Playa Banco (Punta Banco)
Beach · Osa Peninsula · hidden gem
The dark-sand beach of Punta Banco, Pavones' quieter sister at the very south of Costa Rica's Pacific coast: palms, jungle, a surf-town feel and almost nobody else.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2 h
- Best time
- sunset
- Kids
- 3 / 10
- View
- 6 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 5 / 10
- Effort
- 3 / 10
- Location
- 8.35249, -83.13269 — Google Maps
Tip
Come for sunset and bring cash, water and snacks: facilities are minimal.
Be careful
There are no lifeguards and rip currents are common: swim only in calm conditions and not alone.
Getting there
End of the gravel road beyond Pavones; buses from Paso Canoas serve both Pavones and Punta Banco daily.
Places nearby
- Pavones Surf Shop & Surfboard RentalsSurf, Boats & DivingLocally owned surf shop at the Pilón crossroads in Pavones, renting epoxy boards for every level and shaping custom boards in its own workshop since 2008.
- Pollo Surf SchoolSurf, Boats & Diving · from $65Locally owned surf school at Playa Pan Dulce, Matapalo, teaching beginners and intermediates on a gentle right point break since 2002.
- Buena Esperanza (Martina's)Food & CoffeeLong-running local bar and restaurant on the Matapalo road known as Martina's; on Friday nights an artisan market sets up outside with music and dancing that draws surfers, locals and visitors.
- El Remanso LodgeStaysRainforest eco-lodge near the tip of the Osa Peninsula, with villas, a pool and adventure activities such as waterfall rappelling.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/138763947 · Wikidata Q55630784 · https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Pavones · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/138763947 · https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55630784