San Pedro
A southwestern port city built from nothing in the 1970s, the gateway to the country's wildest beaches.
Updated 2 September 2026
San Pedro was laid out and built in the early 1970s as a deep-water port to serve the southwest, and it grew fast: it now handles a large share of the world's cocoa exports along with timber and rubber. The city itself is functional rather than attractive, but it is the base for the coast in both directions, with Monogaga east and Grand-Bereby west, and the beaches within reach are the emptiest in the country.
What you'll find
- The port - a major cocoa and timber terminal, the reason the city exists.
- The city beaches - sand within the town, used at weekends.
- The planned layout - a city designed and built in a decade from the 1970s.
- The coast access - the base for the beaches east and west.
When to go
November to March is the dry season and the most comfortable. The rains from April to July are heavy in the southwest. Weekends fill the town beaches.
Before you go
The city has little to see and is a base rather than a destination. Port and industrial areas dominate the waterfront. Photography near the port is restricted.
Nearby
Monogaga is east, and Grand-Bereby is west.
What to pack for San Pedro
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Reef-safe sunscreen - High SPF that will not bleach the coral you are swimming over. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Quick-dry towel - A microfibre towel packs small and dries in minutes. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
