Costa Rica Beaches

PACIFIC COAST

Mid Pacific

• Jaco Beach Further down the Pacific towards the South from Puntarenas about 1 hour, one can find Jaco Beach. This is a major tourist attraction for Costa Rican tourists and foreigners alike. There are several hotels, and the tourism infrastructure is very developed. Jaco is about 2 hours away from San Jose by car, which makes it one of the closest beaches to go to.
• Montezuma (Nicoya Peninsula) Montezuma is on the inner rim of the Gulf of Nicoya, crossing by ferry from Puntarenas. It is a popular destination for the younger foreign crowd. There are small hotels here but not all have telephones. The Cabo Blanco National Park is nearby.
• Naranjo to Cabo Blanco (Nicoya Peninsula) This is the inner rim along which Montezuma (above) lies. There are several beautiful hotels along this area and many fascinatin g places to visit. The area is considered remote although it is really not too hard to get there.
• Puntarenas This is the old main port on the Pacific. It is a good point to start expeditions into Guanacaste and down the Pacific coast because there are ferries that take you across the Gulf of Nicoya here and onto the Nicoya Peninsula. This is the main city on the Pacific coast, and you can find a boardwalk, numerous restaurants and hotels. It is located on a small peninsula with the gulf on one side and an estuary in back, where there are several marinas and many commercial fishing operations.
• Quepos and Manuel Antonio This is a very popular tourist spot. There are beautiful hotels here, along with a National Park right on the oceanfront. Quepos and Manuel Antonio are commonly visted trought out the whole year by international tourists as by residents!

North Pacific - Guanacaste

The Guanacaste coastline is known as the Golden Coast. There are many gorgeous beaches, some with full-blown resorts and others wit h few people on them. This is a very popular destination for tourists, and now more than ever since the opening of the Liberia International Airport.

South Pacific

The southernmost peninsula on the Pacific is Osa. This is a very wild and pristine area which encompasses the country's largest national park, Corcovado.

• Corcovado Corcovado and the Drake Bay area are a very popular Costa Rica destination. Incredible rainforest tours, diving and sea kayaking are available here. The dramatic Isla del Caño is nearby, with its Indian burial grounds and awesome diving. Pods of whales are often seen along this area.
• Golfito This is the inner rim of the Golfo Dulce, the gulf formed by the Osa Peninsula. Golfito is the main town and is the port in this area. There are isolated hotels and lodges hidden among the rainforest here.

Atlantic Coast

Limon

Limon is the main port city on the Atlantic Coast. Bananas and many exports are sent from here. The population is a mainly Jamaican, descendents of those brought to work on the railroad. Consequently, English plus a local dialect are spoken in addition to Spanish. Nearby are beautiful Caribbean beaches, and the area boasts of the only coral reef in the country.

Cahuita

Cahuita is a beach that is located fairly close to Limon. A national park is located here which protects the coral reef and marine life.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is further along down the coast from Cahuita and makes a beautiful place to visit. There are several exclusive hotels and beaches along this area. Indigenous reservations are nearby with tours available.

Tortuguero

This beautiful and exotic area lies North of Limon. You can only get here by boat or plane. The whole area is comprised of natural canals that lie behind a thin strip of land and the ocean. Turtles, caimans, garfish, and manatees are common sights here. There are incredible jungle lodges and canal tours for you to enjoy.

Barra del Colorado

This is fishing heaven. Tarpon is the main adversary here, and many say this is the best place in the world for this activity. There are other species here that will also make your day. Like Tortuguero you can only reach Barra del Colorado by boat or plane. There are some very luxurious fishing lodges (one even has its own airstrip) here.