The 15 Best Beaches in Costa Rica: A Local Expert's 2026 Guide

Costa Rica has over 1,200 kilometres of coastline spread across two oceans, and after 40+ years of designing custom trips across every corner of this country, we’ve visited every beach worth visiting — and plenty that aren’t. As one of Costa Rica’s longest-running travel companies (since 1984) with a 5.0 rating from over 200 TripAdvisor reviews, we’ve tested every beach on this list dozens of times. This guide covers the 15 best beaches in Costa Rica, from the world-famous white sands of Manuel Antonio to hidden Caribbean coves most tourists never find. Whether you’re looking for calm water to swim with your family, consistent waves to surf, pristine reefs to snorkel, or a secluded stretch of sand to watch the sunset with someone you love, there’s a Costa Rican beach that’s perfect for you

Pacific Coast vs Caribbean Coast: Which Side Is Right for You?

Costa Rica is blessed with coastline on two oceans, and the two sides feel like completely different countries. The Pacific Coast is where you’ll find the majority of Costa Rica’s famous beaches, long stretches of sand, dramatic sunsets, consistent surf breaks, and the bulk of the country’s beach resorts and infrastructure. It’s drier (especially in Guanacaste from December to April), more developed, and offers the widest variety of beach experiences.

The Caribbean Coast has a completely different character — Afro-Caribbean culture, reggae rhythms, coconut rice and beans, turquoise water, coral reefs, and a laid-back, unpretentious energy that’s hard to find on the Pacific side. The Caribbean gets less tourist traffic, which is part of its appeal. It’s lush, wild, and authentically tropical in a way that feels untouched.

Most of our custom itineraries include beaches from both coasts — for example, our Nature from Coast to Coast itinerary combines the Caribbean canals of Tortuguero with the Pacific beaches of Manuel Antonio.

1. Manuel Antonio Beach

• Location: Manuel Antonio National Park, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Known for its stunning beauty, white sand, and turquoise waters. The beach is surrounded by lush rainforest, offering great opportunities for wildlife spotting, including monkeys and sloths.

Manuel Antonio is the beach that put Costa Rica on the map for international travellers, and it deserves every bit of its reputation. What makes it extraordinary isn’t just the white sand and clear water — it’s that you’re swimming in warm Pacific water while white-faced capuchin monkeys swing through the trees above your head and three-toed sloths doze in the branches overhead. No other beach in the world gives you this combination of tropical paradise and wildlife theatre.

Planning a visit to Manuel Antonio? Explore our tailor-made Costa Rica beach and wildlife tour, a curated 15-day journey that pairs Manuel Antonio’s beaches with Tortuguero turtles, Arenal volcano, and the Osa Peninsula — guided by naturalists with 40 years of local experience. Honeymooning couples often pair Manuel Antonio with Tortuguero, Arenal and Monteverde on our 10-day honeymoon route.

The beach sits inside Manuel Antonio National Park, which means you’ll need to pay the park entrance fee (approximately $18.08 for international adults). The park is closed on Tuesdays. We recommend arriving when the gates open at 7am — the first hour is magical, with fewer crowds and the most active wildlife. A guided naturalist tour will help you spot animals you’d walk right past on your own.

2. Playa Conchal

• Location: Guanacaste Province, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Famous for its unique pinkish-white sand made of crushed shells. The clear, calm waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

Conchal is such a unique beach experience compared to all the other beaches in Costa Rica. The main reason is that the sand at Conchal Beach is made up of millions and millions of small shell fragments which create a shimmering white/pink color along the coastline. Additionally, the waters off Conchal Beach have exceptional clarity and calmness allowing you to be able to do great snorkeling from the shore. Another great thing about it is often you will be able to view tropical fish, starfish, and sometimes rays without having to take a boat out onto the ocean.

