Which beaches in Costa Rica are best suited for swimming?

Flamingo, Conchal, Samara, Playa Carrillo, Manuel Antonio, Playa Baru, Playa Dominicalito, Cahuita, Playa Cocles (middle and southern end), and Punta Uva are noted for excellent swimming conditions.

Where can I find the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica?

Tamarindo is great for both swimming and surfing. Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are hot spots for experienced surfers, while Dominical is known for big wave surfing. Playa Baru offers good surfing sections, and the north end of Playa Cocles is suitable for surfing nearly year-round.

Are there any secluded or less developed beaches in Costa Rica?

Playa Carrillo, located just south of Samara, has no hotels, preserving its natural beauty. Montezuma offers scenic, long stretches of grey sand beaches. Playa Carate on the Osa Peninsula is one of the most isolated beaches, and Manzanillo is protected within a wildlife refuge, limiting development.

Which Costa Rican beaches are located within national parks or protected areas?

Manuel Antonio features gorgeous beaches within its national park. The beaches of Uvita are situated within Marino Ballena National Park, requiring an entrance fee. Cahuita National Park also contains beautiful grey sand beaches, and Manzanillo is protected within a wildlife refuge.

Where are the best beaches in Costa Rica?

Good to Know

Costa Rica boasts hundreds of diverse beaches, making it challenging to pinpoint a single "best." This guide categorizes popular and visitor-friendly beaches by region, catering to various preferences. From the soft sands of the Northwest Pacific ideal for swimming to the big waves of the South Pacific for surfing, and the wildlife-rich shores of the Caribbean, there is a perfect beach for every traveler. Discover stunning grey sand beaches, secluded coves, and vibrant beach towns across the country's distinct coastal areas.

There are several hundred beaches in Costa Rica, so it is difficult to name the “best” or “nicest“ beaches. In addition, we all have our own tastes and preferences. However there are beaches that stand out as the most popular and are more suited to cater to visitors. The following list is broken these down into regional categories for your convenience.

Northwest Costa Rica Beaches

Flamingo: This is a beautiful off-white colored beach with soft grey sand that is ideal for swimming. Guests of Flamingo Beach Resort can walk right across the street to enjoy it.

Conchal: This is one of the most beautiful beaches on the northwest Pacific coast. The grey sand is composed of crushed seashells. It is perfect for swimming or snorkeling. Guests of the Westin Playa Conchal enjoy direct access to this otherwise difficult to access beach.

Tamarindo: This is a great beach for swimming or surfing. The town is fairly Americanized with modern conveniences, shopping and plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Samara and Carrillo: Samara is a fun little beach town with a lot of local personality. It still maintains Costa Rican charm, yet offers shopping, restaurants and bars. While Playa Samara is beautiful, there is another stunning beach just 5 minutes south, Playa Carrillo. There are no hotels on Playa Carrillo, allowing it to maintain its natural beauty.

Mal Pais and Santa Teresa: Located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, this area has recently turned into a hot spot for well-to-do surfers and yogis. The beaches here are beautiful, but better left for experiences surfers.

Montezuma: Montezuma is another beautiful beach on the Southern Nicoya Peninsula. The area is known for the eclectic bohemian lifestyle of its inhabitants. The scenic long stretches of grey sand beaches are broken up by various rock outcroppings.

Central Pacific Beaches

Manuel Antonio: This is one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica and for good reason. The gorgeous grey sand beaches are backed by jungle lined hillsides. There is a national park and loads of wildlife in this paradisiacal beach town. Don’t forget your camera for the amazing sunsets!

South Pacific Beaches

Dominical: While Playa Dominical in the center of town is not the prettiest beach, we include this beach on the list as there are several beautiful, but lesser known smaller beaches surrounding the area. Dominical is an awesome beach for big wave surfing. Just to the north, Playa Baru is a picturesque palm studded beach with good swimming and surfing sections. Just to the south, Playa Dominicalito provides calmer waters for swimming and incredible sunsets.

Uvita: The beaches of Uvita are all located within Marino Ballena National Park. Therefore, visitors have to pay to enter. The beaches here are simply stunning with the cloud covered mountains in the background.

Carate: Located on the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, Playa Carate is one of the most isolated beaches in Costa Rica. The jungle lined beaches are the gateway to the southern end of Corcovado National Park.

Caribbean Beaches

Cahuita: There are several beaches in the small town of Cahuita. The most beautiful are the grey sand beaches within Cahuita National Park. There is great swimming and snorkeling in this area which is backed by rainforest that is teaming with wildlife.

Playa Cocles: This is the closest beach to the south of Puerto Viejo. It is a long, grey sand, spectacularly beautiful beach that is good for surfing nearly year round at the north end and better suited for swimming in the middle and southern end.

Punta Uva: This is a stunning grey sand beach located 10 km south of Puerto Viejo. The beaches provide calms waters and are protected by a reef.

Manzanillo: This is possibly the most beautiful beach area in Costa Rica, but protected from building as it is within a wildlife refuge. Day trips are available from nearby Puerto Viejo.

For more information on these and other beaches, check out our Costa Rica beaches page.

Frequently Asked Questions Index Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Which beaches in Costa Rica are best suited for swimming?: Flamingo, Conchal, Samara, Playa Carrillo, Manuel Antonio, Playa Baru, Playa Dominicalito, Cahuita, Playa Cocles (middle and southern end), and Punta Uva are noted for excellent swimming conditions.
Where can I find the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica?: Tamarindo is great for both swimming and surfing. Mal Pais and Santa Teresa are hot spots for experienced surfers, while Dominical is known for big wave surfing. Playa Baru offers good surfing sections, and the north end of Playa Cocles is suitable for surfing nearly year-round.
Are there any secluded or less developed beaches in Costa Rica?: Playa Carrillo, located just south of Samara, has no hotels, preserving its natural beauty. Montezuma offers scenic, long stretches of grey sand beaches. Playa Carate on the Osa Peninsula is one of the most isolated beaches, and Manzanillo is protected within a wildlife refuge, limiting development.
Which Costa Rican beaches are located within national parks or protected areas?: Manuel Antonio features gorgeous beaches within its national park. The beaches of Uvita are situated within Marino Ballena National Park, requiring an entrance fee. Cahuita National Park also contains beautiful grey sand beaches, and Manzanillo is protected within a wildlife refuge.