Playa Cabo Matapalo

This beach is a special gem of a place if you want to enjoy the pristine primary rainforests of Osa and all the untouched beauty and splendor away from the hustle and bustle. At the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, Playa Cabo Matapalo is a quiet, rocky beach.

At low tide, the beach is rocky and difficult to access. It's more of a beach for looking than swimming or snorkeling. The swells here can be small to large, and they're good for surfing but rocky. The sand is a lighter tan color, and it is frequently strewn with foliage and fruit tree debris.

Large swells with waves of varying degrees of difficulty are common at Playa Cabo Matapalo.

Only experienced surfers should attempt to ride the stronger and larger waves that roll in over a rocky bottom. The waves that break onto the beach at Pan Dulce (Spanish for sweet bread) are much smaller and gentler. This is a great place to practice for new surfers. Backwash is a great surfing spot close by.

• Location: southern tip of the Osa Peninsula