NORTH PACIFIC OPULENCE
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No region represents Costa Rica's coastal opulence better than the Northwestern province of Guanacaste. The driest part of the country, Guanacaste is a popular destination among sun worshippers of all types. Its beaches run the gamut, from pristine coves set deep within the wilderness of a national park, to modern resorts complete with four-star hotels, gourmet restaurants and charter boats equipped for sport fishing and other aquatic adventures. Guanacaste's wind-swept beaches, separated by rocky bluffs and backed by patches of tropical dry forest, evoke what southern California's coastline might have looked like a century ago. But unlike California, the forests of Guanacaste are home for troops of howler monkeys, and flocks of parrots. |
Stretching south from Costa Rica's border with Nicaragua, down the western edge of Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste's coast is divided by rocky points into dozens of beaches. Those on the Santa Rosa Peninsula are wild and isolated, visited only by adventurous nature lovers, dedicated surfers and nesting sea turtles. The Gulf of Papagayo, to the south of that peninsula, features more accessible beaches, many of which slope down into the tranquil waters of Culebra Bay.
That bay's calm and crystalline waters offer excellent conditions for swimming, skin diving, windsurfing and other aquatic diversions. Some of the country's newest luxury hotels overlook Culebra Bay from such beaches as Hermosa and Panama.
Playa del Coco, the region's principal port and a colorful little fishing town, is set in a deep cove with a long beach of dark sand and calm waters, while Ocotal, to the south, lies in a similar but considerably smaller bay.
| If you follow the coast south from the Gulf of Papagayo, the beaches become more exposed the Pacific's whims, which means the sea can resemble a swimming pool one week and raise waves large enough to please expert surfers the next. At such serene spots as beaches Pan de Azucar, Potrero, Brasilito and Conchal, you won't have to share the beach with crowds of tourists, since relatively few accommodations complement the costal beauty there. |
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Playa Flamingo's white sand each is attractive enough to justify the handful of hotels that overlook it but the modern fleet of charter boats docked in its marina are as much of a draw for many people. One of Guanacaste's major sport fishing spots, Flamingo provides anglers access to some of the best sail and marlin fishing in the world, and consequently the site of an annual sailfish tournament.
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Tamarindo, to the south, features a long swath of fine packed sand backed by the best selection of hotels and restaurants available in the region. A popular spot among surfers, Tamarindo has several equally impressive beaches nearby, such as Playa Grande, and important sea turtle nesting beach, and Junquillal, a long stretch of sand bordered by forest with accommodations of its own. As you head south from there, the reads get rougher and the hotels grow scarcer, but the scenery doesn't suffer in the least bit. |
Nosara is a spectacular spot that combines the charms of long, empty beaches with the wildlife that inhabits patches of rare tropical dry forest. Such beaches as Garza, Carrillo and Islita offer similar combinations of coastal and sylvan beauty, while the pale, hard-packed sand of Sámara is complemented by a wider selection of accommodations and is a little easier reach.
Turning towards the Gulf of Nicoya you will find laid-back Montezuma and Tambor featuring a variety of hotels for all tastes and budgets.
 1. Papagayo
The Gulf of Papagayo, to the south of that peninsula, features accessible beaches, many of which slope down into the tranquil waters of Culebra Bay.
That's calm and crystalline waters offer excellent conditions for swimming, skin diving, windsurfing and other aquatic diversions. Some of the country's newest luxury hotels overlook Culebra Bay from such beaches as Panama.
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2. Hermosa
Located in Guanacaste at the district of Carrillo, Hermosa Beach (Playa Hermosa) is a beach with a length of 1.5 kilometers and with a width of 50meters, in which you will enjoy and see thin gray sand, blue water of the ocean and dry varied vegetation, also a beautiful mangrove swamp. It is a beach with sandy and rocky characteristics typical of the area with accessibility during all year. At Hermosa Beach you count with all the facilities such as camping area and 26 hotels.
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3. Coco's
This beach is located in the district of Carrillo,Guanacaste, in a humble and colorful town of fishermen which are the main port of the area. This beach has a length of 1.5 kilometers of thin gray sand and blue water, you will enjoy also of varied vegetation, facilities such as camping zone and hotels with accessible prices for your budget. |
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4. Ocotal
Ocotal is a beautiful beach with gross sand and blue water, located in Guanacaste at the district of Carrillo, this beach counts with a length of 5 kilometers and with a width of 50 meters. In this beach you will enjoy of the camping areas, 2 hotels and an exotic mangrove swamp. Also, you will admire the dry varied vegetation typical of the area and a sandy beach with an easy access during all year. |
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5. Flamingo
Located at Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, you will find Flamingo Beach. An exotic beach with 4 kilometers of thin gray sand and blue water, this beach is very accessible during all the year. At Flamingo beach you will enjoy and admire a mangrove swamp, dry varied vegetation, all facilities such as camping area and several hotels and a swell that varies between intense and normal. |
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6. Conchal
One of the most exotic beaches of Costa Rica, located in Guanacaste, at the district of Santa Cruz. Conchal Beach (Playa Conchal) has a beach with a length of 4 kilometers and a width of 50 meters. Gross gray sand and beautiful blue water, you will access to Conchal Beach during all year and enjoy varied vegetation, a hotel with a high category of 5 stars and camping area. |
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7. Tamarindo
Located in Guanacaste, Tamarindo is one of the most beautiful beaches in the pacific coast. With a length of 3 kilometers, its sand is thin and gray and its water is blue. It is surrounded by varied vegetation typical of the area. This area counts with all facilities, and also with all kind of hotels with accessible prices for your budget. |
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8. Nosara
Nosara Beach is located in Guanacaste, at the district of Nicoya. It is a place you will enjoy of 2 kilometers of thin gray sand and blue water, covered by varied vegetation and an easy access during all dry season. During rainy season is very accessible with a double track car. Nosara has all facilities such as 12 hotels and camping zone. |
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9. Islita
Your will find Punta Islita Beach at Nandayure, Guanacaste. It is an exotic corner of the pacific coast, with calm blue waters and 6 kilometers of thin gray sand surrounded by varied vegetation. At Punta Islita, you will enjoy all the comfort that one of the best hotels of the country offers to the tourist with accessibility during all the year. |
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10. Sámara
Playa Samara is located in Guanacaste. This beach has a length of 6 kilometers and a width of 2 kilometers. Although this beach does not count with much vegetation is one of the most colorful places of the pacific coast. With its blue water and gray sand, you will access to Samara Beach during all year. |
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11. Mal País
An exclusive beach of thin gray sand and blue water, in where you will enjoy the zone that has the most beautiful scenic landscape of the pacific coast: "the jewel in the south point of Nicoya Peninsula: Cabo Blanco" |
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12. Tambor
This beach is located at the Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste. It counts with 6 kilometers of gold sand and blue waters which is surrounded by exotic vegetation. In this place, you will enjoy of varied fauna, and also of all facilities surrounded by a majestic landscape.
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