It’s no secret that Costa Rica is a tropical paradise–in fact, you can find some of the world’s most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. This country is beaming with stunning natural landscapes, exotic wildlife. and outdoor adventure around every corner. We spent two months in Tamarindo and were on a mission to uncover the absolute best beaches in the Northern Pacific region of Costa Rica.
This list consists of a variety of beaches for different activities–from the best beaches for watching sunsets to surfing beaches, to our favorite beaches for snorkeling and observing wildlife. Also, if you’re looking to plan an epic family vacation to Costa Rica, make sure to read our Ultimate Adventure Guide to Costa Rica.
Important to note, this list is no particular order, however we did create a map to show where all the different beaches are located.
1. Playa Tamarindo
You can’t come to the Guanacaste peninsula without going to Playa Tamarindo. It’s the epitome of a hip surf town (popular for expats too!)–and for good reason. Besides great surf, it’s a fun beach to hang out and chill. Every night many of the locals gather on the beach to watch the sun go down (some of our favorite Costa Rican sunsets were on this beach). The beach has some good restaurants too and if you really want a memorable experience, make sure to book a sunset sail on catamaran.
Tamarindo is THE beach in Costa Rica to learn to surf. And the waves are perfect for beginners! We suggest taking surf lessons with Kelly’s Surf Shop or Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. Awesome instructors and you’re guaranteed to get up! Another note about Tamarindo–this is a great central location on the Guanacaste peninsula, so if you plan to spend at least a few days in this region, this is the place. If you’re looking for some affordable lodging options, make sure to check out this list.
2. Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo is located just north of Tamarindo on the “Gold Coast” of Costa Rica, near 2 other popular beaches, Brasilito and Conchal. This beach is quite stunning with its white sand and crystal clear waters, and great for surfing and boogie boarding. Playa Flamingo is well known for sport fishing as well scuba diving, since there is abundant marine life found here.
If you visit Playa Flamingo between December and Easter, it can get quite crowded, so our suggestion if you visit during this season is to come mid-week early in the morning or late in the day. The sunsets here are amazing too!
3. Playa Conchal
Probably our favorite beach for snorkeling in the Guanacaste region, but also one of the most beautiful in all of Costa Rica is Playa Conchal. Located just south of Playa Flamingo and Brasililto, this beach requires a little bit of effort in getting here since there is no direct access (unless you’re a guest at the 5-star Reserva Conchal), but trust us, the effort is well worth it. To reach this beach, you will want to park at Brasilito beach and walk south across the sand until you see a small hill lined with trees. Follow the hill up and over and you will have arrived to Playa Conchal!
Don’t expect soft sand at this beach, Conchal is made up of tiny white seashells (hence the name ‘conchal’, meaning shell in Spanish). However, that’s what makes this beach so unique and beautiful. The water here is about 5 shades of blue and is super clear on a calm day. This makes for the best snorkeling conditions! If you want to find some marine life, the rocks near the north point of Conchal (right when you enter the beach from Brasilito) is the ideal spot. We saw dozens of different fish, octopus, eels, and even turtles!
4. Playa Ocotal
Playa Ocotal surprised us in all the best ways. Quiet, serene, and clean. It’s also a great beach to watch the sunset. Located only a couple of miles from Playa del Coco, this beach is a hidden gem and great if you want to get away from the crowds. The snorkeling is awesome here too, and if you’re lucky you might see some turtles, manta rays and even sharks! Nearby are the Catalina Islands, which are famous for world-class scuba diving.
There are only a few accommodation options at Playa Ocotal like Ocotal Beach Resort, but if you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of some of the coastal towns in Guanacaste, this is a great place to hide away.
5. Playa Avellanas
If you’re a surfer, don’t skip Playa Avellanas, located about a 45 min drive south of Tamarindo. The surf here can pack a powerful punch and deliver waves up to 15 feet high, so if you are an experienced surfer, make sure to spend a day (or two) at Avellanas. And even if you aren’t a surfer, this beach is a great spot to hang out and watch the surfers. There’s plenty of room to sprawl out here too, with a shoreline that is more than a mile long.
You can’t miss eating at Lola’s, a beachside restaurant that offers delicious food and drinks. And watch out for ‘Lola’, the resident 800 lb pig who strolls the beach!
6. Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones, made famous for its surf and also close proximity to Nosara, the yoga-surf lovin’ beach town, two hours south of Tamarindo. We fell in love with Nosara and this beach and spent hours surfing here. There’s a laid-back vibe here, which makes it hard to leave. Good restaurants, prime surfing and wildlife watching make Nosara a destination worth visiting.
You can also take surf lessons here, and there are tons of other outdoor activities offered in this region from horseback riding, to zip lining, to riding ATV’s.
7. Playa Ostional
If you visit Costa Rica between June-November (the wet season), you might be fortunate enough to witness a mass turtle nesting or hatching, otherwise known as an “arribada”. If you time it just right and happen to be in Ostional during an arribada, you could observe hundreds of thousands of Oliver Ridley sea turtles nesting on this beach. It is truly a sight to behold.
These arribadas occur on a dark night about a week before the new moon each month, with September to December being the peak months. You can’t visit this beach during turtle nesting season without a guide, but guides are easy to find in the area. Also, if you are looking for a great volunteer opportunity, Tortu Guiones is a community and volunteer-based organization that is working on turtle conservation in the area.
8. Playa Nacascolo
beautiful places in all of Costa Rica.
A little longer to get to, Playa Nacascalo is well worth spending a day. Tucked in a cove on the inside of the Gulf de Papagayo, this beach is close to the Four Seasons Resort. The beach is really only known by locals and hardly visited. You have to come during low tide though, otherwise there isn’t much “beach”. Keep a close eye on your valuables as there are monkeys and coatis that will steal your things. The wildlife is amazing here, as well as the marine life.
One tip to get to Nacascalo: You can’t park right at the beach, but there is a free shuttle at the entrance of the Four Seasons. Once they drop you off at the beach, it’s a short walk on a boardwalk down to the water.
9. Playa Juanillo
Another local favorite, Playa Juanillo is certainly one of the most stunning beaches along Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific coast. There are tide pools to explore during low tide on one side of the beach and on the other side, a nice stretch of sand. We would suggest hiking out to the front of the peninsula as you can see some incredible views of the rocky shoreline.
10. Playa Langosta
Just south of Tamarindo beach (in fact, you can walk from here!) lies Playa Langosta. This beach is one of our favorites to watch the sunset and stroll down the beach. It’s also good for surfing too, if you are experienced. There isn’t much shade here though, so if you come in the heat of the day, bring a beach umbrella if you can. Also, there are a few restaurants at Playa Langosta, but mostly what you will find rental homes and BnB’s.
11. Playa Samara
Samara, much like Nosara and Tamarindo, is famous for surf and its family-friendly vibe. This beach town is about an hour south of Nosara. We loved the palm-lined beach, the quaint restaurants and surf shops and of course, the surf. It’s a great place to spend a few days and explore some of the other nearby beaches like Carrillo. Definitely not to be missed if you’re in Northern Costa Rica!
12. Playa Hermosa
Playa Hermosa lives up to its name, ‘beautiful beach’ and is the perfect beach for some R & R. With plenty of shade and a wide expansive beach, you won’t ever feel crowded at Hermosa. There is plenty to do at this beach too besides relax in the sun–from kayaking to diving, to jet skiing, Playa Hermosa has something for everyone here. It’s also only an hour away from Rincon de La Vieja National Park. So if you are looking for some serious adventure like whitewater tubing, zip lining, horseback riding or even hiking, this is good base location.
13. Playa Grande
you’ll see smaller waves here.
One of our favorite beaches in Costa Rica was Playa Grande, located just north of Tamarindo. In fact, if you’re wanting to get here by foot from Tamarindo, you have to cross the estuary on a boat taxi because of the crocodile-infested waters. This beach is a wildlife and surfers paradise with perfect waves all year long (especially for more advanced surfers) and an ideal turtle nesting ground. Between May and October, you can often find leatherback turtles nesting. Marino Las Baulas National Park is right next to Playa Grande too, which is great to explore for wildlife.
14. Playa Zapotillal (Minas)
Zapotillal, otherwise known as Playa Minas is quiet and off-the-beaten path. It’s also a popular beach where the locals like to hang out at on the weekends. We rode ATV’s to Minas from Tamarindo, which was a blast! The road to get here is dirt and often muddy, so it’s best to have a 4-wheel drive if you come in the wet season. We loved that we had the beach practically to ourselves too! If you prefer a quiet, beautiful beach to have a picnic and enjoy the day at, Minas is hard to beat.
15. Playa Carrillo
A local told us about Playa Carrillo and let’s just say, it did not disappoint! This beach is located about 15 minutes south of Playa Samara. We loved all the palms that line the beach, making it perfect for hanging a hammock and taking a nap! It’s a good beach for boogie boarding and depending on the day, surfing too. We even camped here one night!
If you are searching for other fun activities to do in the North Pacific region of Costa Rica, make sure to read our post Best Outdoor Adventures near Tamarindo. And if you want to escape the heat and beaches for a few days, we would highly recommend heading to La Fortuna, a short 3-4 hour drive from the Guanacaste peninsula. Don’t miss 10 Outdoor Activities in La Fortuna.