Complete Guide to Los Sueños
Everything you need to know before visiting Los Sueños, Costa Rica
About Los Sueños
Los Sueños Resort & Marina sits on 1,100 acres of Pacific coastline and rainforest canopy in Playa Herradura. The 200-slip marina has earned its reputation as the billfish capital of Costa Rica: sailfish and marlin strike rates here are among the highest in the world, drawing tournament anglers from every continent. But Los Sueños is far more than a fishing destination. The Ted Robinson Jr.-designed La Iguana Golf Course threads through primary rainforest where scarlet macaws fly overhead during your backswing. Marina Village pulses with open-air restaurants, boutique shops, and a weekly farmers market. Monkeys patrol the fairways. Iguanas sun themselves on villa patios.
This is luxury with a rainforest heartbeat. Most guests are families with older kids who fish, golfers traveling with non-golfing partners, and fishing-obsessed couples who return year after year. The resort infrastructure means you're never far from a great meal or a cold beer, but the jungle presses in close enough that you'll hear howler monkeys at dawn. Los Sueños works as a base camp for day trips: Jacó's surf and nightlife is 10 minutes north, Manuel Antonio is an hour south, and Carara National Park's crocodile bridge is a 15-minute drive.
Villas and condos here skew upscale. Ocean-view terraces, infinity pools, full kitchens, and daily housekeeping are standard. You're paying for resort access, marina privileges, and the kind of neighbors who dock 60-foot sportfishing yachts.
Best For
- Sport fishing enthusiasts and tournament anglers
- Golfers and golf groups
- Multi-generational families who want resort amenities
- Couples looking for upscale relaxation with activity options
- Groups seeking a home base with day-trip flexibility
Getting to Los Sueños
1 hour 15 minutes from San José (SJO) airport. Take Route 27 (the Caldera Highway) west toward the Pacific coast, exit at Herradura, follow signs to Los Sueños Resort & Marina. The drive is smooth, fast, and scenic once you clear the Central Valley.
How far is Los Sueños from San José airport?
Los Sueños is 90 minutes (55 miles) west of San José's Juan Santamaría Airport via Route 27, a modern toll highway. The drive costs $10-12 in tolls and takes you through the mountains, down past Atenas, and out to the Pacific coast. The highway is smooth, well-maintained, and dramatically more convenient than the old mountain road. Private transfers run $110-150 for up to 4 passengers; shared shuttles cost $35-45 per person but make multiple stops.
What to Expect
World-class marina, championship golf, and luxury living on Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast
Los Sueños Marina
200-slip world-class marina and the launch point for some of the world's most productive billfish waters. Home to the Triple Crown tournament series.
La Iguana Championship Golf Course
18-hole Ted Robinson Jr. design winding through rainforest with ocean views. Scarlet macaws, monkeys, and iguanas are your gallery.
Marina Village
Open-air complex with restaurants, cafes, shops, and weekly farmers market. The social hub of the resort.
Sport Fishing Capital
Consistently high sailfish and marlin strike rates year-round. Peak sailfish season December-April, peak marlin June-October.
Rainforest Trails
Resort hiking trails connect golf course, residential areas, and marina through primary and secondary rainforest. Guided wildlife tours available.
Private Beach Club
Resort beach club with pool, restaurant, and direct beach access. Calm waters in the bay, ideal for paddle boarding and kayaking.
Central Pacific Location
Perfect base for day trips: 10 minutes to Jacó, 15 minutes to Carara National Park, 1 hour to Manuel Antonio.
Full-Service Resort
Concierge, daily housekeeping, on-site property management, tour booking, and 24/7 security throughout the resort.
Insider Tips
Book golf tee times early during peak season (December-April); La Iguana fills up with resort guests and locals; afternoon tee times often have better wildlife sightings as animals emerge before dusk.
Marina Village's Thursday farmers market (3-7pm) has better produce and prepared food than the resort restaurants, and it's half the price. Bring cash.
The beach at Herradura Bay (5-minute drive) is calmer and better for swimming than the resort's beach club. Locals with young kids prefer it.
Things to Do in Los Sueños
Discover the best activities and experiences during your stay
Sport Fishing
Costa Rica's sport fishing capital. Los Sueños Marina offers some of the world's best billfish waters, with sailfish and...
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Golf
La Iguana Golf Course at Los Sueños Resort is one of Central America's most unique championship courses: an 18-hole Ted ...
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Wildlife & Nature
The Central Pacific sits in one of Costa Rica's richest biodiversity corridors, squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and t...
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Dining & Food
The Central Pacific's food scene has evolved beyond tourist-trap mediocrity into a legitimate culinary destination. Fres...
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Tours & Excursions
The Central Pacific is tour-operator central, with dozens of outfitters running daily excursions to rainforests, waterfa...
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What is the best time of year to visit Los Sueños?
December through April is peak season: dry weather, calm seas for fishing and boating, and perfect conditions for golf and beach days. This is also prime sailfish season with the highest strike rates. May through November brings afternoon rains (usually 1-2 hours in late afternoon), greener landscapes, fewer crowds, and lower rates on rentals. Peak marlin fishing happens June-October during rainy season. The resort operates year-round with full services regardless of season.
Is Los Sueños safe for families?
Los Sueños is a gated resort community with 24/7 security, controlled access points, paved roads, and infrastructure that rivals gated communities in Florida or California. It's one of the safest areas on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The resort has a large expat and international community, English is widely spoken, and medical facilities in nearby Jacó are modern. Kids can bike around the resort, walk to the marina, and explore freely. Standard precautions apply outside the resort gates (don't leave valuables in cars, lock doors at night), but inside Los Sueños you can relax.
Can you walk to restaurants from Los Sueños rentals?
It depends on where your rental is located within the resort. Marina Village condos are a 5-minute walk to restaurants, shops, and the weekly farmers market. Hillside villas and golf course properties are spread across 1,100 acres; you'll want a car or golf cart to reach Marina Village (10-15 minute drive). Most guests rent a car for flexibility exploring Jacó, Carara National Park, and beaches beyond the resort. Golf carts work for staying within Los Sueños but can't legally leave resort property.
How much does it cost to play golf at Los Sueños?
La Iguana Golf Course green fees run $185-210 for 18 holes depending on season, with twilight rates (after 2pm) dropping to $135-150. Cart rental is included, but caddie fees ($30-40 plus tip) are extra and highly recommended; they save you strokes and lost balls. Club rentals are $60. Resort guests and property owners get discounted rates and priority tee times, which book 3-5 days out during peak season.
Is there a grocery store in Los Sueños?
There's a small convenience store in Marina Village with basics, ice, beer, and overpriced resort essentials. For real grocery shopping, drive 10 minutes north to Jacó where you'll find three full supermarkets: AutoMercado (upscale, imported products, best produce), Mas x Menos (mid-range, good for basics), and a smaller Mega Super. Most Nest Stays guests use our pre-arrival grocery stocking service; send us a list, we shop and stock your fridge before you arrive, and you skip the airport-to-grocery-store stop on arrival day.
Where to Stay in Los Sueños
Browse our curated selection of villas and condos in Los Sueños. Full concierge service, seamless check-in, and local expertise included.
Every Nest Stays property comes with 24/7 local support, pre-arrival grocery stocking, and insider recommendations from people who actually live here.