# Gulf of Santa Elena, Costa Rica: what it is and when to go > Gulf of Santa Elena is a Pacific bay near Costa Rica (La Cruz, Costa Rica). Interests: Nature. The best time to visit is December to March. In June there are 12 h 38 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 22. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Costa Rica: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/golfo-de-santa-elena/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Pacific bay near Costa Rica · Nature - **Where:** Costa Rica - **Best time:** December to March. - **Nearest airport:** LIR Liberia, 49 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 10.9673, -85.78644 ## What it is and where Gulf of Santa Elena is a Pacific bay near Costa Rica (La Cruz, Costa Rica). It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Costa Rica: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [La Cruz, Costa Rica](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/la-cruz/), where this site lists 6 more places to see, 21 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 10.9673, -85.78644; the nearest main airport is Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR, Liberia), 49 km as the crow flies. How to get around Costa Rica (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=10.967295%2C-85.786441) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=10.967295%2C-85.786441) It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/naturaleza/) places in Costa Rica. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Gulf of Santa Elena is **December to March**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Best time | 11 h 25 | | February | Best time | 11 h 39 | | March | Best time | 11 h 56 | | April | Possible | 12 h 15 | | May | Possible | 12 h 30 | | June | Possible | 12 h 38 | | July | Possible | 12 h 35 | | August | Possible | 12 h 22 | | September | Better not | 12 h 03 | | October | Better not | 11 h 45 | | November | Possible | 11 h 29 | | December | Best time | 11 h 22 | In June there are 12 h 38 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 22. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Costa Rica in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Costa Rica To enter Costa Rica there are 8 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid passport and onward ticket to hand”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Costa Rica checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Costa Rican colón (CRC); dollars are accepted almost everywhere in tourism; plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 911 for everything. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Santa Elena Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-santa-elena/): Costa Rican bay in Guanacaste Province · 5.3 km - [Bahía Jobo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-jobo/): Bight in Costa Rica · 9.3 km - [Cerros Santa Elena](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/cerros-santa-elena/): Mountains in Costa Rica · 9.6 km - [Bahía Junquillal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-junquillal/): Bight in Costa Rica · 10.0 km - [Bahía Playa Blanca](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-blanca/): Bight in Costa Rica · 12 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Costa Rica guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/). ## More in Costa Rica: Nature - [Cocos Island](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/isla-del-coco/): island in the Pacific Ocean administered by Costa Rica - [La Amistad International Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/parque-internacional-la-amistad/): international park - [Arenal Volcano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/volcan-arenal/): Active stratovolcano in Alajuela Province, Costa Rica - [Irazú Volcano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/irazu-volcano/): mountain in Costa Rica - [Cerro Chirripó](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/cerro-chirripo/): mountain in Costa Rica - [Poás Volcano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/poas/): mountain in Costa Rica Every Costa Rica place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/naturaleza/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Gulf of Santa Elena? It is a Pacific bay near Costa Rica. It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Costa Rica: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Gulf of Santa Elena? December to March. In June there are 12 h 38 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 22. ### How do you get to Gulf of Santa Elena? The nearest main airport is Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR), 49 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=10.967295%2C-85.786441) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Costa Rica is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Costa Rica map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Santa Elena Bay](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-santa-elena/), [Bahía Jobo](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/bahia-jobo/), [Cerros Santa Elena](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/cerros-santa-elena/). The rest is in [the Costa Rica guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/10316862), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23737034), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).