Beaches in Guanacaste Costa Rica
Guanacaste is named after the national tree of the country. Its geography is flat, rugged by the Guanacaste mountain range towards the border with Alajuela, and with some high areas on the Nicoya Peninsula. In its political division, 11 cantons are presented.
The economic potential of Guanacaste lies in tourism, since its beaches are of great scenic appeal, and its hot climate is ideal. In Liberia is the second international airport of Costa Rica, called Daniel Oduber International Airport.
The Province of Guanacaste is the largest tourist development center in Costa Rica.
Guanacaste Costa Rica
The North Pacific
(Beaches, Rincon de la Vieja, Santa Rosa, Barra Honda, Palo Verde, Miravalles, Tenorio…)
Guanacaste Norte is home to an essential portion of the Costa Rican natural and cultural heritage. Not surprisingly there is a significant number of protected areas here that include aquatic, terrestrial, mountainous and coastal ecosystems, in whose territories life develops with exuberance.
Located in the north of the country, it includes the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, from the border with Nicaragua to Punta Cerritos, located 22 km away. West of the city of Santa Cruz. It covers an area of approximately 100 km from the Pacific Coast. In the past, this region has had its natural vocation in livestock and agriculture. At present, however, the incomparable beauty of its landscapes that range from the tropical dry forest to the low montane forest and its warm climate, as well as its fertile nature have made Guanacaste one of the busiest places for local and international tourism.
It also has important support in the Tourist Development Pole of the Gulf of Papagayo, as well as, by the Daniel Oduber International Airport, where a large number of charter flights and regular flights from the United States arrive.
Guanacaste Norte has two main tourist centers that are Liberia (distribution, stopover and excursion center) and Santa Cruz and three secondary tourist centers: El Coco, Tamarindo, and Flamingo.
Along the Guanacaste coast, there are numerous beaches that are bathed by the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. The landscape of the coast is exceptional.
There are long beaches of white sands and a calm sea nuanced by intense blues. Especially those located within the Papagayo Gulf Tourist Pole (Nacascolo, Viridor, Iguanita, and Panama). It is one of the most developed regions, based on high-investment hotels with direct demand potential.
Attractions of Guanacaste Norte
RINCÓN DE LA VIEJA NATIONAL PARK
This National Park includes the massif where the Rincon de la Vieja Volcano is located. It has an extension of 14,083 hectares. It has two sectors: Las Pailas and Santa María. It has nine cones and a lagoon: The goldfinches. Pailas Sector: trail to the craters (7.5 km) Von Seebach (1898 masl) and Rincon de la Vieja (1806 masl), path to the pailas (2.77 km), trail to La Cangreja Falls (5.1kms ) and Escondidas (4.3 km), trail to the Río Blanco pool (600 meters), trail to the fumaroles and mud volcanoes.
Santa María Sector: Enchanted Forest waterfall trail (1100 meters), Pailas sector trail (8 km), cold water pails trail (1600 mts), hot springs trail (2.75 km). In the immediate vicinity of the administrative area, there are sanitary services, areas for lunch and camping area. There is also a historic house and a trapiche. In addition, you can access the Park from the side of Buenos Aires of Upala.
HERMOSA BEACH
This beautiful bay is about 2 kilometers long and has gray sand. It is located between two high points. To the south and in front of Punta Cacique are the Pelonas and Montosa Islands. It has little waves and abundant coastal vegetation. It is very appropriate for swimming, sunbathing and observing its beautiful sunsets, water sports, including diving, hiking, and horseback riding. This beach has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach.
COCO BEACHES
It is one of the beaches with the highest tradition and popularity in Costa Rica. It is located in a bay with little swell and very suitable for swimming and the safe anchorage of boats. It has grayish sands that last for almost three kilometers. To the south is the sentry point (islet) where there is a cove of bright sands. Playas del Coco has a wide range of services that allow you to enjoy all kinds of recreational and sports activities, including sport fishing, diving, boating, etc. It is also ideal for hiking and horseback riding.
PLAYA OCOTAL
It is a cove bounded by hills, with gray sand and little waves. Towards the southern end is the Serial Point which is surrounded by crystal clear waters. This beach is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, water sports, such as diving and sportfishing offered to different parts of the Region. From the large parts of the adjacent hills, you have magnificent views of the entire Gulf of Papagayo. To the south of Ocotal is another smaller inlet known as Bahía Azul or Pez Vela, which is a sport fishing ground. This beach has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach.
