# Playa Matapalo, Costa Rica: what it is and when to go > Playa Matapalo is a beach in Costa Rica. Interests: Beaches. The best time to visit is December to March. In June there are 12 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 28. 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/playa-matapalo/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Beach · Beaches - **Where:** Costa Rica - **Best time:** December to March. - **Nearest airport:** SJO San José (Alajuela), 79 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 9.32577, -83.97811 ## What it is and where Playa Matapalo is a beach in 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. Its coordinates are 9.32577, -83.97811; the nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, San José (Alajuela)), 79 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=9.325768%2C-83.978112) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=9.325768%2C-83.978112) It is one of the [Beaches](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa/) 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 Playa Matapalo is **December to March**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Best time | 11 h 31 | | February | Best time | 11 h 42 | | March | Best time | 11 h 56 | | April | Possible | 12 h 12 | | May | Possible | 12 h 26 | | June | Possible | 12 h 32 | | July | Possible | 12 h 30 | | August | Possible | 12 h 18 | | September | Better not | 12 h 03 | | October | Better not | 11 h 47 | | November | Possible | 11 h 34 | | December | Best time | 11 h 28 | In June there are 12 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 28. 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 - [Chill Out Terace](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/chill-out-terace/): Hiking · 14 km - [Fuego Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/fuego-brewing-company/): Brewery · 15 km - [Dominical, Puntarenas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-dominical/): Beaches · 15 km - [Playa Gemelas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-gemelas/): Beach · 19 km - [Playa Espadilla Sur](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-espadilla-sur/): Beach · 20 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: Beaches - [Playa Conchal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-conchal/): Beach - [Playas del Coco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playas-del-coco/) - [Playa Bejuco](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-bejuco/): Beach - [Playa Buena Vista](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-buenavista/): Beach - [Playa Camaronal](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-camaronal/): Beach - [Playa Corcovado](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-corcovado/): Beach Every Costa Rica place under Beaches, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Playa Matapalo? It is a beach in 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 Playa Matapalo? December to March. In June there are 12 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 28. ### How do you get to Playa Matapalo? The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), 79 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=9.325768%2C-83.978112) 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 [Chill Out Terace](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/chill-out-terace/), [Fuego Brewing Company](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/fuego-brewing-company/), [Dominical, Puntarenas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/playa-dominical/). The rest is in [the Costa Rica guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/costa-rica/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/15907690), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23740316), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).