You can gain access to Conchal Beach after walking approximately 1/2 mile from the neighboring town of Brasilito. This is an enjoyable hike as well. Although the W Costa Rica Resort is located directly next to Conchal Beach, this beach is open to the general public (by law all beaches in Costa Rica are available to the public)

3. Playa Hermosa

• Location: Guanacaste Province, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A quieter beach with calm waters, making it ideal for families. It’s great for snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Conchal has a different kind of beach than most of Costa Rica’s beaches. Instead of regular sand; the sand at Conchal Beach is made up of many tiny shell fragments. These fragments give the sand its pinkish-white glow on the shoreline. Also, the water that borders the shores of Conchal Beach are very clear and flat, making it easy for people to go snorkeling from the land. It allows them to see sea creatures like tropical fish, starfish, or even rays.

Conchal Beach can be accessed by taking about a 1/2-mile walk into the nearby town of Brasilito. The walk is also really nice. The W Costa Rica Resort is directly adjacent to Conchal Beach but because there are no private beaches in Costa Rica, everyone is free to visit this beach.

Note: there are two “Playa Hermosas” in Costa Rica this one in Guanacaste (calm, family-friendly) and another near Jacó on the Central Pacific (big waves, for experienced surfers). Make sure you’re heading to the right one.

4. Santa Teresa Beach

• Location: Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A laid-back beach with a bohemian vibe, popular with surfers and yoga enthusiasts. The sunsets here are spectacular, and the beach is lined with cozy cafes and boutique hotels.

What was once a quiet, laid-back fishing village has now become one of Central America’s top beach vacation spots – but Santa Teresa still maintains its heart & soul. The town has an unpretentious, laid-back, and eclectic feel; you’ll find a mix of international cultures with local flavor through many of the businesses. There are surf schools located beside organic coffee shops and restaurants, Yoga studios that face the ocean and sunsets over the water bring all of the townspeople together at the beach each day.

Year round Santa Teresa has waves which make this some of the best surfing areas in Costa Rica for both beginners and intermediate level surfers.

5. Playa Flamingo

• Location: Guanacaste Province, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Known for its pristine white sand and crystal-clear waters. It’s a great spot for swimming, deep-sea fishing, and sailing.

Flamingo is the kind of beach that looks like a screensaver — a perfect crescent of white sand curving around a calm, blue bay. It’s one of the few beaches in Costa Rica with genuine white sand (most Pacific beaches tend toward grey or golden), and the calm water makes it excellent for swimming. The marina makes Flamingo the launching point for deep-sea fishing charters and sunset sailing cruises along the Guanacaste Gold Coast.

6. Playa Grande

• Location: Guanacaste Province, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Part of Las Baulas National Marine Park, this beach is famous for its excellent surf breaks and as a nesting site for leatherback turtles.

Playa Grande is a wonderful place where you can see how well conservation and surfing work together. A large part of this beautiful beach is included in Las Baulas National Marine Park which is recognized as one of the most important nesting grounds for the endangered leatherback sea turtle around the globe. Leatherback turtles will arrive on this beach every night from Oct. until Mar. to lay their eggs. Families with kids will love these guided tours offered by the national marine park during the months when turtles visit.

Daytime visitors will find some of the better known and highly sought after surf spots in all of Guanacaste at Playa Grande. With strong, consistent waves, many experienced surfers spend time here riding the waves.

7. Playa Hermosa

• Location: Puntarenas Province, Osa Peninsula
• Highlights: A secluded and pristine beach, perfect for those looking to escape the crowds. It’s located near Corcovado National Park, offering rich biodiversity and excellent opportunities for wildlife spotting.

This is the second Playa Hermosa is an entirely different experience than the Guanacaste version. Located at the end of the remote Osa Peninsula, this beach has a feeling of being at the end of the world. The beach is empty, pristine and surrounded by virgin rainforest. When walking along the beach you may see Scarlet Macaw birds flying above or find the footprints of Tapirs (the largest land mammal) in the wet sand. If the Osa Peninsula was included as part of a fourteen day Costa Rica itinerary, this would be one of many rewards for making the trip south.

8. Montezuma Beach

• Location: Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A charming beach town known for its artistic community and beautiful waterfalls. The beach offers great opportunities for swimming and exploring tide pools.

