Gulf of Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo is a large body of water off Guanacaste province and the northwestern coast of Costa Rica. It is an embayment of the Pacific Ocean. The Gulf has a maximum depth of approximately. The Gulf contains Culebra Bay in the south.
The Gulf and its coastline are part of a major tourism project by Costa Rica's government that began in 1972. Among the most popular destinations on the Gulf of Papagayo are Ocotal Beach, Playas del Coco, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Panama. The Papagayo Peninsula is the most developed area in the gulf region. The gulf waters are home to many wildlife including orcas. The International Game Fish Association world record mahi-mahi was caught in the Papagayo Gulf in 1976, weighing.