Costa Rica Beaches



Beaches in Costa Rica



With over 1100 miles of coastline and over 65% of its borders made up of that coastline – it is not hard to see why Costa Rica has become THE place to go for a beach vacation.  Costa Rica actually means “rich coast “ in Spanish and that is evident no matter what beach area you decide to visit on your vacation to this paradise!  Whether you are looking for idyllic, white sandy beaches for relaxing, fishing or lazy sunbathing, or if you are looking for adventure on a beach where giant sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs- Costa Rica has it all!  With a beach never more than 75 miles away and an infinite number to choose from- this paradise has everything to offer its visitors looking for excitement at the beach!

Beachside Bliss

A plethora of water sports and beach activities exists for every visitor- whether it is world class surfing, sport fishing or just relaxing on the sand- Costa Rica has it all.  Some beaches also have forest preserves with populations of exotic animals and plant life to explore and observe, while others offer vast expansions of sand in almost every color available.  Different types of resorts and lodging options, including luxurious private house rentals and more rustic seaside cabanas to name a few, dot the landscape all over Costa Rica’s coastline and provide for a perfect place from which to base your tropical adventure.  Costa Rica is quickly becoming the premier destination for beach vacations.  With the vast options that are available to visitors, its diverse coastlines and a friendly economy and population- Costa Rica has become a location to seriously consider when deciding your next vacation destination.






The warm waters that surround Costa Rica and the country’s well developed tourism infrastructure are just some of the reasons that the beaches here are rated among the best in the world.



Beach Front Hotels
beach from hotelsWith over 1100 miles of coastline and two oceans, Costa Rica is the very definition of beachside bliss

National Parks
national parksThe National Parks and Wildlife Refuges are managed by MINAE- Ministerio de Ambiental y Energia. In total more than 25% of the land area of Costa Rica is protected by one program or the other.  

Volcanoes
volcanoesAs part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s most mesmerizing volcanoes and boasts an amazing 112 volcanic sites throughout the country.

Costa Rica Top Beaches

manuel antonio beach

Manuel Antonio

The beaches at Manuel Antonio are among the most beautiful in Costa Rica, if not the world.  A collection of four major beaches; Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondido and Playita Read more...

montezuma beach

Montezuma

Located at the base of the Nicoya peninsula, Montezuma is a beach area that stretches on for miles with plenty of little nooks for private sunning and surfing.  Read more...

mal pais

Mal Pais

Literally means “Bad Land”, but nothing could be further from the truth!  A beautiful sandy cove protected by a rocky reef, the beach at Mal Pais is everything that a visitor to Costa Rica is looking for: excellent snorkeling and surfing, secluded, private expanses of amazing pale grey sand, and a plethora of fish and wildlife to enjoy and ad-mire.Mal Pais offers some of the best surfing in the world and few tourists crowd this beautiful area, leaving it undiscovered and private.Read more...

tamarindo

Playa Tamarindo

Located just over 45 miles from Liberia, Playa Tamarindo has become one of the most visited beaches in Costa Rica.  Not only is it very accessible, but it also boasts a nearly two mile expanse of white sandy beach bordered by crystal blue, sparkling ocean. Playa Tamarindo also can claim nearly perfect weather, with sunny, warm year round conditions- even during the green season you need expect only a brief late afternoon shower. Read more...

tortuguero

Tortuguero

On Costa Rica’s fascinating Caribbean coast, Tortuguero Beach literally means “place of turtles”.  A haven for any eco-tourist, this beautiful area is a key nesting area for some of the worlds most endan-gered sea turtles.  Located just over fifty miles north of Limon, the village of Tortuguero can only be reached by boat or plane which adds to its sense of privacy and seclusion.  The beaches are perfect for sunbathing and enjoying the beauty that surrounds you everywhere. Read more...

playa dominical

Playa Dominical

Playa Dominical in Costa Rica is a three mile long rocky brown beach located in the Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica. It is regarded by nearly everyone as a surfer’s paradise! Because the area boasts some of the most consistent waves in Costa Rica,  Playa Dominical has earned the reputation as THE place for surfing.  Many of the local businesses are run by surfers that came here, fell in love with the area and never left. A strong riptide exists just off shore making the waters not parti-cularly good for swimming, but excellent for the surfing set.  Read more...

samara

Samara

Located on the western coast of the Nicoya Penninsula, Playa Samara is one of the prettiest and safest beaches in all of Costa Rica. This long; over three miles!;  pure white beach offers a wonderful place to sunbathe, snorkel, take leisurely walks in the sand or do the millions of other things one does on a relaxing beach vacation.  The swimming is great at Playa Samara primarily because of the living coral reefs frames the beautiful expanse of sand.  Read more...

drake bay

Drake Bay

Drake Bay is probably one of the most remote and secluded beaches in Costa Rica. An adventure lover’s paradise, the adventure be-gins just trying to get there.  Accessible only by air or water, it is para-dise for visitors looking for an isolated spot to relax and escape from it all. River taxis are the most common form of transportation once you arrive in the area and are reasonably priced and readily available.  Read more...

puerto viejo

Playa Puerto Viejo

Playa Puerto Viejo is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in the Limon Province.  Well known for what has been called the most awesome surf wave in Costa Rica, “the Salsa Brava”, this beautiful beach area is renowned for its world class surfing and laid back life style.  A thick Hawaiian style wave, the Salsa Brava builds up in the deep water and then breaks in the shallow reef, offering up to triple overhead surf in the best conditions.  Read more...

playa tamborPlaya Tambor

Playa Tambor is a beautiful dark sand beach located at the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula in Ballena Bay.  This arch shaped beach opens up to a snorkeling and scuba diving Mecca surrounded by high bluffs of volcanic origin. Copious amounts of marine life exist in this area make both pursuits highly enjoyable.  Read more...