Playa Punta Uva // Caribbean Coast. The #1 Costa Rica guidebook.Full-color and filled with insider tips.Plan the ultimate Costa Rica adventure! The beach is wide and smooth, with plenty of areas to lay out a towel and few rocks or roots. Come visit Costa Rica Pacific beaches for pristine, remote and enchanting coastlines. But back to the beaches: Playa Bonita is a bit on the small side, but its never as crowded as major beaches on the Pacific Side. There is also a public bus for those who fly into San Jose (SJO), which will take about six hours, and roughly four hours by rental car. There are not one, not two, but three Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica, all on the Pacific Coast. San Jose, Costa Rica 10104. Its only been about 10 years since Drake Bay has electricity and internet, and the vast majority of the inhabitants still live a very off-the-grid, laid back lifestyle. Best surfing spots: With waves that can reach up to 15 feet high, the Pacific Coast is a surfer's paradise. Puerto Viejo is easily one of the most well-known beaches on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, but that doesn't mean it's not worth visiting. Tamarindo Beach. Aside from the beaches, Limn has quite a lot to offer as a destination. The water in Puerto Viejo is clean and beautiful, but depending on when you go, it might not be pristine all day. Those flying into LIR can plan on a five-hour drive. So dont get confused! The Nicoya Peninsula sits about in the middle of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and is home to the longest-living people on Earth. The rich volcanic soil of Costa Rica lends itself to some beautiful black sand beaches. )Continue, By Jennifer LaCharite While the store owners of typical souvenir shops and buskers at the beaches are hard-working locals who deserve all of our support, sometimes you just want to bring home something a little more authentic to the place youve travelled. The lengthy beach is perfect for a long afternoon walk, potentially to Playa Pelada, roughly four kilometers south. Playa Negra As its name implies, this much-loved beach near the reggae-fueled town of Cahuita is covered in dark black sand that positively shines on a sunny day. There are several dining options to enjoy and Grande is a great spot for long walks on the beach at sunset. 15 Best Beaches in Costa Rica (Top Spots Ranked!) - ViaTravelers Read More: The Occidental Tamarindo is the perfect place for an all-inclusive getaway with the family! If you are going this route, there are several different clusters of top beaches we recommend. Playa Cabuyal is not even that far off the beaten path (just about 30 minutes from Liberia) but its deserted. Another reason to visit Ocotal Beach is its restaurant, Father Rooster. Located along the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Guiones is a sleepy surf town that tends to draw in the more serious surfers, who came to wake up at dawn and get on their board, as opposed to dance the night away like vacationers in Tamarindo. If you are flying into the Liberia International airport and want to stick just to Guanacaste, check our list of Best Beaches in Guanacaste. Tamarindo Beach is one of the most developed and beautiful beaches in the northern Guanacaste area. Many people come to dive or snorkel off the coast, and Flamingo can be a great alternative to Playas del Coco because its so much calmer. ), Playas del Coco Shopping: Finding Authentic Souvenirs, 10 STUNNING Volcano View Vacation Rentals in La Fortuna. Manuel Antonio Beach. The beach is long and wide, with tan sand and gorgeous waves. Highway 27 (Ruta 27) allows you to get from the city to the beach in just over an hour. Theres also a benefit for surfers: if youre on your surfboard in the water, youll see nothing but lush greenery covering the hills when you look back at shore. But if you only have an extra day or two to spend exploring beaches on Costa Ricas Caribbean side, head to Play Bonita (beautiful beach) in downtown Limn. It also has many amenities and a large expat community. Also, the protected cove of Espadilla Sur has very calm waters and the area itself is very tranquil, except for the visiting monkeys! Either way, it is best to rent a 44 vehicle. In fact, these Central Pacific destinations tend to attract a large number of visitors. The beach is groomed to a gorgeous wide flat area lined with palm trees leading up to the small beach. Whales can be spotted offshore here, but not year-round. Welcome to Let's Travel Costa Rica! The Best Beaches On Costa Rica's Pacific Coast Tamarindo is a terrific place to surf, go horseback riding, or even take an adventure tour on the river. This beach is located just about a 15-minute drive from the ferry that connects the Nicoya Peninsula to the mainland, making it a great weekend trip for ticos living in the Central Valley. