Marina Papagayo
Marina Papagayo
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
24 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
7
Robby
Toulon, France3 contributions
Jun 2020 • Business
I have met there for a meeting with my lawyer and decided to also stay for lunch. While the food was acceptable we also ordered 3 glasses of white wine, not listed in the menu. When the bill came , most to our surprise we were charged $30 dollars for three average filled glases. To us a rip-off thinking we probably are some stupid tourists. We live now 6 years in Costa Rica and never had to “sneeckingly pay such price for ordinary wine, probably costing 5000 colones in the supermarket.
Robert Hendrickx
Playa Tamarindo
Robert Hendrickx
Playa Tamarindo
Written June 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R
Glenarden, MD34 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Edier Torres went above and beyond to help us plan trips around the local area. We experienced some great hot springs, ziplines, ATV tours and wonderful beach’s. Thank you for your outstanding customer service and excellent recommendations. We all really appreciate it
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hercules4
Pacific travel3 contributions
If you go to Marina Papagayo, your first thought will probably be "why are there no boats here". The reason is that the management of the marina is the worst I have ever experienced. We left the marina hating everything about it. They only cared about their own fishing fleet and the megayatchs that must stop there for customs and fuel. We were treated very poorly from the moment we arrived at Marina Papagayo. Their customs rep botched our immigration visa so we got 1 month instead of the normal 3 months. I latter was told that they had done this to force us to sign a year lease and process another permit that gave control of our ability to stay in Costa Rica to the Marina. I have an older boat and was constantly harassed and finally left after I falsely accused of using the boat for commercial purposes and threatened with having my boat confiscated. I was warned before I when to Costa Rica that the country is not boater friendly. This is true and especially so if you go to Marina Papagayo.
Written May 2, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara C
Playa Hermosa1 contribution
Mar 2012 • Family
This marina is famous for being snotty, difficult and bloody empty. If exclusiveness means a boring scene with indifferent management and a ridiculous attitude to boaters then they fit the ticket perfectly. There are few marinas on the Pacific coast of CR so if these guys are failing so badly it must be for a reason. The majority of slips are empty as few local (gringos included) boater are welcome. This makes for a quiet backwater with great infrastructure but poor customer service. Obviously the mega rich that own this place do not want the great unwashed to visit - they have succeeded as it must be a tax write off.
The Dive bar food is OK, the atmosphere a little severe however the Tico staff are great, and do try to make-up for poor management.
This place could be an amazing destination if the owners woke-up and realized that a busy, buzzing marina is actually a fun place to be and a no-brainer on the Guanacaste coast.
Visit if you HAVE to, but move on ASAP.
The Dive bar food is OK, the atmosphere a little severe however the Tico staff are great, and do try to make-up for poor management.
This place could be an amazing destination if the owners woke-up and realized that a busy, buzzing marina is actually a fun place to be and a no-brainer on the Guanacaste coast.
Visit if you HAVE to, but move on ASAP.
Written May 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
crcafe
Vancouver, Canada12 contributions
Jun 2010
If you are considering using this marina as a transient, visiting or permanent boater, re-consider. Nothing but trouble here. Unfriendly. Convenient for fuel fill, then move on.
Written January 31, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scott t
Houston, TX40 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
We went fishing on the ZARA boat for a half day, cost of over $2,000. The crew was lazy, did not communicate , left the same bait on the hooks for hours without changing. They were simply going thru the motions and it was awful. Kids had terrible time.
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fishing is always fun when you are catching them. In any case, our experienced crew has an incredible reputation. If we could only control the bite!
Written August 21, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DownEastGuideService
Morehead City, NC20 contributions
Feb 2013 • Business
We own a charter boat (Dragin Fly) out of Los Suenos Marina and went up to check this marina out. We met with the marina manager and had a wonderful experience. We had a nice tour of the area and he spent as much time with us answering our questions about the area and the marina as we wanted. The place is beautiful! I have looked through the other reviews and the negative ones strike me as odd. We have worked in Costa Rica for over 15 years and the folks working in this area are pros! I imagine that if you attempt to take advantage of the Wi-Fi or sneak into the pools or the showers without being properly docked you may run into some issues, but if you are doing the right things this place is a welcome oasis. We look forward to building a relationship with this marina and its staff over many years to come. Our boat fishes at least one tournament out of here each year and we get superb service.
Written March 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samuel K
Houston, TX14 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
I expected more from a marina that is considered "state-of-the-art". Hardly any boats and not much going on around the common areas. Marina store was average in what they offer and extremely overpriced. Cleanliness of the bathrooms is questionable!
Written September 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim O
LaConner, WA2 contributions
Apr 2012 • Family
Sailing into Marina Papagayo this past January we were welcomed to this facility on the radio by management and immediately taken care of ... this was only the beginning of an incredible stay here for the past 3 months.
