# Marina Papagayo: deep-water berths in Bahia Culebra, Guanacaste > Marina Papagayo is the deep-water marina inside the Peninsula Papagayo resort community on Bahia Culebra. It has 180 serviced berths for yachts up to 250 feet LOA and sits about half an hour from Guanacaste International Airport, which makes it a practical base for cruisers, sportfishing boats and crew changes in the north. Source: https://costaricasailing.net/marina-papagayo/ Last checked: 2026-10-22 Location: Peninsula Papagayo, Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Type: marina, boat services Official website: https://peninsulapapagayo.com/marina/ Location: Bahia Culebra, Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste Berths: 180 serviced slips for vessels up to 250 feet LOA Services: Fuel, 24/7 monitoring, yacht assist and a dockside concierge Airport: About 30 minutes by road to Guanacaste International Airport (LIR) in Liberia Opened: 2009 ## What it is Marina Papagayo is the big-boat marina of Costa Rica's far north Pacific. It sits on the shore of Bahia Culebra, inside the gated Peninsula Papagayo resort and residential community, and it's been open since 2009. If you're sailing down from Mexico or up from Panama and want a proper dock with fuel, security and an easy airport run, this is the one most northbound and southbound cruisers end up looking at. The marina's own numbers are 180 fully serviced berths for yachts up to 250 feet LOA. The longest pier is a deep-water face dock of more than 1,000 feet, built with superyachts in mind, but the marina takes everything from sportfishing boats to cruising sailboats. ## Services at the dock What the marina lists today: - Mooring assistance and yacht assist when you arrive - 24/7 monitoring of the docks - Fuel bunkering - A dockside concierge who'll help with airport transfers, shuttles, car rental, dining and activities The marina village on the shore is being upgraded as part of a wider investment in the peninsula, so it's worth asking what's open on land when you book your slip. Ask, too, about clearance and paperwork if Marina Papagayo is your first stop in Costa Rica, since the steps can change and the marina team will know the current routine. ## Getting there By sea, Bahia Culebra opens off the Gulf of Papagayo, the large bay between the Santa Elena peninsula and the Nicoya peninsula. The marina publishes its position as N 10 38 21.5, W 85 39 20.3. By land, it's roughly a 30-minute drive from Guanacaste International Airport (LIR) in Liberia. That short hop is a real plus for crew changes, owners flying in for a week, or guests joining a charter: you can be off a flight from the US and on the boat the same afternoon. ## Weather and conditions Northern Guanacaste has a clear dry season from about December to April, which is also when the Papagayo winds blow. These strong offshore winds funnel through the gap in the mountains and can whip up the gulf from roughly December to March, so plan arrivals, departures and docking with that in mind and keep good spring lines and chafe gear on. The green season (about May to November) brings afternoon rain but calmer winds, and it overlaps with the better offshore fishing months on the north coast. ## Who it suits - Cruising sailors who want a secure, full-service stop in the north before heading south along the coast - Sportfishing boats and their owners, with offshore grounds a short run away - Superyachts that need deep water and long berths, which are rare on this coast - Charter guests flying into Liberia who want to start their trip close to the airport Smaller day-tour boats in the area generally run from beaches like Playas del Coco instead. For local sailing trips nearby, look at [Kuna Vela](/kuna-vela-playas-del-coco/) and [Sea Bird Sailing Excursions](/seabird-sailing-exursion/), both based in Coco on the same gulf. ## Good to know before you book - Reserve a berth through the marina's website before you arrive, especially in the dry season. - The marina is inside a private resort community, so land access for visitors is managed at the gate. - Rates aren't published here; ask the marina directly for current pricing for your length and stay. ## Frequently asked questions ### How far is Marina Papagayo from Liberia airport? About 30 minutes by road from Guanacaste International Airport (LIR). ### How big a boat can Marina Papagayo take? The marina lists berths for yachts up to 250 feet LOA, with a deep-water face dock of more than 1,000 feet. ### Does Marina Papagayo sell fuel? Yes. Fuel bunkering is one of the services the marina lists. ### When are the Papagayo winds strongest? Usually from about December to March, during the dry season. They can make the gulf rough and docking trickier. ### Can I clear into Costa Rica at Marina Papagayo? Ask the marina before you arrive. Clearance procedures in Costa Rica can change, and the marina team can tell you what's needed for your boat.