Playa Matapalo
Playa Matapalo offers a stunning blend of serenity, cleanliness, natural beauty, and uncrowded surf breaks. Locals in Costa Ballena know the beach well, though its reputation hasn’t always been flattering. Stories often circulate about missing valuables or odd characters wandering the shoreline. But the tide is shifting, and Playa Matapalo is clearly on the rise. The area around it is drawing attention from expats and adventurous travelers looking for something beyond the usual tourist trail.
Visible development continues to reshape the landscape, bringing new energy and opportunity. More visitors are arriving, and with them come cafés, restaurants, places to stay, and small businesses. Security is improving, and the beach’s quiet charm is gaining recognition. Playa Matapalo may have started as a hidden gem, but it’s quickly becoming a destination with a future.
🌴🥥A Clean, Quiet, Tropical Paradise
The beach stays pristine—easily one of the cleanest stretches of sand in the region, where spotting even a scrap of garbage proves difficult. Coconut groves and beach almond trees line the shore, running from Rio Portalon and Playa Savegre in the south to Rio Savegre and Playa Mallorca in the north. That stretch covers 3.5 kilometers, though the sands continue for many more in both directions. Jungle-covered coastal mountains rise behind the beach, creating a lush tropical backdrop. Recently, new coconut palms were planted along the shoreline to expand the groves and offer more welcome shade.
Playa Matapalo often gets overlooked due to its location between two major destinations—Manual Antonio National Park sits 30 kilometers to the north, and Dominical’s surf scene lies just 13 kilometers to the south. But the beach is quietly gaining recognition as a hidden gem. Those who know it well understand its charm, and that quiet popularity helps protect it. Playa Matapalo looks set to remain uncrowded and unspoiled, unlike so many other spots around Costa Ballena that have given way to over-commercialization.
🤫 The Secret Is Slowly Getting Out!
And right now, as I said, things are changing. More and more people are vising the beach and while Sunday crowds are still relatively thin, they have grown enough to attract chair and canopy rental businesses which can now be see setting up shop along the main section of the sand. Surfers show up early in the morning to take full advantage of the clean breaks and uncrowded waters – the sandy bottomed surf breaks and waves of over 3 metres make for a perfect laid back surfing destination. Here, you can secure your own peaks and never worry about the crowds of other surfers lurking in every direction.
📌🍽️ Location & Amenities
Situated about 13km north of Dominical, the beach is located along a small village called Savegre de Aguirre. Here you will find diverse accommodation options, adventure and tourism businesses, a supermarket and many restaurants, a sea turtle rescue centre, and several sports fields and green areas. The main street, Calle Playa Matapalo, takes you to the central area of the beach where plentiful parking under the coconut trees is available and the lounges and canopies rentals are close by. This is also the spot where lifeguards set up shop (they work limited days and hours so may not always be there).
While the ‘touristy’ beaches are buzzing with energy, crowds, vendors, activities, food and drink options, equipment rentals and craft stalls, sometimes it is nice to go back to basics and get a taste of the Costa Ballena of yesterday – a quiet, serene, and clean beach that will put you back in touch with nature. Give Playa Matapalo a Sunday trip and I guarantee it will be a trip you will not regret!
⚠️ A Warning
IMPORTANT: The waves and currents at Playa Matapalo can create dangerous conditions, so caution is always advised, even under the watchful eyes of the lifeguards. Before you head to the beach, please read our article about RIP CURRENTS here, and follow the safety advice contained therein. Also ensure you do not leave your valuables in the car or take them to the beach with you, especially if you are planning to leave them unattended while you swim.
Imagine a morning swim in the warm Pacific waters – each and every day! Or how about a lazy Sunday on PLAYA MATAPALO, in the shade of the coconut palms with a good book and a cold drink – this is the reality of many expats who have made our corner of Costa Rica their home. Let us make your dreams a reality – visit the RE/MAX We Sell Paradise website to meet your trusted local real estate partners, or get a preview of the hot properties in our area.