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Starting at about 11 am there are two professional massage therapists who offer beachside massages at very reasonable prices. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Coco Beach is a great home base to beach hop, so thats why its on this list. Related post: 30+ Foods To Try In Costa Rica. The beach is located within Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge and is backed by a dense jungle where animals like monkeys, sloths, and many bird species can be seen. Thats because very few people know about it. It is also easily accessible from both San Jose and Liberia, making it a highly visited region for travelers and Costa Ricans alike. I adored it and cant wait to go back. All Rights Reserved. The long beach on the Nicoya Peninsula wraps around a horseshoe bay dispersing the crowds that gather on the weekends. There are several restaurants on the way in and out of the main parking area, so you can easily pack up and grab a bite before heading back to the beach for sunset. Im Christa, a former high school teacher married to a handsome Costa Rican and mother of two bilingual daughters. Home Because the water here is consistently calm, its a terrific choice for families with young children. Costa Ballena, Whale Bay. Playa Avellanas may very well be my favorite beach in Costa Rica. The beach backs up to the all-inclusive Westin Playa Conchal Resort and a variety of other rental properties. Montezuma Beach is a surfers paradise, and one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica. It's a little tricky to find but the pay-off is that you might have it all to yourself. Join 19k+ in receiving Expert travel advice, news & promotions! Welcome! 12,120. Tortuguero is less of a lie-about beachfor humans. Look up in the trees youll spot white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, green iguanas and sloths. Dominical, Puntarenas Province, Savegre de Aguirre, Costa Rica. Finish the day with a beer and a bite at the only restaurant on the beach- Cocos Locos. Of the Papagayo beaches, a top choice for a first-time visit is Playa Nacascolo. The water here is very clear and the sand is made up of tiny seashells. A number of surf camps and surf shops have sprung up to take advantage of the lively lefts and rights. As with a few Costa Rica beaches on this list, Playa Negra is one of two beaches that share the same name. Playa Blanca is apty named. Shaped like a whale's tail, Uvita is a popular beach with a "whale's tail" sandbar that extends several hundred yards into the ocean. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! But unlike the well-known surfing town just to its south, Grande is known for its big, fast waves. In addition to the many activities available for beach lovers, wildlife viewing in this area is excellent and adventure sports include canopy tours and ATV excursions. Required fields are marked *. Want a beach with no one? If you love wildlife, turtles in particular, dont miss a night tour to Ostional to watch the olive ridley sea turtles annual nesting between July and October. From surfing to swimming to palm-lined white sand, there is something for . Lined with shade trees and palm trees that are just begging for a hammock, Playa Grande is often deserted. The 14 Best Beaches in Costa Rica in 2023 [Caribbean & Pacific] Its one of the only black sand beaches in Costa Rica and just a short bike ride from Puerto Viejo, where tourists have plenty of options for lodging and dining. The long beach with a soft, sandy bottom and mellow waves is the perfect place to take your first surf lesson. These uninhabited islands are home to some of the most pristine beaches in Costa Rica. You can also spot whales and dolphins on the way to Cano Island- the perfect place to snorkel and dive. Just north of the town is Cahuita National Park (well-known for scuba diving and snorkeling on shipwrecks), and the famous Jaguar Rescue Center is only 15 minute south. . Rough waves and rip currents can make swimming at Playa Santa Teresa difficult, but the palm-lined beach was made for surfing and sunbathing, not to mention serving as a gathering point for watching that perfect sunset on the ocean. Unlike the Caribbean coast, which measures just 212 km (132 miles), Costa Rica's Pacific coast measures 1,016 km (631 miles). Costa Rica Beaches - Beach Vacations & Top Destinations Its also a unique black sand beach, which is pretty fun to see. