Costa Rica is brimming with wild, living terrain, and the easy warmth of “Pura Vida,” a lifestyle rooted in life’s simple joys. But beyond its well-loved beaches and volcanoes, quieter corners still capture the country’s raw magic. One of those is Golfito, home to Amaka Ocean Living Lodge, an exclusive waterfront retreat on the country’s southernmost edge that brings sustainable luxury to life.
The 10-room property is intimately nestled into Golfito’s Marina Bahia and near Piedras Blancas National Park, and it’s the perfect launch pad for exploring the South Pacific’s vibrant coast.
Visitors come for more than the lodging, but for the renowned Marina Bahía Golfito, with 54 luxury slips servicing megayachts, yachts, and sport fishing boats. With open-aired shopping, shoreside dining, and tour options right off your vessel, it’s easy to whisk yourself into the rhythm of the land while staying close to all the water has to offer.
Amaka Lodge is just paces from the gentle bay, and a short distance from the border of Panama. From firsthand experience, these are the top activities and amenities that made my weekend at Amaka Ocean Living Lodge unforgettable, and a formidable choice for eco-tourists and adventurers.
How to get to Marina Bahia Golfito’s Amaka Ocean Living Lodge
Getting to Amaka Ocean Living Lodge, which is situated in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, is scenic and straightforward. First, fly into San José International Airport (SJO). From there, take a domestic connection via SANSA Airlines. It’s a fast, 50-minute flight that lands you less than 10 minutes from the property.
SANSA planes are tiny, and you’ll be sitting very close to your flightmates — I boarded a 12-seater that doubled as a view-filled tour, excitement building as I passed over rainforest-covered mountains, meandering rivers, and miles of rugged coastline.
I suggest pre-booking a private transfer service to complete the final 1.5-mile leg to the property once you land. Contact the lodge for help arranging your ride from Golfito’s airport.
Traveling to the town of Golfito by road is possible, and a car or bus ride (via local operator TRACOPA) can take up to 7 hours. Expect potential delays during the rainy season (approximately May through November) due to muddy landslides and traffic bottlenecks.
What to do in Marina Bahia Golfito
Marina Bahía Golfito is the primary entry hub for Costa Rica’s Golfito Bay, and the full-service dock has 54 spaces for ships and super yachts to visit its shores. The eco-luxury marina’s grounds offer something for everyone, including:
- Sport fishing: As a top sport fishing destination, Golfito Bay is an ideal destination for catching deep-sea species like Black Marlin, Sailfish, and Tuna, year-round.
- Marina Village: Visitors can browse boutique kiosks in the open-air marketplace, featuring a cafe, ice cream shop, and jewelry store. Practical services such as tour planning, car rentals, spa services, and groceries are also available in the village.
- Robust tour options: From whale watching to snorkeling, to visiting neighboring attractions, Marina Bahía Golfito can arrange customized tours for its visitors upon request. Their extensive tour portfolio offers some of the best sightseeing available in the tropical Fjord.
Here are the highlights from my favorite activities in Marina Bahía Golfito:
Snorkel, paddleboard, and fish
There’s plenty to do in the ecologically rich waters of Golfito Bay, and the tropical fjord is teeming with marine life. Guests can arrange a snorkeling and paddling boat tour. Our tour guide expertly navigated our group to scenic spots, pointing out features of rainforested hillsides along the way. My personal highlight was the underwater nursery of grafted coral, a sustainability effort to create protective habitats for aquatic life in the tropical fjord.
Amaka Ocean Living Lodge curates everything you need for a day of sportfishing, and you can choose between a calmer inshore trip or an extended trip offshore searching for tuna, marlin, and dorado. Your charter will include bait, gear, and refreshments, and with few boats on the water, it’s as peaceful as adventurous to enjoy big game fishing.
Find wildlife on and off the shore
Nature is ever-present at the marina, and at the water’s edge, you can hear the toucans, motmots, and kingfishers echoing throughout the bay. I was greeted by dozens of dolphins just yards from the lodge during breakfast, all without leaving the property. Just lounging onsite brings wildlife to you.
If you do choose to venture out, you can see migrating humpback whales, especially in peak months between August and October. A smaller number of whales swim down from the Northern hemisphere from December to March, making the Golfo Dulce a rare spot where whales visit from both sides of the equator. Look for bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and mobula rays alongside the majestic whales.
