Isla Pelícano (Golfito)
Nature spot · Osa Peninsula · hidden gem
A small wooded islet with a strip of beach just off the southern shore of Golfito, a classic paddle-board or kayak outing over the usually mirror-flat water of the gulf; dolphins sometimes swim right past the boards.
- Time there
- 2 h
- Best time
- early morning, when the gulf is glassy
- Kids
- 5 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 7 / 10
- Effort
- 4 / 10
- Location
- 8.60098, -83.14504 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Better to book ahead
- Swimming
- Only when the water is calm
- Bring
- life jacket, sunscreen, water
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Paddle out right after sunrise, when the water is like glass; waterfront lodgings on this stretch rent boards and kayaks or go with an instructor.
Be careful
Wind picks up later in the day — check the conditions and wear a life jacket.
Getting there
About 1 km off the shore south of Golfito town; reached by paddle board, kayak or boat.
Places nearby
- Restaurante Mar y LunaFood & CoffeeA relaxed seafood restaurant right on the water in the southern part of Golfito; the whole fried fish is the dish to order, and it's good enough that visitors come back for dinner the same day.
- Restaurante Buenos DíasFood & CoffeeRetro diner in Golfito's Pueblo Civil with air conditioning and a long opening day (6 am to 10 pm), known for fish and chips, burgers and typical Costa Rican plates.
- Restaurante La Playa (Golfito Marina Village)Food & CoffeeWaterfront restaurant at the marina in Golfito with ocean views, known for ceviche, fish tacos, burgers and well-made cocktails; open for breakfast and dinner.
- Cielo LodgeStays · from $290Intimate luxury eco-lodge of private canopy suites high above the Golfo Dulce, with farm-to-table dining and ocean views.
- Esquinas Rainforest LodgeStays · takes 1.5 h–3 h · from $70Rainforest lodge in the Golfito area with full-board stays and a pool and gardens set in the jungle.
- Aventuras CaféFood & CoffeeFamily café near the Puerto Jiménez airstrip, opened in 2021 by the owners of a long-running kayak outfit: healthy breakfasts, tuna burgers, chicken fajitas on corn tortillas, fresh coffee and a coconut-yuca cake.
Sources: OpenStreetMap relation/17970219 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/17970219 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4212592232 · https://quebuenlugar.com/es/lugares/golfito-ms-que-electrodomsticos-un-paraso-de-naturaleza-marina