Playas del Coco has become one of the growing hotspots in Costa Rica for tourists and locals to come and enjoy a weekend away from the ever busy city life. With beaches all around, fantastic weather, and a laid back atmosphere, this little beach town is never asleep and never dull. If you stay for a weekend, you’ll want to keep coming back to enjoy all that Coco has to offer.

But if you are here for just a few days, what are some of the best things to do in the area?

Of course there is the beach but if you are looking to make the most out of your time and your money, here are our top things to do in a weekend at Playas del Coco.

Sportfishing

Playas del Coco is located within the Gulf of Papagayo, which has some of the best sportfishing in the country. Enjoy a boat ride, learn about the different aspects of sport fishing in the ocean and feel the strength of an incredible beast at the other end. If you are an avid fisherman, a beginner, or just have an adventurous spirit, this is the activity for you.

When you look into hiring a sportfishing company to take you on your exciting day, you want the best. Best equipment, a well-maintained boat and the most importantly, an extremely knowledgeable and experienced crew. Coco’s Fishing Supply is one of the oldest companies in the area and they will make sure that you have an adrenaline filled day. You will be sure to catch billfish of incredible sizes such as marlin, rooster fish, and swordfish, and other impressive fish like wahoo, jack and mackerel. Not only do you experience the excitement of sportfishing, this is also a great way to see the Gulf and take in all the beauty of the ocean.

Diving

For those looking to see some marine wildlife, scuba diving is the best way to swim with the turtles, sharks, manta rays and see huge fish of all sizes and shapes. Playas del Coco is one of the best locations in the country for scuba divers, beginners and advanced. There are various spots throughout the Gulf where you can see all sorts of wildlife and there are quite a few diving companies in Coco to go with such as Rich Coast Diving, Summer Salt, Deep Blue Diving, Resort Divers and Almaco Diving.

Some local dive spots are Las Pelonas islands, the Catalinas islands where you can see the gentle giant manta ray, Bat islands to see the impressive bull sharks and Tortuga, a great spot for beginners to see the looming white tip reef sharks. No matter where you go, you will be sure to see all sorts of magnificent creatures, swimming next to you, around you and above you. If luck is on your side, you can be up close and personal with sea turtles, spot dolphins hunting, or even hear the haunting song of the humpback whales in the water, loud enough for you to feel the notes vibrate in your bones. There is no doubt that the Gulf of Papagayo is filled to the brim with wildlife of all kinds and you’ll come back with an amazing diving story of your own. Once you go once, you’ll want to keep going again and again.

Eating Out

To experience Costa Rica to its fullest, you have to try the local cuisine. Being so close to the ocean, seafood lovers will have their taste buds dancing with joy as they sample some of the freshest seafood in Coco such as fish, lobster, octopus and more. Costa Rican food is fresh, healthy, extremely filling and is a great gateway to learn about the way Costa Ricans live.

If you’re looking to try some authentic Costa Rican food, you must eat at a soda. Sodas are usually a small, open spaced restaurant with outdoor seating that the locals eat at and you can find them in every town, small or big.

Los Pelones and Soda Teresita are two popular sodas in town. Both serve typical food such as casados, gallo pinto, and arroz con pollo. Los Pelones is a pick and choose type of soda, located on the main road across from the Gollo and they are open for breakfast and dinner. Choose from several different dishes to fill up your plate such as cooked vegetables, fried fish, fried chicken, beans, chicken and beef in salsa and mashed potatoes.

Soda Teresita is a beachfront, sit down restaurant where they give you huge helpings of whatever you order. Both sodas are owned by local Coqueños (name for Coco locals) and they sure know how to cook their way into your heart and make you fall in love with Costa Rica cuisine.

For those looking for different variations of international and Costa Rican food, there are a few upscale places to satisfy your needs.

Claudio y Gloria is a fancy and one of the most extravagant restaurants in Coco and they offer a beautiful and romantic ambiance being located right on the beach. They serve international food and fresh seafood that you can try, while having a drink and watching the sunset as you dine. On some nights they have live music which you can dance the night away.

Café de Playa is another beachfront restaurant with a gorgeous landscaped dining area with twinkling lights, perfect for couples on a romantic getaway. Serving up local and international food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s an ideal place to relax any time of the day and enjoy the fresh ocean breeze.

La Farola is a fairly new restaurant located in the popular neighborhood of Las Palmas. They serve authentic Spanish food and the area is elegantly decorated, with lights, candles and flowing curtains. You can dine inside or outside and you’ll feel like you have been transported straight to Spain!

Sunset Cruise

Costa Rica has some fantastic sunsets and taking a cruise around the Gulf is one of the best ways to see them. Sunset cruises here are fairly popular in Playas del Coco, where one can board a catamaran stocked with food and drinks, feel the wind in their face and swim under the stars. They fit quite a few people so you can go with your group of friends and family and all enjoy a lovely cruise on the water, meeting new people and joking with the fun crew. They’ll take you around the Gulf and give you one of the most spectacular views of the sun settling down for the day. They also have cruises in the morning where they take you to some excellent snorkeling spots to swim among fish and other animals. They provide snacks, drinks, snorkel equipment and all you need to bring is your bathing suit and a towel.

Such companies to enjoy a cruise like this are the Sea Bird Sailing Excursions, Marlin del Rey Catamaran Sailing tours, Kuna Vela Sailing Tours and Catamaran Vision Ocean Tours.

Massage

The one thing everyone is looking for in a vacation is to relax. Costa Rica, due to it’s pura vida lifestyle is the ideal country to wash away all your stresses and worries in life and sink into an easy going atmosphere. And there is no better way to release all that tension than to get a soothing massage to unwind. Five Star Spa and Salon offers wonderful massages at their business on the main street of Coco, very close to the beach.

If you don’t feel like leaving your hotel, you can call and make an appointment to have them come to your hotel. The masseuse will send you into a world of bliss and melt away your troubles as they give full body massages focusing on problem spots with other spa services such as manicures, pedicures, hair care and facials.