Isla Guayabo pelican colony (seen from the ferry)
Nature spot · Nicoya Peninsula · hidden gem
A cliff-sided rock island in the middle of the gulf and the largest of Costa Rica's few brown-pelican nesting colonies, shared with boobies and frigatebirds, and peregrine falcons in winter. It's a strictly protected biological reserve - nobody lands - but the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry passes close by.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 10 min
- Best time
- daytime crossings on the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry
- Kids
- 4 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 5 / 10
- Effort
- 0 / 10
- Location
- 9.91163, -84.8791 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Swimming
- No swimming
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Bring
- binoculars
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Stand on the ferry's upper deck with binoculars about halfway across.
Be careful
Stay on marked trails, carry water and rain gear, and don't touch or feed wildlife.
Getting there
Seen from the Puntarenas-Paquera ferry or from gulf boat tours. Landing is not allowed.
Places nearby
- Bahía Rica (bioluminescent kayak tours & fishing lodge)Tours & AdventureA small wooden kayak-and-fishing lodge on the bluff 1.5 km east of the Paquera ferry landing, best known for its night kayak tour on Paquera's bio-bay, where every paddle stroke lights up blue-green plankton and you can even jump in and swim through the glow.
- Parque Marino del PacíficoParks & WildlifeAquarium park in Puntarenas' old railway station, about three hectares of tanks with sea turtles, tropical fish, rays, crocodiles and large sharks, plus a small pool and play area for children - an easy family stop at the east end of the seafront.
- Tortuga Island Tour (Isla Tortuga Tour Costa Rica)Tours & Adventure · from $70High-volume Isla Tortuga operator: snorkeling, a beach day and lunch on the island, with departures from Tambor and Montezuma, Santa Teresa and Puntarenas.
- Soda La EsmeraldaSodas & Local FoodA roadside soda on the Paquera-Tambor road with a solid Google rating from over 250 reviews - a handy refuel stop for traditional Costa Rican food.
Sources: OpenStreetMap relation/8010592 · Wikidata Q5614363 · https://nicoyapeninsula.com/gulf/islands/ · https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/8010592