# Golfito: Sportfishing and Boating on the Golfo Dulce > Golfito is an old banana port on a deep, sheltered bay inside the Golfo Dulce, near the Panama border, and it's one of the main fishing and yachting towns on Costa Rica's southern Pacific. It has 2 marinas with charter fleets, inshore fishing in the gulf and offshore billfish water about an hour's run out. It suits anglers who want a quieter, less built-up base than Quepos or Papagayo. Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/golfito-sportfishing-and-boating-venture/ Last checked: 2026-11-14 Where: Golfito Bay, inside the Golfo Dulce, Puntarenas province Marinas: Banana Bay Marina, Marina Bahía Golfito Inshore: Roosterfish, snapper, jacks, snook Offshore: Sailfish, marlin, tuna, dorado, wahoo Getting there: Domestic flights to Golfito's airstrip, or about 6 to 7 hours by road from San José ## Why Golfito Golfito means "little gulf", and the name fits: the town wraps around a small, deep bay that opens off the much bigger Golfo Dulce, the gulf that separates the Osa Peninsula from the mainland. Steep, forested hills drop straight to the water, and the bay is calm almost every day of the year, which is why the United Fruit Company ran its banana port and southern headquarters here for decades, until it pulled out in 1985, and why yachts and sportfishing boats tie up here today. The town is long and thin, squeezed between the hills and the shore. One end has the old company houses and the marinas, the other has the shops and the duty-free zone, opened in 1986 after the banana company left, where Costa Ricans still come to shop. It's a working town rather than a resort, and that's part of the appeal for anglers. ## The marinas Golfito has 2 marinas, and both run or host charter boats. [Banana Bay Marina](/banana-bay-marina-in-golfito/) is the smaller and older of the 2, with a sportfishing fleet of its own that runs from small center consoles up to 53-foot sportfishing yachts, a fuel dock, a few rooms and a bar over the water. Marina Bahía Golfito, part of the IGY Marinas group, is the newer and bigger one, built to take large yachts and superyachts, with a fuel dock and help with clearing into the country. Several private charter boats keep berths there. Golfito is also an official port of entry, which makes it the first stop in Costa Rica for many cruising yachts coming north from Panama. ## The fishing **Inshore.** The Golfo Dulce is sheltered water, so inshore fishing is possible on days when the open ocean is too rough. Crews work the rocky points, river mouths and mangrove edges for [roosterfish](/roosterfish-the-majestic-fish-of-costa-rica/), snapper, jacks and [snook](/snook-in-costa-rica/). Small boats and half days are the norm. **Offshore.** Outside the gulf, the water drops off fast. Banana Bay says its marlin grounds are about 30 miles out, so offshore days start with a fair run, but the reward is [sailfish](/the-pacific-sailfish/), [marlin](/marlin-the-tropical-sporting-fish/), [yellowfin tuna](/yellowfin-tuna/), [dorado](/the-dolphin-fish-mahi-mahi/) and [wahoo](/wahoo-in-costa-rica-a-faboulous-catch/). Local crews generally give the dry season, roughly December to April, as the peak for billfish on the southern Pacific, though fish are caught all year. All the usual Costa Rican rules apply: you need a sportfishing license, and sailfish and marlin must be released. ## Lodges around the gulf A few fishing lodges sit around the Golfo Dulce, each with its own boats. South of Golfito, at the mouth of the gulf, [Zancudo Fishing Lodge](/zancudo-fishing-lodge/) sits on a long beach facing the open Pacific. Across the gulf on the Osa Peninsula, [Crocodile Bay](/crocodile-bay-resort/) runs a large fleet from Puerto Jiménez; see our guide to [fishing from Puerto Jiménez](/puerto-jimenez-sportfishing-adventures/) for that side. ## Beyond fishing The forest around Golfito is protected. The Golfito National Wildlife Refuge covers the hills right behind town, and Piedras Blancas National Park lies a little to the north, both managed by SINAC's Osa conservation area. Water taxis cross the gulf to beaches and small lodges that have no road access, and dolphins and, in season, humpback whales are seen in the gulf. Surfers head south to Pavones, known for its long left-hand point wave, and to Playa Zancudo when there's swell. ## Getting there Small planes fly from San José to Golfito's airstrip, which is the fastest way in. By road, it's a long drive south down the Costanera coastal highway or over the mountains on the Inter-American Highway; plan on most of a day. Many anglers combine Golfito with Puerto Jiménez, linked by a passenger boat across the gulf. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Golfito good for sportfishing? Yes. It has inshore fishing in the sheltered gulf and offshore billfish water outside it, plus 2 marinas with charter boats. ### How far out is the offshore fishing? Banana Bay Marina puts its marlin grounds about 30 miles out, beyond the mouth of the gulf. ### Can I clear into Costa Rica by boat in Golfito? Yes. Golfito is an official port of entry, and Marina Bahía Golfito helps visiting yachts with clearance. ### What's the fastest way to get to Golfito? A domestic flight from San José to Golfito's airstrip.