Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa literally translates to Beautiful Beach and what a lovely beach area this is. The beach area of Playa Hermosa is a crescent shape, protected on both ends by large rock outcroppings. The sand is a whitish gray color which actually sparkles at night behind your footsteps due to trace amounts of phosphorus in the sand. Couple this with unbelievable sunsets and you have a magical setting for one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches.

In recent years, Playa Hermosa has been built up a bit to meet the demands of the tourist industry as well as ex-patriot community. Daniel Oduber International Airport is located just 20 minutes down the road, which is paved, making this the most accessible beach area in Costa Rica. Despite the convenience and beauty, somehow Playa Hermosa has managed to retain the small town friendly feel. There are only a handful of hotels here and most residents are ex-patriots. With the thriving ex-patriot community, there are several options for fine dining, a small movie theater and some American style shops.

Aside from shopping and dining, there is plenty to do in this area. Some of the more popular activities are snorkeling, sport fishing, diving, canopy ziplining, horseback riding, visiting nearby Rincon de la Vieja Volcano and many other options.

The Northwest Pacific is one of the driest climates in Costa Rica. The beach areas have a fairly steady year round temperature with daytime highs averaging in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Night time lows are usually in the upper 70s. Precipitation varies through the year with the nicest weather between November and August.

Visitors should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent.

Fun Fact: There are several Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica. If you were looking for a popular surfing destination by the name of Playa Hermosa check out Playa Hermosa de Jaco.

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