturday mornings, so time your arrival if you can.
Who it suits
Cruising sailors heading south toward Panama or north up the coast, sportfishing boats working the Golfo Dulce and offshore grounds, and superyachts looking for a base near the Osa Peninsula. It's also a sensible place to leave a boat while you travel inland. For a marina farther up the Pacific coast, see Marina Pez Vela in Quepos.
The waters around it
The Golfo Dulce is one of only a few tropical fjord-like gulfs in the world, deep and usually calm compared with the open Pacific. Corcovado and Piedras Blancas national parks sit on its shores. Humpback whales visit the region in two seasons, roughly December to April and July to October, and dolphins are common in the gulf year-round. Rain is heavy here from about May to November, with the drier months from December to April.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bahía Escondida the same as Marina Bahía Golfito?
It's the same marina concession in Golfito. Bahía Escondida was the name of the original plan; the marina now operates as Marina Bahía Golfito.
Can I clear into Costa Rica at Golfito?
Yes. Give customs 72 hours' notice, then the marina staff bring the Port Captain to your boat after you register.
What VHF channel does the marina use?
Channels 10 and 16; hail on 16 as you approach.
How big a boat can it take?
Berths are listed for boats from 40 to 350 feet.
Is there fuel?
Yes, a high-speed fuel dock pumping up to 210 gallons a minute.