Costa Rica has had a decades-long focus on preserving and nurturing its green spaces, making it a hot spot for ecotourism. And with two coasts, Atlantic- and Pacific-facing, the country is surrounded by beautiful beaches that range from places to relax, surf and see wildlife. Whether you want to scuba dive, ride the waves, go fishing, see sloths, turtles and monkeys, or relax on the sand, Costa Rica has a beach for you.
On Costa Rica's Pacific coast, you'll find secluded beaches and tourist areas with shopping, nightlife and luxury hotels. This coast also has an abundance of surfing beaches. Don't know how to surf? No worries, there are tons of surf schools. The luxury resorts near the white sand beaches offer comfortable accommodations and excellent service. On Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, you'll find opportunities to hike, visit nature preserves, and snorkel to see coral reefs. Keep reading to find out more about some of the best beaches in Costa Rica.
North Pacific Coast
1. Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste Province
The beach town of Tamarindo on the Nicoya Peninsula is a popular tourist spot. High season is November through April, and while it can get crowded, the area is stunningly beautiful and has lots of things to do, including ATV tours, zipline tours, sport fishing charters, kayak tours and more. Playa Tamarindo has waves that make it famous among surf enthusiasts. If you don't know how to surf but want to try, several surf shops offer 2-hour beginner lessons, including Iguana Surf, La Muda Surf School and Native's Way. There are also scuba diving tours and classes to consider. Among the tropical fish in the Costa Rican waters are sting rays and octopuses. For an up-close look, TamaDive offers a three-day PADI open water diver course and a seven-hour dive course.
2. Flamingo Beach, Guanacaste Province
While quite popular, Flamingo Beach is a more secluded beach than Tamarindo. The white sand beach and beautiful Pacific Ocean have a backdrop of verdant mangroves. Recreational watercraft rentals are available on the north end of the beach, while catamaran tours are also a fun option. You can enjoy a four-hour morning catamaran cruise or a romantic sunset cruise. Flamingo Beach is also an excellent spot for sport fishing and fishing charters.
If you want to stay near the beach, check out the luxurious Four Diamond hotels at nearby Playa Conchal. W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal and The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort offer excellent service and comfortable rooms.
Central Pacific Coast
3. Manuel Antonio Beach, Manuel Antonio National Park
Playa Manuel Antonio, located inside Manuel Antonio National Park, is near the city of Quepos. The beach is about a mile hike from the park entrance, and once there, you can enjoy the calm waves that make this a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling. The wildlife also attracts visitors. You have the chance to see sloths, squirrel monkeys, and white-faced capuchins, among many other animals. To increase your chances of spotting wildlife, take a guided tour offered by the park.
If you plan to snorkel, bring your own equipment or rent some before visiting. There is no equipment rental available in the park. You can bring in non-alcoholic beverages, but outside food is not permitted. A cafeteria in the park serves food. Also, purchase your timed ticket online before visiting. Tickets can be purchased online only before your visit and not at the park entrance. Be wary of anyone trying to sell tickets, guided tours or parking before you get to the park entrance; park officials warn that scammers frequent the area outside the park. To avoid the most crowded days, opt for weekdays and avoid holidays. Tickets often sell out on weekends.
4. Playa Jacó
Playa Jacó is about a 1-hour-and-30-minute drive from San José and is a popular tourist destination. The waves attract surfers, though the riptides can be strong. The nightlife and shopping also contribute to Jacó's popularity among tourists. If you want to stay for more than one day, check out the Three Diamond Croc's Resort & Casino on the beach. The inspector notes that it's a perfect spot to watch the sunset. While relaxing on the beach is all you need to do while here, consider taking a horseback riding tour or visiting Rainforest Adventures Jacó to take an open-air gondola up a mountain and zoom down 10 ziplines through the forest canopy.
South Pacific Coast
5. Whale's Tail Beach, Marino Ballena National Park
Whale's Tail Beach is named for the humpback whales that frequent the water off the coast from July through October and a whale-tail-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. If you want a better chance at seeing whales than walking out onto the sandbar can afford you, book a whale and dolphin watching tour led by Dolphin Tours Costa Rica. In addition to humpback whales, there are spotted and bottlenose dolphins, sting rays and sea turtles.
Be respectful of wildlife in the park. Feeding, touching and harassing animals is not permitted. You also are not allowed to remove anything from the park, including rocks, sand and seashells.
Bring a credit card to pay the entrance fee; cash is not accepted. Restrooms are at the park entrance, but there are no other amenities available in the park. Pack prepared food and drinks (non-alcoholic beverages only), and take all your trash with you when you leave. Also, wear water shoes to walk out onto the rocky sandbar.
Northeast Caribbean Coast
6. Tortuguero Beach, Tortuguero National Park
As the name suggests, this is the place to see turtles. The golden sand beach is a nesting site for four species of turtles: green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles. This national park is secluded and both entrances, Cuatro Esquinas Sector and Jalova Sector, can only be accessed by boat. Trekking to the natural, untouched setting is worth it for the chance to spot turtles during nesting season or to watch baby sea turtles hatch and head into the ocean for the first time. To increase your odds of seeing turtles, visit from March through October. The beach is open during the day and open by guided tour only at night. Also check out other things to do in Tortuguero National Park.
Southern Caribbean Coast
7. Playa Punta Uva, Limón
Punta Uva is less developed than some other beaches on this list, so there aren't as many amenities. And you won't find a big resort right on the beach, but what Punta Uva lacks in accommodations, it makes up for in nature. Punta Uva, Grape Point in English, is named for the sea grapes that grow in the area. This white sandy beach features palm trees on the shore and a coral reef off the coast.
Activities include kayak tours where you'll go out onto the ocean and through a jungle to see birds, butterflies, monkeys and sloths. Options include this sloth and kayak tour and this clear kayak tour. There's also the Jaguar Rescue Center. The folks here rescue animals and rehabilitate them to be returned to the wild or housed in the sanctuary if they won't survive in the wild. Despite the name, there aren't any jaguars here, but on guided tours, you can see sloths, monkeys, and several species of birds, including hawks, eagles, owls and macaws, as well as many other animals.
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