Playa del Coco is conveniently located 35 kilometers west of Liberia Airport on paved roads making it the most accessible beach from the international airport. The beach sand is an unattractive grayish brown color, but they recently built a nice boardwalk along it making Playa del Coco a good destination for entertainment.
The Coco scene is mostly comprised of young local Ticos who congregate here on the weekends. Fisherman and divers take advantage of the nearby hotspots and safe harbor. Developers have done a thorough job of exploiting the rarely enforced building codes with cheap condo projects sprouting like dandelions.
While there is no surfing on Playa del Coco, this is a jump spot for several surf operators who take clients to the famous Witch's Rock and Ollies Point. Both are only accessible by boat and among the best breaks in Costa Rica for experienced surfers.
We recommend a 3 night stay when planning a vacation to Playa del Coco. Any additional time should be spent visiting more interesting parts of the country.
Coco Beach Hotel and Casino is our highest recommendation for your Playa del Coco hotel. It is affordable and conveniently located within walking distance to the beach and town. There are many vacation rentals in Playa del Coco, though we do not recommend this due to lack of security.
There are plenty of activities to do in this area. Check out this page for a complete list of Playa del Coco tours.
You will not need a rental car for visiting Playa del Coco. Transfers to and from most other destinations are available. Taxis are also readily available for getting around town.
From San Jose: Take the Autopista del Sol to Caldera and then turn left after Punatrenas on the Interamerican Highway, Rt. 1. Follow all the way to Liberia. Turn left at the main intersection, Rt.21 and follow to Comunidad. Turn right on Rt. 151 and follow to Coco.
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: Playas del Coco is named after the color of the sand on the beach.
Latitude: N 10° 33' 0"
Longitude: W 85° 43' 1.2"
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