Our sailing adventures have taken us to France, Greece, Turkey, Bahamas, Belize, Central America down the entire chain of the Caribbean Islands, thru the Panama Canal and landed us here ... I will tell you this ... MARINA PAPAGAYO is the BEST marina we have stayed at.
We felt SAFE and SECURE ... which to us was absolutely a must! We left our boat in the hands of the management as we went home for a couple of weeks and then had extended land trips here in Costa Rica - we never thought twice about the care that they would give our "floating home."
Not only that - but this marina we found had great "value" as most of the other marinas in Costa Rica are more expensive with less security and amenities.
The marina facilities are absolutely immaculate ... from the docks, to the shower facilities, laundry room, swimming pool, gym, chandlery, fueling station ... everything is under constant care and grooming!
Now for the staff ... it didn't matter who you spoke to - they all greet you and SMILE! Besides that, if we needed anything - they were right on to give a helping hand .. the dock staff was available to our needs within minutes every time we asked for help. They did a super job at detailing our boat - a real treat for SV Companion and us after many months of wear and tear.
The Dive Bar that is the marina restaurant is great - a fantastic happy hour between 5 and 7 every night plus great little daily specials - there staff is also super!
There is no doubt in our minds that this is a FIVE STAR MARINA that not only takes care of the mega yachts but us "little guys" - the regular cruisers. We have had a lot of family and visitors come during our stay here as this marina is close and easy to get to from the International Airport in Liberia ... just a 35 minute shuttle ride away.
If you have any question about mooring here - do not hesitate -
Dan Eaffaldano, The Marina Operations Manager will help you handle everything - just give him a call or email - he answers quickly and with sound advise.
dan.eaffaldano@marinapapagayo.com
direct phone number +50626903602
It is with bittersweetness that we are leaving this facility as we continue on our adventure - but knowing one day that we will return to the Guanacasta Region and Marina Papagayo.
Thank you for sharing Costa Rica with us!
Kim and Dale
SV/ Companion
Our sailing adventures have taken us to France, Greece, Turkey, Bahamas, Belize, Central America down the entire chain of the Caribbean Islands, thru the Panama Canal and landed us here ... I will tell you this ... MARINA PAPAGAYO is the BEST marina we have stayed at.
We felt SAFE and SECURE ... which to us was absolutely a must! We left our boat in the hands of the management as we went home for a couple of weeks and then had extended land trips here in Costa Rica - we never thought twice about the care that they would give our "floating home."
Not only that - but this marina we found had great "value" as most of the other marinas in Costa Rica are more expensive with less security and amenities.
The marina facilities are absolutely immaculate ... from the docks, to the shower facilities, laundry room, swimming pool, gym, chandlery, fueling station ... everything is under constant care and grooming!
Now for the staff ... it didn't matter who you spoke to - they all greet you and SMILE! Besides that, if we needed anything - they were right on to give a helping hand .. the dock staff was available to our needs within minutes every time we asked for help. They did a super job at detailing our boat - a real treat for SV Companion and us after many months of wear and tear.
The Dive Bar that is the marina restaurant is great - a fantastic happy hour between 5 and 7 every night plus great little daily specials - there staff is also super!
There is no doubt in our minds that this is a FIVE STAR MARINA that not only takes care of the mega yachts but us "little guys" - the regular cruisers. We have had a lot of family and visitors come during our stay here as this marina is close and easy to get to from the International Airport in Liberia ... just a 35 minute shuttle ride away.
If you have any question about mooring here - do not hesitate -
Dan Eaffaldano, The Marina Operations Manager will help you handle everything - just give him a call or email - he answers quickly and with sound advise.
dan.eaffaldano@marinapapagayo.com
direct phone number +50626903602
It is with bittersweetness that we are leaving this facility as we continue on our adventure - but knowing one day that we will return to the Guanacasta Region and Marina Papagayo.
Thank you for sharing Costa Rica with us!
Kim and Dale
SV/ Companion
Written April 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rick c
bradenton2 contributions
Jul 2012 • Friends
Great Location. Great marina, great staff. Our plan was to go south to Golfito area for the summer. Turns out Guanacaste has less rainfall than the mid or southern portion of Costa Rica. We wanted to cruise but need a reliable location as a base. Marina Papagayo proved to be a perfect choice for us. The marina is located 25 minutes from the new airport in Liberia,and is so much easier to deal with than San Jose. The Dive Bar located at the marina was a treat as well, with plenty of fresh fish.
Written November 11, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you have catamaran tours and do they leave from the dock?
Written February 7, 2020
Can they pull a sailboat 34 ft. out and do a bottom job?
Written June 28, 2017
Leland T
Houston, Texas
I just got booked on that boat. How long ago was your crap experience?
Written June 16, 2016
I am the owner of the ZARA. We strive to provide our clients an enjoyble experience. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and especially your concerns.
Written June 17, 2016
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