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The boardwalk is made entirely from recycled plastic bottle tops and plastic bags. Samara beach is a favorite of Ticos (native Costa Ricans). Father rooster is located right on the beach, and there are hammocks, swings, and tables in the sand. Luckily, if youre in Coco, youre in a great location to experience the best, Read More The Best Beaches Near Playas del CocoContinue. Somewhere between low and high is surf tide, when you can ride the wide beach break left or right from center. Due to this, the south beach tends to be less crowded. Tamarindo Beach is great for beginning surfers so dont be intimidated by its surf town reputation. Basically, if you want it, you can most likely find it in Tamarindo. Read More 10 Christmas Traditions in Costa RicaContinue. The Westin Resort is nearby, but its still marvelously empty nearly all the time. Ask a Costa Rica Expert ifyour visit will line up with the arribada. Travelers are still in Guanacaste Province (the countrys northwesternmost province). The sunsets here are EPIC. Make sure to watch the sunset at Bar El Ancla or Cafe de Playa. The easiest way to get to Grande is to fly into Liberia where you can catch a bus to nearby Tamarindo and take a taxi to Grande, or rent a private shuttle or car. 16 BEST Beaches in Costa Rica (& Where to Stay), Costa Rica Sea Turtle Nesting Sites: Where To Go When, Where to Find Black Sand Beaches in Costa Rica, 7 Best Things to Do on the Nicoya Peninsula. While it is a popular destination, it is a difficult place to get to in Costa Rica. Many of these beaches are within an hours drive of Liberia, but if you are flying in late or flying out early, youll want to check out our great list of Where To Stay in Liberia. Its named more for its geographical structure- the bay looks like a whale tale. Not much in the way of services here either- but dont leave too soon. As you wade through crystalline water in search of a memorable souvenir, pause for a moment to reflect on how wonderful it is to be in paradise. Ali Wunderman visits Costa Rica right after it reopened to US visitors to talk to the locals, learn the pandemic protocols and seek out a very elusive bird. The Manuel Antonio beach itself is relatively small. Located on the western shore of the pristine Nicoya Peninsula, this hamlet is both one of the prettiest and safest beaches in all of Costa Rica.White-sand beaches give way to vibrant waters, and the entirety of the region is graced by accents of luscious green foliage. Theres a reason Costa Rica translates to rich coast. From end to end, the Pacific coast of Costa Rica spans three provinces and over 16 hours of driving. Those traveling from SJO will need five and a half hours to reach Santa Teresa, which includes a 70-minute ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. It is best to rent a car to see Samara, and depending on the season, a vehicle with a 44 is highly recommended. | March 8, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. 12 Top Costa Rica All-Inclusive Resorts Experience top all-inclusive amenities at resorts in lush rainforests or along the beach. On the contrary, this action-packed country is full of. Im a mom of two Latinas, bicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish), and 100% in love with celebrating parenthood in all its forms, (even the sucky parts). 8. The best way to arrive at Playa Conchal without staying at the Westin is to park your rental car at the public parking lot at Braslito Beach. In fact, more than a few of the towns residents arrived on vacation and never left. Top 10 Beach Towns In Costa Rica - Peter Pan Traveler Situated in the northern Pacific, its dry season stretches from November to May longer than just about anywhere else in Costa Rica. The beach is wide white sand with turquoise water and big waves. The yellow umbrellas on the left are the beaches on Costa Ricas Pacific Ocean side, whereas the ones on the right open to the Caribbean Sea. There are no services at this beach, and little shade. There are usually a couple of locals renting out surfboards on the sand, and the reef to the right of the cove is excellent for snorkeling and surfing (but not at the same time!). Here are 12of our favorites. The climate here is very tropical, which means the humidity is high and the mosquitoes are plentiful so bring what you need if you plan to camp out like many surfers do here. Any discussion of Costa Ricas best beaches inevitably involves Manuel Antonio. Being a popular destination, you will find public transportation or shared shuttles to Quepos from either of the international airports. The waters here are a dreamy, iridescent azure, with pink rocky cliffs creating two inviting swimming areas. Both daytime and nighttime tours are the highlights of many who come to this natural reserve. The beach itself is really pretty, and the little town nearby is quaint and charming. Off a dirt road marked byPunta Uva Dive Centeris a quiet, idyllic cove that could double for a scene in the filmThe Beach. Youll pay a few dollars and then hike over to Conchal at low tide. Rumor has it there are tons of sting rays dancing in the water in the summertime. White sand and tiny seashells sprinkle theshoreline of Conchal Beach, a less frequented Guanacaste beach. Finally, if you are looking for beaches that are best for families with young children, Id hop over to our Top Costa Rica Beaches For Families post.
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