- Santa Rosa National Park: If you really want to get away from it all, the beaches here in the northwest corner of Costa Rica are a good bet. You'll have to four-wheel-drive or hike 13km (8 miles) from the central ranger station to reach them. And once there, you'll find only the most basic of camping facilities: outhouse latrines and cold-water showers. But you'll probably have the place almost to yourself. In fact, the only time it gets crowded is in October, when thousands of olive ridley sea turtles nest in one of their yearly arribadas (arrivals).
- The Beaches around Playa Samara: Playa Samara itself is nice enough, but if you venture just slightly farther afield, you'll find some of the nicest and least developed beaches along the entire Guanacaste coast. Playa Carrillo is a long, almost always deserted crescent of palm-backed white sand located just south of Samara, while Playa Barrigona and Playa Buena Vista are two hidden gems tucked down a couple of dirt roads to the north.
- Playa Montezuma: This tiny beach town at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula has weathered fame and infamy, but retains a funky sense of individuality. European backpackers, vegetarian yoga enthusiasts, and UFO seekers choose Montezuma's beach over any other in Costa Rica. The waterfalls are what set it apart from the competition, but the beach stretches for miles, with plenty of isolated spots to plop down your towel or mat. Nearby are the Cabo Blanco and Curu wildlife preserves.
- Malpais: While the secret is certainly out, there's still some time to visit Costa Rica's hot spot before the throngs arrive. With just a smattering of luxury lodges, surf camps, and simple cabinas, Malpais is the place to come if you're looking for miles of deserted beaches and great surf. If you find Malpais is too crowded, head farther on down the road to Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, and Manzanillo.
- Manuel Antonio: The first beach destination to become popular in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio retains its charms despite burgeoning crowds and mushrooming hotels. The beaches inside the national park are idyllic, and the views from the hills approaching the park are enchanting. This is one of the few remaining habitats for the endangered squirrel monkey. Rooms with views tend to be a bit expensive, but many a satisfied guest will tell you they're worth it.
- Punta Uva & Manzanillo: Below Puerto Viejo, the beaches of Costa Rica's eastern coast take on true Caribbean splendor, with turquoise waters, coral reefs, and palm-lined stretches of nearly deserted white-sand beach. Punta Uva and Manzanillo are the two most sparkling gems of this coastline. Tall coconut palms line the shore, providing shady respite for those who like to spend a full day on the sand, and the water is usually quite calm and good for swimming.
With more than 1,200km (750 miles) of shoreline on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Costa Rica offers beachgoers an embarrassment of riches.
Costa Rica Travel Experiences
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Cahuita
Ooit waren we van plan om een deel van Costa Rica te voet af te leggen,pffff: dit nooit meer. Met volle moed vertrokken we uit Puerto Vie... Continue reading »
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Heading to Costa Rica
After spending 6 weeks in Nicaragua and surfing my brains out, I decided to make the jump into Costa Rica. I had hesitations about... Continue reading »
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Sun, sand, sea and the sh*%s
Hello again everyone. It’s not that long since the last blog update but Emma has the shits again and we can’t leave the hotel so I though... Continue reading »
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Adiós Winnebago
It seems like ages ago that we updated the blog and a lot has happened since. We left you last time having just arrived in a small cost... Continue reading »
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Learning Spanish in Playa Samara
What an amazing country! I have been in Costa Rica for a little bit more than a week yet I feel like I've been here for over a month. I a... Continue reading »