Montezuma is the beach destination for travelers that are looking for art, nature and community spirit — NOT a large resort. Montezuma has a creative/alternative energy with local artisans selling their wares, small galleries and local restaurant owners offering organic foods. In addition to the beautiful beach area there is the Montezuma Waterfall located within a 25 minute jungle walk of town; a stunning three tiered waterfall with a deep swimming hole. It is one of the most photographed sites on the Nicoya Peninsula, and for good reasons.

9. Playa Dominical

• Location: South Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A surfer’s paradise with consistent waves and a laid-back atmosphere. It’s also a gateway to exploring the nearby Marino Ballena National Park.

Dominical is where you will find the serious surfers that come to ride huge, high-quality waves with minimal crowd. The waves at Dominical can be very powerful — so if you plan on coming to visit as a swimmer (casual surfer) don’t plan on spending your time in the water at this location. For the intermediate and advanced level of surfer though; this is one of the top locations to catch some great waves in all of Costa Rica. With an excellent and relaxed atmosphere to hang out, you have the weekly farmer’s market, beachside bars and a growing restaurant area to enjoy. Also located close by is the famous Uvita whale tail and Marino Ballena National Park

10. Playa Uvita

• Location: Marino Ballena National Park, South Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Known for its unique whale-tail formation visible at low tide. It’s a great spot for whale watching, snorkeling, and kayaking.

Uvita’s Whale Tail is probably one of the most recognizable natural attractions in Costa Rica — an underwater sand bar that extends into the ocean shaped like a whale’s tail; it is completely exposed at low tide. It is possible to walk on the whale tail, and taking pictures here will be quite spectacular. The beach is within Marino Ballena National Park and the name isn’t coincidental either. Humpback Whales migrate through these waters between August and October as well as December through April. Taking a whale watching boat tour from Uvita will likely provide one of the most exciting wildlife viewing opportunities in all of Costa Rica.

11. Puerto Viejo Beach

• Location: Caribbean Coast
• Highlights: A vibrant beach town with a Caribbean flair, known for its reggae music, laid-back vibe, and beautiful beaches. The nearby Playa Cocles offers excellent surfing conditions.

Puerto Viejo is the true heartbeat of Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast. This area offers an entirely unique experience compared to the Pacific Side, Caribbean/Afro-Caribbean roots of the culture, reggae/calypso music, and coconut rice and beans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Furthermore, Puerto Viejo has many of the most beautiful beaches in the country, as well as the rest of Central America; these include turquoise waters, soft white/golden sand beaches, and palm trees leaning out over the shoreline.

Surfers will find some of the best surfing at “Salsa Brava”, which is located directly offshore of the main beach. Please be aware that this location is only suitable for experienced surfers. Those looking to learn how to surf or take it easy can find much softer waves at “Playa Cocles” which is approximately a 10 minute bike ride south. Lastly, “Punta Uva”, which is about another 20 minutes south by car/bike is easily one of the most photographed beaches in Central America, due to its reef protected waters, clarity of the ocean and beauty of the shoreline.

12. Playa Cahuita

• Location: Cahuita National Park, Caribbean Coast
• Highlights: Known for its coral reefs, making it a top spot for snorkeling. The beach is surrounded by lush rainforest, offering a tranquil and picturesque setting.

Snorkelling at Cahuita National Park is Costa Rica’s best snorkel spot – its 600-acre coral reef is the biggest on the Caribbean Coast, which has more than 500 species of fish as well as brain corals, sea fans, and sea turtles. The beach itself within the park is nice enough too: fine sandy beaches surrounded by jungle with howler monkeys and sloths perched high up in the trees overhead.

The entrance to the park from the town of Cahuita operates on a ‘pay what you want’ basis (voluntary), making it likely the easiest access point for a national park in Costa Rica.

🌿 Insider Tip

Snorkelling at Cahuita can be best done between the months of March through to May, and also from September to October because these months have the least amount of waves and therefore clearer waters. If possible, hire a local guide who has a boat that will take you out to the edge of the reef; you will see much more marine life and have an overall better experience snorkelling compared to snorkelling off the shore.

