Secrets Papagayo Resort & Spa
Adults-only and all-inclusive on a secluded bay in the Gulf of Papagayo, with 202 suites, a three-level infinity pool with a swim-up bar, and a spa.
5-starView hotel
Playa Panamá
A quiet beach in the Gulf of Papagayo where the water is so calm it feels like a lake, about an hour from Liberia airport. Most of our clients spend 4 nights here.
- Fly into
- LIR
- Liberia about 1 hour
- Stay
- 4 nights
- What most of our clients choose
- Best weather
- Jan to Mar
- Dry season
- Region
- Guanacaste
- Calm bay, dry forest, resorts
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Private transfer, about 4 hours
Why go
The calmest water in the gulf
Playa Panamá lies at the southern edge of Bahía Culebra, a small bay inside the Gulf of Papagayo. With no town centre behind it the beach stays quiet, and the water is calm enough for children to swim, paddle board and kayak. Playa Hermosa, with its Blue Flag, and Playas del Coco are a short drive south, and three national parks, Santa Rosa, Rincón de la Vieja and Palo Verde, are close enough for a day inland.
Calm waterSwimming, kayaks and paddle boards
SailingCatamaran and snorkel trips in the gulf
National parksSanta Rosa, Rincón de la Vieja, Palo Verde
The map
Every hotel we book in Playa Panamá
6 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
What our clients book most in Playa Panamá
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Catamaran sail with snorkellingTour
- 02Adventure day at Hacienda GuachipelínTour
- 03Diamante Eco Adventure ParkTour
- 04Horseback riding at DiamanteTour
- 05Jet ski along the north coastTour
- 06La Leona Waterfall hike and Río Blanco tubingPrivate, Half day
When to go
Driest January to March
Guanacaste has Costa Rica's longest dry season and the least rain even in the rainy months, so Playa Panamá works all year. Bring factor 50 sunscreen: the sun here is intense.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Dry seasonGreen season, still the driest regionSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
About an hour from Liberia airport
From Liberia (LIR)about 1 hourPrivate transfer, with a meet and greet at arrivals
From Arenalabout 4 hoursPrivate transfer across Guanacaste
From Monteverdeabout 3 hoursPrivate transfer down from the cloud forest
Where to go next
Where our clients go after Playa Panamá
Good to know
Playa Panamá questions we answer every week
Which airport is closest to Playa Panamá?
Liberia (LIR), about an hour by private transfer.
How many nights do I need at Playa Panamá?
4 nights is what most of our clients choose: beach days, an afternoon on a catamaran and a day inland at Rincón de la Vieja.
Is the water calm enough for children?
Yes. Stepping into the water at Playa Panamá feels like entering a lake or a pool, which is why so many families come here.
Is there a town at Playa Panamá?
There is no town centre, which keeps the beach quiet, but there are a few good restaurants nearby. Playas del Coco, a short drive south, has more restaurants and nightlife.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística