Costa Rica - Beaches

Beaches of Costa Rica

Caribbean

Barra del Colorado - Straight, 3 miles long dark sand beach with strong waves, between river Colorado and Samay Lagune. Little vegetation and much driftwood make it unattractive for swimming. In the Barra del Colorado national reserve.

Bonita - Yellow sand beach with strong waves, good for surfing, corals can hurt you during swimming, watch out.

Cahuita - Light sand beach, 2 miles long and seperated in three areas: one to go swimming, another with driftwood and algas and a third for bathing and diving, protected by a coral reef. Located 30 miles from Limon.

Manzanillo - 2 miles long sand beach between Punta Uva and Punta Manzanillo with good places to swimm as well as ideal places to dive between corals. Nice vegetation. The street to Puerto Viejo and other beaches ends in Manzanillo.

Tortuguero - 3 miles long dark sand beach with strong waves. Main attraktion are the turtles. Located about 50 miles north of Limon.

Pacific

Avellanas - Brown sand beach, one mile long with rocky cost in the south. Strong waves, good for surfing and with a little attention also for swimming.

Bejuco - Dark sand beach with high vegetation, most coco palms and almond trees. Good for sun bathing, fishing and water sports. Located about 25 miles south of Jaco.

Brasilito - Silver grey sand beach, 1 mile long with medium waves, suitable for swimming. About 35 miles from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

Cabo Blanco - nice beaches in the Cabo Blanca nature reserve

Cabuya - A 3 mile long area with whites beaches and rocky platforms. With strong waves. Good to take pictures as well as for scuba diving. about 8 miles south of Cobano village near Puntarenas.

Carillo - 2 miles long silvergrey sand beach in U-form with a coconut forest in the south. About 4 miles south of Samara beach in Guanacaste.

Coco - Dark sand beach, one mile long with strong waves, suitable for surfing. 20 miles from Liberia, Guanacaste.

Conchal - half a mile long without sand and strong waves. A shell deposit, ideal for snorceling, Jet-Ski, boat trips and other water sports. 1 mile south of Brasilito beach.

Coyote - About 3 miles long together with San Miguel beach. Good for walks, bathing, horseback riding, surfing and nature observation. Located south of Carillo beach in Guanacaste.

Dominical - Dark sand beach with strong waves, dangerous to go swimming. Place for surfers. About 18 miles from San Isidro del General.

Drake Bay - good for fishing and relaxing. Got its name from the pirate Francis Drake, who shall have made a deposite of his treasures there. People also say, it would be hidden in a cave on violin island. 1 1/2 hours by boat from Sierpe.

Espadilla - Light coloured sand beach, 2 miles long with strong waves. The only good thing is that it is close to Manuel Antonio beach. Located 4 miles south of Quepos.

Esterillos - Silver grey sand beach, about 4 miles long with strong waves. Swimming is dangerous. More for observation of the nature or for camping. Located about 13 miles south from Jaco.

Flamingo - Black sand beach, half a mile long. Tourism grows there, you will find shops, hotels and restaurants. A good place for fishing, snorceling, kayaking and for other water sports.

Garza - Only good to go for walks, not to go swimming. The southern end is known as "angry mouth"-beach. Wide beach with damaged vegetation. Some parts of the 4 miles long beach suitable for surfing.

Grande - 2 miles long sand beach with strong waves. Part of Las Baulas national park and one of the most important beaches in the world for the nesting of the turtles. Good for surfing. Loceated 28 miles from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

Hermosa (Garabita) - 6 miles long black sand beach, undeveloped and nesting place for sea turtles. Strong waves good for surfing.

Hermosa (Guanacaste) - Bay with a one mile long silver grey sand beach. Low waves, ideal to go swimming, fishing, bathing, snorceling diving and more. Nice coastal area. Located 6 miles north of Coco beach.

Hermosa (Osa) - Grey sand beach about 4 miles long with low waves. 9 miles south of Dominical.

Herradura - Dark sand beach, 1,5 miles long with little waves, good for swimming. Nice surroundings. 4 miles from Jaco.

Jaco - Beach of 4 miles with strong waves for surfing. Very wide. Swimming can be dangerours and is not wanted.

Junquillal - Nice beach with cristal clear water, fine sand and different vegetation. Easy access the whole year via gravel road. Located 15 miles from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

Langosta - Brown sand beach 2 miles long with rocky coast. Good for walks and observation of nature. Visited by surfers.
Located 1 mile south of Tamarindo beach in Guanacaste.

Malpais - Has a rocky coast with platforms. The south belongs to Cabo Blanco national park. Located 7 miles from Cobano village near Puntarenas.

Manuel Antonio - long white sand beach, 4 miles from Quepos, wide public beach as well as some nice small ones inside the national park. Beach number three in the park is good for snorceling and swimming.

Matapalo - Grey sand beach 5 miles long with strong waves. Undeveloped and located south of Quepos.

Nacascolo - Only 500 yards long, located 15 miles from Liberia at the Gulf of Papagayo.

Nosara - Ideal camping area with drinkwater service. Tropical paradise of flowers and plants with several beaches, seperated by rocks. Located 15 miles from Samara beach in Guanacaste.

Ocotal - White to grey sand beach, 600 yards long with less waves. Surrounding is attractive. Loceated 2 miles south of Coco beach.

Panama - Silver grey sand beach forming a half moon. About 1,5 miles long. Located 14 miles from Liberia in the Gulf of Papagayo.

Pan de Azucar - Small grey sand beach, not even 500 yards long. Santa Catalina and Plata Island can be watched from there. The both rocky ends are suitable for bathing, snorceling and diving. Located 45 miles from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

Pavones - Light brown, one mile long sand beach for surfers, known world wide for its long waves. South of Golfito.

Portrero - White sand beach, 3 miles long with small waves. Loceated 35 miles from Santa Cruz, Guanacaste.

Punta Leona - An 800 yards long black sand beach, bordering a 500 yards long white sand beach, seperated by rocks.
Located 13 miles from Carara Reserve near Jaco.

Puntarenas - Strong visited because of the city of Puntarenas, but not suitable for swimming, to dirty.

Samara - Silver grey sand beach 3 miles long. The beauty and and the development make it to a popular destination for tourists. Located about 22 miles from Nicoya in Guanacaste.

Tamarindo - Brown sand beach, 1 mile long for surfers. The surrounding is very beautiful. Located half a mile south of Grand beach.

Tambor - Dark sand beach located in a loop with very low waves. Rocks to both ends with some vegetation. About 1 mile long and suitable for bathing and fishing. 14 miles from Paquera village near Puntarenas.

Tivives - Silver grey sand beach of 2 miles, about 10 miles south of Puntarenas.

Tortuga - Grey sand beach, about 1,5 miles long and wide is part of Terraba-Delta. Suitable for surfing and sailing, located about 10 miles from Cortes at peninsula Osa.

Uvita - White sand beach, 2 miles long. One of the best beaches there. Small waves and clear water. Good for swimming and for water sports. Located 10 miles south from Dominical in the "Ballena Whales Marine National Park".

Zancudo - About 7 miles long grey sand beach with cristal clear, blue water. With small waves and nice vegetation. Located about 3 miles north of Pavones beach near Golfito.