PLAYA POTRERO
It occupies a bay of calm waters that is about four kilometers long. It has estuaries and mangroves, as well as a beautiful landscape. Towards the southern tip is the Flamingo marina (Blanca). It is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, hiking and horseback riding and water sports organized from this site: sport fishing and diving.
PLAYA BLANCA (FLAMINGO)
It is a cove of moderate swell suitable for swimming. It has a mangrove and to the north are the Isla Plata and the Salinas tip, which separate the Brasilito and Potrero bays. From this point, you can enjoy a spectacular view of both bays. Because of its scenic and natural beauty, as well as the excellent and varied services it has, it is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the beach during the day and have fun at night.
PLAYA CONCHAL
It is located south of Brasilito, from which it is separated by a rocky promontory (Punta Conchal), from which you can see a very beautiful and extensive panorama of this beach and the entire coast that extends south. This cove of just under 2 kilometers in length, owes its name to the peculiarity that in its northern part the sands are formed by millions of shell fragments. It has lush vegetation and mangrove and its waters are crystal clear. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the country and is ideal for swimming, hiking and horseback riding and enjoy boating and other water sports, including diving. This beach has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach
PLAYA GRANDE
This beach is part of the Baulas Marine National Park. Its name originates from the great breadth, this beach extends south to the estuary of Tamarindo, where there is an important mangrove (Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge) which can be traveled by boat, for the observation of flora and wildlife. This beach is especially attractive for surfers and for those who wish to observe the nesting of the leatherback turtle. It is also very suitable for sunbathing, hiking and bathing. It has the declaration of Blue Flag.
TAMARINDO BEACH
Tamarindo together with Playa Grande and Ventanas form the Tamarindo Bay. It is a beautiful beach that also has rocky areas and an island (Captain) at its southern end. It has lush vegetation: savanna oaks, tamarinds, and coconut trees. It has excellent and varied services that allow you to enjoy during the day of the sea and have fun during the night. This beach is ideal for resting, hiking and horseback riding, participating in sport fishing and diving tours, as well as visiting the mangroves and watching the turtle nesting. From this bay and to the south, the most critical coastal sector for surfing is located. This beach has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach.
LOBSTER BEACH
This cove is separated from Tamarindo by Punta San Francisco. It has two main sectors, divided by the mouth of the San Francisco River. To the north, the coast is rocky and is not suitable for swimming. To the south is the San Francisco estuary, whose mangrove is vital for bird nesting. Playa Langosta is an essential site for spawning the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and is part of the Las Baulas National Marine Park. The walks through both sectors of this beach are very pleasant for the observation of the landscape and of different species of birds. Lobster is also very popular among surfers. This beach has been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag, which identifies it as a clean and safe beach.
SANTA ROSA NATIONAL PARK
It has two sectors: Bat and Santa Rosa proper. The first one is located in the northern part of the Santa Elena peninsula. There are several beaches such as Hachal, Danta, Coquito, Santa Elena, and Blanca. Near the administrative area, there is parking, tables for picnics, toilets, drinking water, and camping area. It also has viewpoints and trails.
The Santa Rosa sector has the most important sample of dry tropical forest in Central America. In this forest, there are species such as white-tailed deer, congo and carablanca monkeys, etc. It also has two beaches: Naranjo and Nancite. In the first one, you can camp, and in the second one that is managed as a biological station, the Loras turtles spawn. Finally, Santa Rosa has excellent historical relevance because the Battle of Santa Rosa took place there.
In this sector, there are also several paths and viewpoints, as well as other places of interest: Monument to the heroes of 1856 and 1955, and the historic house, which was completely rebuilt in 2002.
SOUTH GUANACASTE:
This Unit includes the southwest coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. It limits to the north with Punta Cerritos and to the south with the mouth of the Bongo River, with an approximate length of about 110 kilometers in front of the coast.
The main tourist center of the Guanacaste Sur Unit is the city of Nicoya, located about 30 kilometers from the coast that functions as a distribution and stopover center for tourists traveling to the beaches of Guanacaste Sur and travelers to other corridors. The secondary tourist center of the corridor is the town of Sámara, located on the coast and therefore occupies a central position with respect to the entire territory of the corridor.
The main resource of the unit is the beaches, it has a wide potential for the development of combined beach and natural resource products as it happens with the spectacular arrival of Lora turtles in the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge and with the estuaries and mangroves of the southern part, especially those that separate the beaches of Islita, Bejuco, San Miguel, Coyote, and Guiones. The mangroves are in an excellent state of conservation and are ideal sites for bird and other wildlife observation as well as for light sports such as kayaking.
