Costa Rica has stunning, pristine beaches on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, which is not surprising given the country’s reputation as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious.
The nation’s beaches are breathtaking in their pristine beauty and lack of human interference; verdant hills covered in jungles and rainforests surround the beaches on one side and shimmering blue seas on the other.
Costa Rica is not only home to breathtaking landscapes, but also to a plethora of watersports and excellent surfing sites. Several of its beaches serve as breeding grounds for sea turtles, so this is a great place to go if you want to view some cute animals.
Top 9 Beaches in Costa Rica
1. Playa Montezuma
Backpackers love Playa Montezuma for its lovely beach and laid-back atmosphere; the area is nicknamed “Monte Fuma” because of the large hippy population.
Guests may enjoy beautiful rainforest scenery as they explore the beach’s many paths and hikes. If you are up for the challenge of navigating the verdant pathways and venturing into the jungle, you will discover several beautiful waterfalls tucked away in the dense vegetation. You can get away from the beach and wash off the sand and salt with them.
Thanks to the great scuba diving opportunities in the warm seas that surround the beach, Playa Montezuma is justifiably gaining fame. Along with a plethora of other breathtaking dive spots, divers may also explore three shipwrecks, vibrant coral reefs, and glistening schools of fish.
2. Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones is a seven-kilometer stretch of golden sand on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica; it’s ideal for surfing and lounging on its powdery white beaches.
If you’re looking for a tranquil vacation spot, go no farther than Playa Guiones, which is pleasantly unspoiled and off from the tourist trail. There is a distinct lack of nightlife and eateries, giving the town an easygoing vibe.
In addition to its breathtaking surroundings, Playa Guiones is conveniently situated near the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. Thousands of newborn sea turtles cover the beaches during hatching season, struggling hard to reach the ocean for the first time. It’s a worthwhile visit to the refuge during that time.
3. Tortuguero Beach
Perched precariously on the coast of the Caribbean Sea, Tortuguero is home to breathtaking natural attractions that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into paradise.
The location in a distant national park with the same name makes getting there no picnic, but the fauna and views are truly unparalleled. There are a lot of animals in the jungle that are about to burst onto the shore, including tapirs, monkeys, crocodiles, and more.
Thousands of sea turtles lay their eggs along Tortuguero Beach if you go at the correct time of year.
The restaurants and hotels here are far more costly than in more central areas, and getting to the perfect beach from Puerto Limon requires a boat or plane. However, the landscape is truly picture-perfect.
4. Playa Santa Teresa
Playa Santa Teresa is as tranquil and unhurried as it sounds; this is due in large part to the fact that it is home to yoga practitioners and surfers alike.
Playa Santa Teresa may be less developed than other Costa Rican beaches, but it nevertheless offers a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, and surprisingly many exciting pubs where you can dance the night away.
The golden sands of this Nicoya Peninsula beach are ideal for a day of relaxation. If you’re in the mood for something more physical, you can always take a yoga class or go surfing.
5. Playa Grande
Playa Grande, also known as Salinas, is a huge beach on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica that is bordered by the untamed and beautiful Marino Las Baulas National Park.
The beach is immaculate since it is in a protected area. This place is devoid of trash and hoards of tourists. Also, leatherback turtles use this area to lay their eggs. Although tourists are welcome to observe the turtles in their environment, the beach is manned by cops who maintain a close watch on this endangered species when it nests.
Playa Grande is home to some of the nation’s top surf locations, so it’s a great place to put your surfing talents to the test. To reach another top-notch beach in Costa Rica, Tamarindo is a short distance away.
6. Playa Dominical
If you’re seeking stunning natural beauty, Dominical Beach might be the perfect spot for you. The hills covered in rainforest that roll down towards the sea almost swallow up its pristine sands.
Dominical Beach is most known for its spectacular scenery, but it is also famous as one of the country’s top surfing spots, thanks to its enormous waves that crash on the coast. Staying at the beach and embarking on a forest hike is a great idea. Some beautiful waterfalls may be seen in the neighboring national parks.
Fortunately, Dominical is still relatively undiscovered. This means that hotels, restaurants, and pubs are few and far between, and when they are, they tend to be on the bare minimum. But this does make the restaurant feel casual and unassuming, which is great.
7. Playa Flamingo
Beautiful Playa Flamingo Beach, in Costa Rica’s northwest, gets its name from the lovely pinky-white hue of its sand.
Playa Flamingo is a more upscale beach town in Costa Rica, with many luxurious resorts and hotels to choose from. The sunsets from their cliffside location, which is in the Pacific, are out of this world.
Several great hotels dot the shoreline, among the palm trees, where you may retire to relax after a day of taking in the breathtaking views. Relaxed and beautiful, Playa Flamingo is a great spot to spend time, and the calm, clear seas are ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
8. Playa Manuel Antonio
One of Costa Rica’s most popular beaches, Manuel Antonio boasts towering palm trees that frame the beach’s golden dunes and turquoise seas, making it one of the most picturesque beaches in the country.
Located on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, the beach is part of Manuel Antonio National Park. Numerous picturesque paths wind their way into the thick forest, providing tourists with an opportunity to explore and relax. As they go through the breathtaking landscape, visitors may see iguanas, colorful birds, and howler monkeys, all of which call the rainforest home.
Just outside the national park in the town of Quepos, you’ll find a plethora of hotels, restaurants, cafés, and pubs. If you’re looking for a place to get away from it all and reconnect with nature, Manuel Antonio is the perfect choice.
The beach is very stunning and has not been disturbed in a long time. Additionally, scuba diving is a fantastic activity here due to the abundance of marine life offshore.
9. Tamarindo Beach
Tamarindo is the perfect destination for anybody seeking sun, sand, surf, nightlife, or wildlife. To say that this is a top tourist spot in the nation would be an understatement.
In and of itself, the town is a vibrant hub with an abundance of eateries, hotels, and nightlife options to suit every taste or budget. Tamarindo has some of the liveliest nightlife on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica due to its high volume of tourists.
Nature lovers will be in heaven with the stunning Marino Las Baulas National Park right on the beach’s edge. The town of Tamarindo appears as though it stepped out of a postcard.
A surfer vibe permeates the area, and many go here to hone their surfing skills at some of the nation’s top sites.
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