Costa Rica is known for its incredible beaches. The Costa Rica Beaches come in all shapes and sizes – some are perfect for surfing, others offer calm waters for swimming and snorkeling. Some are backed by lush rainforests, while others sit alongside lively beach towns.
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, you’ll want to include some time at the beach. To help you decide where to go, here are my picks for the top 5 best Costa Rica Beaches .
1. Playa Manuel Antonio
Located inside Manuel Antonio National Park on the central Pacific coast, Playa Manuel Antonio is one of the most famous and beautiful Costa Rica Beaches.
This postcard-perfect stretch of soft white sand is backed by lush rainforest-covered hills and cliffs. It’s common to see white-faced capuchin monkeys playing in the trees behind the beach too.
The only downside is that Playa Manuel Antonio is frequently busy. Get there early to claim a spot – it’s totally worth it for the gorgeous scenery. There are bathrooms, showers and food vendors next to the beach inside the national park.
2. Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal near Brasilito on the North Pacific coast is named after the crushed seashell fragments that cover the beach, giving it a sparkling appearance. The water here is an amazing turquoise color thanks to the white sand and seashell powder.
This beach has gentle waves that make it excellent for swimming and snorkeling. You can rent a kayak and paddle out to the nearby Catalina Islands for great snorkeling too. Playa Conchal is large and rarely feels crowded. There are accesses from a few nearby beach resorts, but no major public parking lots or facilities.
3. Playa Santa Teresa
For awesome surfing, head to Playa Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula. This beach town has become a major surf destination, attracting surfers from around the world. But there’s more to do than just surf here.
The restaurants are fantastic, and the beaches are beautiful, with sandy coves separated by rocky outcroppings.
Playa Carmen is the most popular beach for swimming and sunbathing, while Playa Hermosa and El Carmen have the biggest waves for surfing. There are several surf schools in town that offer lessons for beginners. If you’re an experienced surfer, you can rent boards to take out on your own too.
The laidback surf town vibe makes Santa Teresa a great place to relax after riding the waves. Yoga, health food stores and spas are prevalent in town. The beaches here are lovely any time of year.
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4. Playa Tamarindo
For Costa Rica beaches vacation, spend some time in Tamarindo on the Nicoya Peninsula. This lively town has become a major tourist destination thanks to its great beaches, plentiful hotels, restaurants and bars.
Playa Tamarindo is a long stretch of golden sand lined with palm trees. The crystal clear waters are excellent for swimming, plus there are spots to try surfing and stand up paddleboarding. At night, you can stroll the beach walkway that runs between the hotels.
Playa Langosta, just south of Tamarindo, is another favorite spot. It’s less developed than Tamarindo but has calmer waters that are perfect for swimming and kayaking. Spending a few days in the Tamarindo area gives you access to both of these lovely beaches.
5. Playa Dominical
One of the most amazing and best beaches in costa rica are this Playa Dominical. Surfing is also the main attraction at Playa Dominical on the Southern Pacific coast.
Dominicalito beach is the main surfing spot, where advanced surfers can ride large barreling waves. Playa Dominical, just to the south, has gentle waves perfect for beginner surf lessons.
Even non-surfers will appreciate Playa Dominical’s stunning shoreline backdrop of rainforest-covered mountains and cliffs. There’s beautiful scenery in every direction you look. Swimming and stand up paddleboarding are both popular when the waves are small.
The town of Dominical has emerged as a popular destination with good restaurants and a very laidback vibe. It makes a great base for exploring the beaches and national parks in this part of Costa Rica.
