With two coasts, Atlantic- and Pacific-facing, Costa Rica is surrounded by beautiful beaches that range from places to relax, surf and see wildlife. Whether you want to scuba dive, ride the waves, go fishing, see sloths, turtles and monkeys, or relax on the sand in a warm destination, Costa Rica has a beach for you.
On Costa Rica's Pacific coast, you'll find secluded beaches and tourist areas with shopping, nightlife and luxury hotels. This coast also has an abundance of surfing beaches. Don't know how to surf? No worries, there are tons of surf schools. The luxury Costa Rica resorts, near the white sand beaches, offer comfortable accommodations and excellent service. On Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, you'll find opportunities to hike, visit nature preserves, and snorkel to see coral reefs. Keep reading to find out more about some of the best beaches in Costa Rica.
North Pacific Coast
1. Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste Province
Where to stay: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, AAA Four Diamond
Suggested activities:
The beach town of Tamarindo, on the Nicoya Peninsula, is a popular vacation spot for families and a honeymoon destination. High season is November through April, and while it can get crowded, the area is stunningly beautiful and has lots of things to do, including ATV tours, zipline tours, sport fishing charters, kayak tours and more. Playa Tamarindo has waves that make it famous among surf enthusiasts. If you don't know how to surf but want to try, several surf shops offer beginner lessons that last about 2 hours. There are also scuba diving tours and classes where you have the chance for up-close views of tropical fish, sting rays and octopuses.
2. Flamingo Beach, Guanacaste Province
Where to stay:
- W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal, AAA Four Diamond
- The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort, AAA Four Diamond
Suggested activities:
While quite popular, Flamingo Beach is more secluded than Tamarindo. The white sand beach and beautiful Pacific Ocean have a backdrop of verdant mangroves, perfect for a spring vacation. Recreational watercraft rentals are available on the north end of the beach, while catamaran tours are also a fun option on either a gorgeous morning or a romantic sunset. Flamingo Beach is also an excellent spot for sport fishing and fishing charters.
If you want to stay near the beach, check out the luxurious Four Diamond hotels at nearby Playa Conchal. W Costa Rica Reserva Conchal and The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort offer excellent service and comfortable rooms.
Central Pacific Coast
3. Manuel Antonio Beach, Manuel Antonio National Park
Playa Manuel Antonio, in Manuel Antonio National Park, is near the city of Quepos. The beach is about a mile hike from the park entrance, and once there, enjoy the calm waves that make this a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling, and keep an eye out for wildlife. You have the chance to see sloths, squirrel monkeys, and white-faced capuchins, among many other animals. To increase your chances of spotting wildlife, take a guided tour offered by the park.
If you plan to snorkel, bring your own equipment or rent some before visiting. There are no equipment rentals in the park. You can bring in non-alcoholic beverages, but outside food is not permitted. A cafeteria in the park serves food. Also, purchase your timed ticket online before visiting. Tickets can be purchased online only before your visit and not at the park entrance. Be wary of anyone trying to sell tickets, guided tours or parking before you get to the park entrance; park officials warn that scammers frequent the area outside the park. To avoid the most crowded days, opt for weekdays and avoid holidays. Tickets often sell out on weekends.
4. Playa Jacó
Where to stay:
- Croc's Resort & Casino, AAA Three Diamond
Suggested activities:
Playa Jacó is about a 1-hour-and-30-minute drive from San José and is one of the best beaches for surfers and tourists. The waves attract surfers, but the nightlife and shopping also make Jacó a popular spot. If you want to stay for more than one day, check out Croc's Resort & Casino on the beach. Our AAA inspector notes that it's a perfect spot to watch the sunset. While relaxing on the beach is all you need to do while here, consider taking a horseback riding tour or riding the open-air gondola up a mountain to zoom down the zipline course through the forest canopy.
South Pacific Coast
5. Whale's Tail Beach, Marino Ballena National Park
Whale's Tail Beach is one of the best beaches in Costa Rica for whale watching. It's named for the humpback whales that frequent the water off the coast from July through October and for the whale-tail-shaped sandbar visible at low tide. In addition to humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, sting rays and sea turtles also frequent the area. You can see whales from land, but for the chance for a closer look, book a whale-watching tour.
Be respectful of wildlife in the park. Feeding, touching and harassing animals is not permitted. You also are not allowed to remove anything from the park, including rocks, sand and seashells.
Bring a credit card to pay the entrance fee; cash is not accepted. Restrooms are at the park entrance, but there are no other amenities available in the park. Pack prepared food and drinks (non-alcoholic beverages only) and take all your trash with you when you leave. Also, wear water shoes to walk out onto the rocky sandbar.
Northeast Caribbean Coast
6. Tortuguero Beach, Tortuguero National Park
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As the name suggests, this is one of the best beaches in Costa Rica to see turtles. The golden sand beach is a nesting site for four species of turtles: green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead sea turtles. This national park is secluded, and both entrances, Cuatro Esquinas Sector and Jalova Sector, can only be accessed by boat. Trekking to the natural, untouched setting is worth it for the chance to spot turtles during nesting season or to watch baby sea turtles hatch and head into the ocean for the first time. To increase your odds of seeing turtles, visit from March through October. The beach is open during the day and open by guided tour only at night. Also, check out other things to do in Tortuguero National Park.
Southern Caribbean Coast
7. Playa Punta Uva, Limón
Suggested activities:
Punta Uva is less developed than some other beaches on this list, so there aren't as many amenities. And you won't find a resort right on the beach, but what Punta Uva lacks in accommodations, it makes up for in nature. Punta Uva, Grape Point in English, is named for the sea grapes that grow in the area. This white sandy beach features palm trees on the shore and a coral reef off the coast.
Activities include kayak tours, where you'll go out onto the ocean and through a jungle to spot birds, butterflies, monkeys and sloths. There's also the Jaguar Rescue Center. The folks here rescue animals and rehabilitate them to be returned to the wild or housed in the sanctuary if they won't survive in the wild. Despite the name, there aren't any jaguars here, but on guided tours, you can see sloths, monkeys, and several species of birds, including hawks, eagles, owls and macaws, as well as many other animals.
Plan Your Costa Rica Vacation with AAA
As a AAA member, you can work with a AAA Travel Agent for free. Travel agents can help you plan and book your beach vacation to Costa, and they can even help save you money by ensuring you get the best deals.
Prefer to plan on your own? AAA Trip Canvas is a travel planning tool that you can use to find Diamond-designated hotels that have been evaluated by our expert inspectors. Also, find and book restaurants and things to do. Don’t miss out on exclusive member savings and benefits, like on hotel stays with AAA preferred hotels or even airport parking.