Explore Piedras Blancas National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park is about 30 minutes from the marina at Amaka and protects one of the last untouched lowland rainforests in Costa Rica. It’s wild in the best way, with orchids sprouting from dense jungle, leading to steep green hills that drop into a fjord-like gulf.
Popular excursions include hiking during the dry season, kayaking down the Río Esquinas, and spotting morpho butterflies and howler monkeys in the dense mangroves. The Sardinal Waterfall is nestled deep in the park, spilling cool pools of rainwater into a fern-laden basin.
Wearing close-toed shoes, waterproof layers, and insect repellent is essential in the park, especially during rainy summer months. While the park is accessible, it’s notably wild and should be explored with caution, especially with young children.
Staying at Amaka Ocean Living Lodge, at the marina’s wild edge
Amaka Ocean Living Lodge is tucked in Golfo Dulce’s tropical marina, and the property feels like a quiet exhale into the calm sea bay. In the mornings, you’re greeted with the song of the scarlet macaws and the soft sound of waves from the balcony.
The lodge is part modern luxury, part rustic, with wood accents, sustainability-minded murals, and open-air shopping. It’s an unhurried vibe with everything you need onsite, perfect for couples, families, and small groups.
Accommodations
Amaka Ocean Living Lodge’s rooms strike a balance between coastal charm and modern ease, designed to invite relaxation and comfort. Every suite boasts large bright windows, comfy linens, natural wooden touches, and ample amenities. Rooms are equipped with a hanging wicker lounger, perfect for reading a book or gazing out at the marina during sunset.
My room was meticulously clean and thoughtfully organized, without the usual sterility hotels possess. Everything I needed was at arm’s reach or easily procured by the ever-helpful staff. A nightly complimentary dessert was delivered to my room each evening, a nod to the property’s commitment to adding a dash of delight to visitors.
Communal spaces and dining
Tranquility is found beyond Amaka’s suites, with grounds designed to mirror the serenity of its rooms. The spacious rooftop hot tub rewards soakers with peaceful views of the forested shoreline. On-site open-air shops offer essentials like SPF and gear alongside niceties like ice cream and a full-service salon.
The property offers the ease and service of a resort without the crowds and pretense. Every detail brought me closer to nature’s rhythm rather than distraction. The lodge is designed to harmonize with its surroundings, not impose upon them.
Dining at Amaka’s La Playa Restaurant is a quietly elegant affair, and the open-air restaurant is perched on the edge of Golfito Bay. The Latin American-slanted menu offers local catch selections, wood-oven pizzas, and innovative ceviches. Mornings bring balanced coffee, fresh-pressed juices, and hearty omelets and fruit plates. Dishes are paired with unadulterated views of Costa Rica’s wilderness — crocodiles, schools of dolphins, and gleaming yachts drifting past as I dined.
Golfito excursions
The safe and friendly town of Golfito embraces Costa Rica’s Pacific spirit with its compact rows of colorful homes situated along an open stretch of the bay. It’s worth exploring the winding corridors and tours to bump elbows with locals and experience a taste of cultural and ecological immersion. Here’s a review of my two favorite off-site activities arranged by Amaka Ocean Living Lodge, both well worth your time:
Town & Heritage Tours
Arrange a tour with the lodge to visit Golfito’s quieter neighborhoods, immersed in jungle terrain and dotted with historical landmarks. The town was once a major banana exporter under the United Fruit Company, and the locomotives and crumbling stone structures tell the story of fruit running down tracks to be distributed at the dock.
These days, the town is filled with active communities, universities, and palm oil has replaced banana cultivation as the town’s leading resource. A survey of Golfito not only brings visitors to tourist spots but also provides a glimpse into the daily life of Costa Ricans. Even in more urban areas of town, you’ll spot toucans, lizards, and turtles along the perimeters — a reminder that life is around every corner in this tropical enclave.
Birdwatching Tours
For full immersion in southern Costa Rica’s wildness, I highly recommend scheduling a birdwatching tour through Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, located at the edge of the Piedras Blancas National Park. I joined the morning tour, but nightly walks are available as well. My experience began with warm coffee in a bird stand shelter, accompanied by an expert guide who provided species identification and thoughtful ecological insights.
Next, we embarked on a mile-long loop trail taking us into the heart of the dense lowland rainforest. Bird songs echoed against the canopies, and our guide paused often to point out ancient trees, orchids, and the dutiful march of tree-cutter ants across the forest floor. The gentle walk was unhurried and took about an hour to complete. Enjoy a traditional meal and cold drink in the lodge’s kitchen afterward, if you have time to linger on the lush grounds.
