Bahía Santa Elena (marine management area)
Nature spot · Guanacaste · hidden gem
A protected bay on the north side of the Santa Elena Peninsula, covering the Santa Elena, Lucas and Matapalito bays: fine-sand beaches, rocky points and coral rock in the shallows.
- Time there
- 3 h
- Best time
- morning boat trip
- Kids
- 5 / 10
- View
- 8 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 8 / 10
- Effort
- 3 / 10
- Location
- 10.92241, -85.80179 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Better to book ahead
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
See it on a local boat trip from Cuajiniquil, or from the Los Pargos lookout in the Murciélago sector.
Be careful
Fishing and taking shells or coral is not allowed in the protected area.
Getting there
By boat from Cuajiniquil, or by land through the Murciélago sector of Santa Rosa National Park.
Sources: OpenStreetMap relation/10316870 · Wikidata Q23737030 · https://www.ict.go.cr/flipbook/guias/flip-en/GUIA_GUANACASTE_NORTE/files/basic-html/page40.html · https://acguanacaste.ac.cr/1997/ecodesarrollo/ecoturismo/murcielagoturing.html