If you want to check out a beautiful beach during your Costa Rica vacation, you’ll soon discover you are spoiled for choice. In fact, there are roughly 300 beaches on the Pacific side of the country alone! This is where you will find some of the best beaches in Guanacaste - a northern Pacific province in Costa Rica. From the pink sand of Playa Conchal to the rocky coastline at Playa Prieta, here are some of our favorite beaches within easy reach of Tamarindo, one of Costa Rica’s most popular beach destinations.
Playa Conchal is Costa Rica’s only pink sand beach. It gets its unique appearance because it is covered in tiny pieces of pink sea shells. The peaceful waters at Conchal are great for swimming and snorkeling, while the palm-lined beach is ideal for pulling up a beach chair and laying in the sun. This beach can be found off of the Westin Resort, which has easy access to the beach. Visitors to Conchal can either make reservations to have lunch at the resort and head on down to the beach afterwards or park their vehicle at the north end of Brasilito Beach and walk to Conchal. Either way, you’re sure to have a fantastic day if you visit this Costa Rica beach, which is located only 40 minutes drive from Tamarindo.
Considered one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Tamarindo area, Playa Avellanas is a haven for beach lovers and surfers alike. Swells here come in from the north and south, bringing in waves that reach as tall as 18 feet during the peak surfing season. Playa Avellanas can be found right off of Hacienda Pinilla Resort, where Pura Vida House resides. In fact, it can be viewed from the resort’s Beach Club, where guests at Pura Vida House get exclusive access. The beach is also home to the popular Lola’s Restaurant and Beach Bar, a great place to hang out enjoy the sun!
A beautiful and tranquil beach, Playa Langosta has a rocky shore offering clean and cool waters. It’s perfect for bathers who love to just lay in the shallow pools. Just down the road from Tamarindo, this long stretch of beach is much less crowded than its neighbor and has plenty of room to relax while you watch the waves roll in. Guests of Pura Vida House also have easy access to this Tamarindo Costa Rica beach.
Stretching for miles of blond sand, Tamarindo Beach has surf that swings from mellow to monstrous. Playa Tamarindo may be lined with restaurants and shops, but it still maintains a very picturesque surf town vibe with plenty to see and do. Expect lots of souvenir shops, great people watching, palm trees, live music, beginner to advanced surfing, and plenty of warm sun. You simply cannot visit the best beaches in Guanacaste without checking out Tamarindo Beach!
Located across the estuary from Tamarindo, Playa Grande will feel practically empty compared to its lively neighbor. This beach is part of Marino Las Baulas National Park, named for the leatherback turtles that lay their eggs here every year. Nighttime tours can be scheduled to see these ancient animals at the ranger station located just a few meters from the beach. Grande is also known to have some of the best surfing in the area amongst the more experienced surfers.
If you are an experienced surfer you will want to check out another surfing beach in Guanacaste. Playa Negra is located just a few miles down the road from Playa Avellanas. Don’t be surprised if you are the only visitors to this secluded, black-sand beach and be sure to pack food and drinks, as the closest thing you'll get to a restaurant is a local farmer selling coconuts (pipas). Playa Negra is also a great beach for shell hunting amongst the rocks.
With a brand new, luxurious marina, Playa Flamingo features a shady tree-lined coast, beautiful tan sands, and lapping waves. If you’re more of a beach adventurer than a beach lounger, you will be pleased to find that Flamingo Beach is the gateway to Las Catalinas Islands, which offers up some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in the country. Flamingo is home to a tasty restaurant right on the beach called Coco Loco as well as the Margaritaville Resort. You’ll find Flamingo Beach about 35 minutes north of Tamarindo.
Between Potrero Beach and Las Catalinas is Playa Prieta - a small beach that is popular with the locals. Nestled amongst Playa Penca and Sugar Beach, Prieta is not a well-known tourist beach and will give visitors to it a true taste of a Costa Rican day at the beach. There are no amenities at the beach so you will have to bring whatever you need to spend the day swimming and lounging. This short stretch of beach takes only ten minutes to walk between its rocky outcroppings.
If you’re looking for long walks along the beach, Playa Junquillal is almost as good as it gets. Located only a 30-minute drive south of the busy surf town of Tamarindo, Playa Junquillal, is a stunning beach with long deserted shores and a peaceful atmosphere. This beach carries Costa Rica’s prestigious Blue Flag status, given to only the cleanest beaches in the country.
Last but not least is a small beach near and dear to our hearts at Pura Vida House. located within Hacienda Pinilla and in front of the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort, Playa Mansita exists is relative seclusion. Mansita’s shores are often referred to as “semi-private,” as they’re accessible only by boat or a sun-filled walk, unless you are a guest of either resort. Meticulously clean and quiet, Mansita is a virtual paradise for snorkelling and other serene activities that allow you to marvel at nature.
There are so many beautiful Guanacaste beaches nearby, you are spoiled for choice when you visit Pura Vida House! Please contact us with any questions you have if you are considering all inclusive vacation rentals in Costa Rica. We are available at (614) 600-1904 or info@thepuravidahouse.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Blog by: Jennifer LaCharite – Costa Consultants, Internationa
