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A Costa Rica Pacific Side Beach Guide

Costa Rica is filled with some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. We just got back from an adventure exploring as many beaches as we could. From seashells to snorkeling right off the shore there is something almost magical about each and every beach we visited in Costa Rica.

On our trip, we explored 7 different beaches. Below you will find what we loved about each one and what makes each different. I have a few favorites that you won’t want to miss if you are traveling to the pacific side of Costa Rica and flying into Liberia, airport code LIR.

First a few facts about the beaches in Costa Rica:

All beaches in Costa Rica range from 20°C/68°F to 29°C/84°F meaning the water is PERFECT! You can actually swim in it unlike the cold ocean in Northern California.

Playa means beach in Spanish.

*It is illegal to take shells from the beaches in Costa Rica but that doesn’t mean you can’t search for them.

All right, here it is our…

Costa Rica Pacific Side Beach Tour

Playa Avellanas

Playa Avellana was the first beach we went to and the one we repeatedly went back to on our trip because it was the closest beach to our resort, Tao Destinations. An 8-minute walk across the street, through monkey-filled trees, over a rickety wooden bridge turned the walk to the ocean into an incredible adventure.

Why we loved Playa Avellanas:

The walk to the beach is an adventure in itself, you’ll likely see monkeys, iguanas, and crabs
The water is gentle and warm like bathwater.
Skim boarders will be in heaven during low tied with endless silk-like water to skimboard on
Perfect for beginning surfers
Lola’s Restaurant is right on the water and a perfect place to stop for lunch – they have piglets and hammocks to lounge on!

At sunset, the weather is ideal for a walk along the beach looking for seashells and enjoying the slightly cooler evening air

Playa Tamarindo

Tamarindo is more of a touristy destination but definitely worth a visit. The town is filled with quaint little shops that sell bohemian beachwear and trinkets like dream catchers. If I had a beach house I’d fill it with the whimsical white dream catchers and crocheted lamps we saw everywhere. This cute town is right on the beach. There are plenty of places to eat right on the sand, and many activities to choose from.

In Tamarindo, we went horseback riding along the ocean, took a boat ride to see local birds, howler monkeys, and alligators (the tide was too high so we didn’t actually see any alligators). We ate right along the ocean and walked on the beach in search of all the unicorn horns, as my daughters call them.

Tamarindo Highlights:

There are a full day’s worth of activities in one place
Any tour you can imagine can be booked in Tamarindo
The shops are really cute if you are into shopping
It’s easy to find something yummy to eat

What we didn’t love about Tamarindo:

People will try to sell you souvenirs nonstop
It is rather touristy, I wouldn’t want to spend our whole trip here
Prices aren’t always what they seem, watch out for haggling

Playa Conchal

When we arrived at Playa Conchal my breath was taken away. It was beautiful! Arguably the most beautiful beach I’ve ever been to with white sand and the bluest water.

It is in the middle of nowhere, at least the entrance we found is. There is one small restaurant near the parking lot that only takes cash. If you are headed to Playa Conchal, make sure to bring everything you need with you. We heard this beach is known for its seashells but we only found a few. However, the ones we did find were beautiful whole conch shells. There are plenty of trees to create shade and a place to hang your things.

The sheer beauty of Playa Conchal is definitely worth the trip.

Playa Flamingo

When I was searching for beaches to go to Playa Flamingo came up in my results as the ritziest beach in Costa Rica. It is in a beautiful area with large private homes, lavish resorts, and several larger restaurants.

I had the best swordfish tacos at Coco Locos, I’d go back a thousand times just for those tacos!

Plus the sunset was incredible from Playa Flamingo.

Playa Blanca – my favorite!

Ok, you asked for my favorite beach. THIS IS IT! Playa Blanca (White Beach) was hands down my favorite beach. It was a little hard to get to. The dirt roads are windy and you have to drive through a few large puddles to get there but that’s never stopped us from an adventure. There are no crowds at Playa Blanca. It is not a tourist destination, in fact, most travelers don’t even know it exists. I added it to the map. You won’t find restaurants, shops, or people trying to sell you souvenirs and it is perfect!

Supposedly there is a parking lot but we must not have driven far enough. We found Playa Blanca at the end of a narrow dirt road where the car barely fit parked off to the side. There was an ATV parked in front of us and that’s it. After walking down the narrow path it opens up into a gorgeous ocean view.

I have never seen so many seashells in my life. The ground was covered in immaculate piles and piles of untouched shells. A sheller’s dream come true. Hermit crabs walk up and down the waters edge getting knocked over by waves.

You can snorkel and see colorful fish right from the shore, no boat needed. The water is crystal clear and perfect for playing in. The waves are mild. The ripe curl wasn’t strong like some of the other beaches and this put me at ease. The ocean can be a scary place if you don’t know how to swim well. Our daughters are not strong swimmers yet. This beach was my paradise.

Playa Negra

Playa Negra (Black Beach) is named for its volcanic rock that gets pounded by the waves and makes the sand appear black in some areas. It is a true surfers beach. The waves are too big for me and the girls but we had a good time watching all the surfers and putting our feet in the water. There is a cute surf shop, a resort, and a restaurant under a large circular palm leaf roof that serves typical Costa Rican food (typical food means authentic) that was delicious. A perfect place for the family to relax for a bit before heading out on another adventure.

Playa Junquillal

The girls fell asleep on our drive to Playa Junquilla. We had already been to Playa Blanca and Playa Negra that day, so we just stopped quickly and peeked. There is a shaded playground where your kids can play on a giant sea turtle statue and climb on the monkey bars. The beach itself was a very long flat stretch of sand. We didn’t see a town or any restaurants. If your kids are begging for a playground this would be a good place to go.

There are several properties that looked abandoned and are for sale in the area. Does anyone need some property? I’m seriously tempted!

There are so many more beaches I’d love to explore one day. I hope to go back to Costa Rica again, it is the perfect vacation spot for families that love adventure.