Crocodile Bay
Sportfishing and eco-tour base in Puerto Jiménez on the Golfo Dulce, with guests now lodged at Botánika Osa Peninsula
About this stay
Set in La Gamba, Crocodile Bay provides a serene escape where the sounds of nature blend with comfortable amenities. Guests wake up to the fresh air on their private balconies before heading out for a day of fishing excursions or relaxing by the outdoor pool. The property’s restaurant and bar offer convenient dining options, while the spa provides a tranquil space for rejuvenation. Families will appreciate the kid-friendly atmosphere and the ease of access to local attractions, with an airport shuttle making arrivals and departures smooth. The air-conditioned rooms ensure comfort even on the warmest days, making it a pleasant base for exploring the region.
- On the southeast side of the Puerto Jiménez airstrip
- Guest rooms now operated as Botánika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton
- Private pier of about 700 feet into the Golfo Dulce
- Lagoon-style pool and spa
- More than 20 eco-tours, from zip-lining to whale watching
Our take
Crocodile Bay is not in La Gamba: it sits on the southeast side of the Puerto Jiménez airstrip, on the Osa Peninsula, and since late 2021 its guests sleep at Botánika Osa Peninsula, part of Hilton's Curio Collection. Crocodile Bay itself now runs the fishing and the excursions, with a fleet it describes as the largest private sportfishing fleet in Central and South America and over 20 eco-tours. The grounds cover about 44 acres of gardens, with a lagoon-style pool, a spa and a private pier of around 700 feet into the gulf. I would book it for offshore fishing first, wildlife second.
- ✓Fly rather than drive: the domestic flight lands at Puerto Jiménez airport, and the resort sits on the southeast side of the airstrip, a few minutes from the terminal.
- ✓Search for the resort under the name Botánika Osa Peninsula as well as Crocodile Bay; the lodging was rebranded into Hilton's Curio Collection in late 2021.
- ✓Beyond fishing, the tour desk lists more than 20 eco-tours, including zip-lining, wildlife hikes and dolphin and whale watching on the Golfo Dulce.
- ✓Corcovado National Park requires a certified guide, so arrange it through the tour desk well before your dates rather than on arrival in Puerto Jiménez.
- ✓The private pier runs about 700 feet into the gulf, so boats leave from the property itself instead of from the town dock.
Why we love it
- Elegant rooms with private balconies
- On-site spa for relaxation
- Outdoor pool for all ages
- Convenient fishing excursions
- Kid-friendly amenities
Why guests love itAround 44 acres of tropical gardens, a lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar and a spa for the adults: the family appeal here is the setting more than any children's programme. Teenagers who fish will find one of the region's biggest charter fleets leaving from the hotel's own pier, and younger children can join the gentler outings, such as dolphin watching on the calm Golfo Dulce. The resort lies on the edge of Puerto Jiménez, a small town with few other attractions, and Corcovado trips mean early starts and a mandatory guide. I would pick it for a family with a keen angler, and a rainforest lodge elsewhere on Osa for a family focused on wildlife.