It has an efficient public transport system and maritime ferries (community of Paquera and Naranjo beach) that facilitate communication with various points in the Region. Likewise, the bridge over the Tempisque River allows rapid access to the entire central and southern part of the Peninsula. In addition, it has a series of aerodromes (Tamarindo, Carrillo, Islita) that allow fast and safe entry to the main destinations of Guanacaste Sur.
Attractions of Guanacaste Sur
OSTIONAL BEACH
It is an extensive and wide beach and strong waves that joins south with Nosara beach from which it is separated by a point called Division. This beach has great worldwide prestige because it is mainly in it and in Nancite (San Rosa National Park) where the lore turtles come to spawn more, especially from July to November. For that reason, this beach and the entire coast to the south to Punta Guiones are part of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. The most scenic area of this beach is located to the north where the coast is rocky.
NOSARA BEACH
It is a beach that has a beautiful estuary and a wide mangrove (Nosara River) that can be traveled by boats and kayaks, to observe its flora and fauna, especially birds. In the town of Nosara and nearby there are all kinds of tourist services, including horse and kayak tours
GUIONES BEACH
It is an extensive and wide beach very suitable for hiking and horseback riding, sunbathing and enjoying surfing because its waves are appropriate for this. There are next to this beach and the others that are located towards the north, a great diversity of tourist services.
GARZA BEACH
It occupies a beautiful bay of moderate waves. It has a south estuary where the Garza River flows into a mangrove. To the north and on the other side of Punta Garza, there is a rocky beach called Rosada, due to the color of its sands. In Garza, which is a small fishing town, you can sunbathe, enjoy the bath, take walks, and participate in sportfishing tours.
SÁMARA BEACH
It is a bay about four kilometers long. It has a moderate swell. It has mangroves and coastal vegetation: chamomiles, coconut trees, crawling plants such as beach beans, etc. Towards the central part of the beach, there is an old and huge Mata Palo tree that is a hallmark of Samara. Chora Island is located towards the southern end and in front of the Indian point. Sunbathing, hiking and horseback riding, bathing in the sea, riding a mountain bike, boating or kayaking are some of the activities of this beach that also has varied tourist services that allow the enjoyment of the beach during the day and music and good table at night. It has the declaration of Blue Flag.
CARRILLO BEACH
This beautiful bay is located about five kilometers from Sámara. It has a beautiful beach of calm waves, very safe and appropriate for the bathroom, especially at its southern end, where parallel to the beach and the street, there is a large number of coconut trees that provide shade to its visitors and beautify the coastline. Carrillo is also very suitable for sunbathing and hiking. In its southern part there is a rocky hill from which this bay is observed in all its splendor. Surrounding this point, there is a very safe road on the coast for the anchorage of craft and sportfishing boats. It has the declaration of Blue Flag
BARRA HONDA NATIONAL PARK
It is located twenty-two km northeast of Nicoya. The extension is 2295 hectares and protects an important geological resource, a system of calcareous caverns of stalactite and stalagmite formations. The Barra Honda hill, about 450 meters high, is made up of ancient coral reefs that emerged due to an uprising caused by tectonic faults.
As far as the caverns are concerned, around nineteen have been explored, among them, the Velvet is open to the public, since it is the easiest to access. The stalactites and stalagmites that compose them are the results of the dissolution of the calcium carbonate from which these structures are constituted which, upon coming into contact with water, produces that chemical reaction. This Park has parking, drinking water, latrines, accommodation, information, trails, and viewpoints that allow you to enjoy the landscapes of the Tempisque River.
OSTIONAL WILDLIFE NATIONAL REFUGE
Ostional was established as a refuge with the main purpose of protecting the nesting of the Lora turtle that visits this coastal sector, the most significant sector extends from the site known as La Roca to the Ostional estuary. In addition to the Lora turtle, which nests in the shelter throughout the year, the Baula turtles and the Green turtle nesting in September to February also nest in Ostional, as well as the Hawksbill turtle that arrives occasionally. Lora turtles lay more than 100 eggs on the beaches of the refuge.
Once a year there is a phenomenon known as the arrival of the Lora turtles, between September and November. A large number of turtles that lay thousands of eggs arrive at the shelter for three or seven days. In order to take advantage of this resource rationally, in Ostional the extraction of eggs for commercial purposes is permitted by law. For this purpose, this legal activity is coordinated with the Ostional Development Association, as well as the realization of tours, with local guides, for the observation of turtles.
