# The Zancudo Lodge: a fishing lodge with its own dock near Golfito

> The Zancudo Lodge is a fishing lodge on Playa Zancudo, near the mouth of the Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica's far south. Its fleet of Contender center consoles leaves from the lodge's own dock on the Sábalo River, about 5 minutes from the gulf's inshore water and 45 minutes from the offshore grounds. Packages cover flights from San José, meals, drinks and fishing, so it suits anglers who want everything arranged.

Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/zancudo-fishing-lodge/
Last checked: 2026-11-14
Location: Playa Zancudo, Playa Zancudo, Southern Pacific, Costa Rica
Type: fishing lodge
Official website: https://zancudolodge.com/
Location: Playa Zancudo, Golfito, between the Pacific and the Sábalo River
Fleet: 32 foot Contenders with twin Yamaha 300s, plus a Contender 44 with triple Yamaha 425s
Run times: About 5 minutes to inshore fishing, about 45 minutes offshore
Leaves from: The lodge's private dock
Billfish: All released; the lodge helps with satellite tagging
Getting there: Flight from San José to Golfito, then taxi and boat transfer

## A lodge built around the boats

Playa Zancudo is a long, quiet strip of sand on the southern edge of the Golfo Dulce, across the water from Golfito. The Zancudo Lodge sits on it with the Pacific on one side and the Sábalo River on the other, and that river is the key to the place: the lodge's fleet ties up at its own dock there, so your day starts with a walk through the garden rather than a drive to a marina.

From the dock, the lodge says it's about a 5 minute run to the river mouth and the inshore water of the gulf, or about 45 minutes to the offshore grounds. The owners live on site.

## The fleet

The lodge fishes from 32 foot Contender center consoles with twin Yamaha 300 outboards, live wells, tuna tubes and Simrad radar. Owner Gregg Mufson has since added a Contender 44 with triple Yamaha 425s and a Seakeeper stabilizer, and the lodge says that boat often has a waiting list, so ask early if you want it. Tackle is Okuma rods and reels with BKK hooks, and the lodge supplies lures and teasers.

## The fishing

Offshore, Zancudo crews fish for marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. Inshore, the gulf and the coast toward Pavones hold roosterfish and cubera snapper, and you can fish the riverbanks too. The lodge says more than 70 IGFA records have been set from its boats, and it releases all billfish, often helping with satellite tagging for research with groups such as FECOP, the Costa Rican sportfishing federation.

A normal day starts with breakfast at 5:30 am and a 6 am dock call. Lunch is packed on the boat, and you're back around 3:30 or 4 pm.

## Rooms and food

Rooms come as standard rooms, junior suites and master suites, with twice-daily housekeeping. The Gamefisher Restaurant faces the ocean, and there's a saltwater pool, a palapa lounge and miles of beach to walk. Non-fishing partners can join hikes, zip-lining, waterfall rappelling and horseback rides, and the surf town of Pavones is next door.

## Getting there

The lodge's packages include the domestic transfer: a SANSA flight from San José to Golfito, a taxi to the Golfito marina and a boat across to the lodge. The flight takes about 50 minutes. If you land in San José early enough, you can make the 4 pm flight to Golfito and arrive the evening before your first fishing day.

On the Golfito side of the gulf, [Banana Bay Marina](/banana-bay-marina-in-golfito/) and [Fish Hook Marina](/fish-hook-marina-and-lodges/) are the main town docks, and [Crocodile Bay](/crocodile-bay-resort/) fishes from Puerto Jiménez.

## Frequently asked questions

### What boats does The Zancudo Lodge use?

32 foot Contenders with twin Yamaha 300s, plus a Contender 44 with triple Yamaha 425s.

### How far is the fishing from the lodge?

The lodge says inshore water is about 5 minutes from its dock and the offshore grounds about 45 minutes.

### How do I get to The Zancudo Lodge?

Fly from San José to Golfito, then take a taxi to the Golfito marina and a boat to the lodge. The lodge arranges all of it in its packages.

### Does the lodge keep billfish?

No. It releases all billfish and often helps with satellite tagging.