Tucked away on the horseshoe-shaped Playa Herradura in Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Los Sueños is a hidden gem renowned globally for its superb fishing. It offers a top-tier marina, comfortable luxury stays, a beautiful beach club, a challenging golf course, and easy access to various postcard-perfect beaches in the area and nearby. It’s an excellent destination if you’re seeking outstanding sport fishing action, adventure, and relaxation.
What can you do when you stay in Los Sueños, Costa Rica? Here are a few ideas.
The Fishing — Of Course
Los Sueños is called the billfish capital of the world, making it a dream destination for sport fishing enthusiasts. Known for its rich, deep waters teeming with marine life, this region draws anglers from around the globe hoping to hook sailfish, marlin and other catches prized for how difficult they are to land.
Many fish species thrive in the waters around Los Sueños. Deep-sea or offshore anglers can look forward to a tussle with sailfish, marlin (blue, striped, dark), yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), and bluefin.
In the shallower waters near the shore, inshore anglers can enjoy fishing trips that feature an abundance of grouper, snapper, jack, mackerel, roosterfish, snook, and wahoo.
Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown Billfish Series
One of the highlights of the fishing season is the Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown Billfish Series. This prestigious tournament comprises three phases. Each leg has three winning boats, and the series champion title is awarded to the boat with the highest accumulated points throughout all legs. The series also recognizes the top angler for each leg, the top angler overall, and the top female angler overall.
The triple series is a competition on catching and releasing billfish. Points are awarded for every marlin, spearfish, and sailfish released during three fishing days. Every sailfish release is worth 100 points, while every marlin or spearfish release translates to 500 points.
Even if you’re not into competitive sport fishing, it’s still worthwhile visiting Los Sueños during the yearly billfish tournament. The three legs typically take place in January, February, and March, respectively.
Fishing Charters
Los Sueños also offers numerous charter services and fishing tours year-round. Expert crew provide all the equipment and guidance you need to go on deep-sea and inshore fishing expeditions.
You can choose between half-day and full-day fishing charters. You can also get a sport fishing package that includes airport transfers, multiple days of fishing, and accommodation in a luxury condominium unit or private villa.
Water and Tee Time
If your two passions are golf and fishing, Los Sueños is a destination you’d love to visit every year. Aside from a marina that makes an excellent base for fishing expeditions, it also has a golf course.
La Iguana Golf Course is a challenging 18-hole, par-72, 6,700-yard championship course designed by Ted Robinson. It is located high up, nestled against a rainforest, offering a jungle-like vista with exotic plants, trees and orchids, breathtaking views of the Pacific, and the company of monkeys, macaws and other wildlife.
The next free day you have, you can spend lazing around at the beach club, which has a free-form swimming pool, a jacuzzi, and beautiful views of Playa Herradura. If you want to swim in the ocean, go to Playa Herradura or venture farther to Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca. For watersports, drive down to Playa Jaco. There, you can paraglide, surf and snorkel.
The Beauty of Los Sueños and Its Surrounding Areas
Part of the allure of the Los Sueños Resort and Marina lies in its natural beauty. Its enviable location on Herradura Bay, set against a backdrop of lush, rolling hills, means endless vistas of blues and greens. It is a stunning haven surrounded by ocean, trees and sky. Facing west, Los Sueños offers incredible sunsets that will keep you frozen in place until they pass.
The resort community of Los Sueños also makes an outstanding base for exploring nearby natural attractions. Make sure to visit Carara National Park and Tárcoles Bridge.
Carara National Park
Drive north from Los Sueños toward Tárcoles, and you’ll arrive at Carara National Park or Parque Nacional Carara in approximately 30 minutes. Carara National Park, which translates to river of lizards in the native Huetar tongue, is a place known for its diverse flora and fauna.
Allocate at least two hours at the park, more if you love birds. Carara National Park is a known bird-watching destination. The forest is home to 420 species of birds, almost half the count of the bird species in Costa Rica, including the nearly extinct scarlet macaw. If you feel up to it, explore the forest by hiking the park’s universal access trail.
The best time to visit is early in the morning. You may want to be there when the park opens at 7:00 a.m. (8:00 a.m. from May to November). This will provide the best and most restful experience. Any later and it can get too crowded with tourists.
Tárcoles Bridge
After or before visiting Carara National Park, head to the Tárcoles Bridge, which overlooks the Tárcoles River. This 69-mile-long body of water is home to thousands of crocodiles (some say there are nearly 2,000). The Tárcoles Bridge is also called the crocodile bridge because it provides a good vantage point for crocodile watching.
From the narrow footpath to the left or right side of the bridge, you can peer down the river and its shallow banks. You’ll see many wild American crocodiles sunning themselves, resting by the shade or swimming in the water.
For a better experience, visit during the dry season, particularly during low tide. If you want to see the Crocs up close and personal, book a Tárcoles River boat safari.
Experience Los Sueños
If you are passionate about golfing and angling, Los Sueños is a Costa Rica luxury resort community you must visit at least once in your life, or even go to every year.
However, if you love the beach and the forest, too, it’s a place you’ll probably never want to leave.
