Along the sparsely populated middle Pacific coast( map ) region of Costa Rica, twenty miles south of Manuel Antonio, lies the unique little beach community of Playa Matapalo. Unlike its more popular neighbors, Dominical and Quepos/Manuel Antonio, it doesn't have world-class surf or a famous park to draw international tourists. Instead, it has a slow, stroll about pace and a beautiful, long sandy beach, perfect for swimming and watching sunsets.
Because the beach community is not directly
on the main Pacific Coast road and is over
a mile away from the town of the same name,
Matapalo is usually bypassed in favor of more
established destinations. This has caused
the people of the pueblo to remain more bucolic
and the area to retain a more natural charm.
Many of the residents don't want to be 'found'
by the outside world, they like the place
just the way it is, peaceful and relaxing.
Walking through town along the beach road, which dead ends at the Rio Portalon, one sees a number of small houses, a few cabinas, a couple of bar/restaurants and a lot of open space. Because of the small size of the human population, there are many types of wildlife seen right in the middle of town. Sloths, iguanas, monkeys and toucans abound with even an occasional sighting of some of the regions small, wild cats.
For those wishing to sojourn into the surrounding country side or take part in some of the different activities in the area, a number of different options are available. Fisherman interested in trying a different kind of Costa Rican fishing experience, may want to try their luck on the beach or at the nearby Portalon river mouth. Snook and red and black snapper are plentiful, with catches by locals weighing as much as 30 lb. Horseback tours are available along the beach or into the surrounding, forest covered hillsides. Lots of wildlife, beautiful views and refreshing waterfalls make these trips well worth the price of admission.
In a country where 'Pura Vida' is the way of life and 'mañana' doesn't mean tomorrow, Playa Matapalo is a place where a person can truly get away from it all and still have a great burger.
How to get there:
Playa Matapalo is situated halfway between
Manuel Antonio/Quepos and Dominical. The dirt road connecting the two coastal
communities contains numerous short, narrow
bridges, all of which accommodate one-way
traffic only. Depending on weather and road
conditions, your trip south to Matapalo from
the Manuel Antonio/Quepos, or north from Dominical,
will require approximately 45 minutes to 1
hour. From Manuel Antonio/Quepos, the road
to Matapalo is a continuation of the same
road that leads to the Quepos airport. From
Dominical, head north on the coastal road,
passing Hacienda Baru.
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