13. Playa Nosara

• Location: Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: Known for its surf schools, yoga retreats, and wellness centers. The beach is relatively undeveloped, offering a more natural and serene experience.

Nosara is located in one of the world’s “Blue Zones,” which are areas with populations that have measurable longevity and quality of life; and, you can feel this aspect of Nosara. Wellness is the focus of the community here: there are many high-quality yoga studios, organic restaurants, juice bars, etc. and an international community centered around healthy lifestyles. Playa Guiones is the primary surfing beach in Nosara and consistently produces good waves to ride. It also is home to some of Costa Rica’s top-rated surf schools, thus it is an excellent place for beginning surfer.

For a wellness-focused itinerary, Nosara is the perfect beach destination to combine with Arenal hot springs and Monteverde cloud forest.

Looking for a wellness-centred beach escape? Our tailor-made Costa Rica wellness beach vacation combines Nosara’s Blue Zone setting with Arenal hot springs and Monteverde — a seamless circuit designed around rest, nature, and renewal.

14. Playa Samara

• Location: Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A family-friendly beach with calm, shallow waters, ideal for swimming and paddleboarding. The town offers a range of accommodations and dining options.

Samara is the best choice for a family that wants a real Costa Rica experience as opposed to a vacation in a bubble like all-inclusive resorts. The crescent shaped beach (cove) has a barrier reef just off shore creating safe swimming conditions with very gentle waves and shallow/very warm waters. The town offers many different types of dining experiences; hotels ranging from budget friendly to luxury accommodations; and a variety of fun and active options such as stand up paddle board, kayak rentals and snorkeling right off the beach at the reef. Because there are so many tourists visiting other parts of this coastal area, Samara still retains its original and authentic Costa Rican charm..

15. Playa Carrillo

• Location: Near Playa Samara, Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific Coast
• Highlights: A quiet and picturesque beach with palm-lined shores and calm waters. It’s a great spot for a relaxing day at the beach.

Samara may be the fun, active family beach in the area, but the quiet, picturesque version of that beach is located at Carrillo Beach. The long, curved stretch of white sandy beach has palm trees along its length, blue swimable waters, and there are very few people. This is a beach where you will find no hawkers or surfing instructors; no party cruise ships to disturb your peace. Just sand, palm trees, and ocean. For many of our visitors this is their favorite spot in all of Costa Rica to do nothing at all, which is exactly what they came here to do. That is why so many of them visit Samara the first day to have some fun, and then spend the second day relaxing at Carrillo Beach.

Customize your trip to visit these beautiful beaches here

Every beach in this guide can be part of a tailor-made Costa Rica beach vacation — we’ll match the right coastline to your travel style, travel dates, and the kind of experience you’re looking for.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica’s Beaches?

The timing of your trip will depend on which coastline you visit. For example, while it is typically drier on the Pacific Coast (Guanacaste, Nicoya Peninsula, Manuel Antonio, Uvita) during December – April, that is considered high-season for the most sunshine, less rainfall and more people. Conversely, the “green season ” (May-November), produces late-afternoon/early-evening rains, yet offers significantly lower pricing for accommodations and vacation rentals; less crowded beaches; and very beautiful lush tropical landscapes.

The Caribbean coastal area has its own weather patterns as well. The driest months in the Caribbean region occur in February-March and September-October. Therefore, if you are interested in combining a Pacific Beach vacation with a Caribbean beach vacation, be sure to plan accordingly. Our travel designersare available to assist you in planning an ideal beach vacation itinerary based upon your desired travel schedule.

The 15 Best Beaches in Costa Rica: A Local Expert’s 2026 Guide

How to Include Beaches in Your Costa Rica Itinerary

Many of our guests love to combine 1–2 beach destinations with some of the inland highlights (such as Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Tortuguero). Here are some of the most popular combinations:

Ready to visit these beaches? Our complete Costa Rica itinerary guide maps out which beaches work best for each trip length — the 7-day route reaches Manuel Antonio, while the 14-day itinerary adds Dominical and the Osa Peninsula.

Frequently Asked Questions About Costa Rica’s Beaches