About Guanacaste


Looking for a low-key, sultry escape spent lazing about on a sun-drenched Pacific beach? Or are you more in the mood for ocean adventure, like sport fishing, scuba diving or surfing? In the northern corner of Guanacaste’s Gold Coast region you can have either or some mix of both. Only 45 minutes or less from the Liberia International Airport, the six beach communities along this ocean cul-de-sac are the most easily accessible of the Gold Coast beaches. Each has its own character, but together they offer something for every kind of traveler, from the budget-minded to the high-end big spender.

Playas del Coco

Just 20 minutes from the Liberia airport along paved roads is Playas del Coco, Costa Rica’s oldest fishing village and the area’s central hub. Here, the old and the new blend with a bit of a honky tonk feel. A growing, international ex-patriot community resides alongside long-established Costa Rican families. Moored to the left of its three-kilometer-long beach are Coco’s traditional commercial fishing boats; to the right, a fleet of boats geared to the tourism trade. And in town, old-time sodas and pulperias coexist with high-speed Internet cafes.

Tourism is chiefly how Coco survives these days and to that end, it, unlike the other beach communities in the area, is truly a full-service town. There are numerous low and moderately priced hotels that rent rooms to visitors as well as bars and restaurants on and off the beach offering international and local cuisine.

There are two dive shops in Playa Grande - Grande Beach - Guanacaste - Costa Ricatown that take out divers daily as well as several privately owned sport fishing boats that take out customers in search of tuna, wahoo, rooster fish, marlin or sail fish. Here, also, is where you can book surf trips to Witch’s Rock or Ollie’s Point or rent snorkel gear. Coco beach itself is best for sunbathing, swimming, people watching and a little exploring: at low tide, you can walk over the rocks at the left end of the beach to reach the secluded, white sand beach of Playa Blanca. At the end of the day, Coco offers more than dining in the way of nightlife.

Its bars and restaurants offer opportunities for dancing, pool playing, casino gambling and even karaoke. This beach town is also the service center for the area. The port captain has an office in Coco as does Costa Rican immigration.

There’s a bank, supermarket and medical facilities, including a pharmacy. There’s a couple of high-speed Internet cafés, where visitors can check email and make international phone calls. And, of course, there is shopping. Coco’s main street is lined with open-air and indoor shops offering a broad range of souvenirs for tourists to take home. Any of the hotels in town can help you with tours and water sports bookings, but Coco is also one of the few communities with several independent tour offices that can help you arrange activities during your stay.

Playa Hermosa

About four miles before you get to Coco is the paved turnoff to the area’s second largest beach community, Playa Hermosa. Considerably more laid back than Coco, Hermosa is less of a town than it is a resort and retirement community. Its mix of beach front and off-beach hotels, including two large all-inclusive resorts, are set amidst private homes and numerous small developments, where mostly North Americans have taken up residency or live part of the year. Hermosa’s near white sand beach is one of two in the area to earn environmental awards for cleanliness. It’s great for sun bathing, swimming, skim boarding and snorkeling.

One of the oldest and largest dive shops in Costa Rica makes its home in Hermosa, making this beach community a key destination for divers. You can arrange to go sport fishing or surfing through the shop as well as any Hermosa hotel.

You can also book sailing and/or snorkeling cruises on one of the sail boats that moor off of the beach. The recent growth in Hermosa has led to an increase in the number of dining options in this community. In addition to established local restaurants that serve typical Costa Rican food, there are now several restaurants offering more sophisticated international menus-at more upscale prices.

Services in the area are improving as well. There are now several small, but well-stocked, grocery stores, where you can buy food, wine and beer, as well as such things as insect repellent, sunscreen and other everyday over-the-counter drug store items.

Playa Flamingo

One beach that stands out in the region is Playa Flamingo. The beach is famous for its white sand beach and clear blue waters. The beach and surrounding are popular for water sports and fishing. Additionally the nearby parks of Santa Rosa and Palo Verde offer the chance to see some amazing flora and fauna.

Within only a few hours of Playa Flamingo visitors can see the following: endless beaches, active volcanoes, small villages, national parks, rivers, lakes, and much more! There are many hotels and restaurants to choose from with more than adequate night life.

Two superb golfing experiences await you only a short drive from the hotel. The “Garra de Leon” (or Lion’s Claw) designed by Robert Trent Jones II at Paradisus Conchal and Mike Young’s Championship course at Hacienda Pinilla will not only challenge your golfing abilities but provide you with spectacular scenery, a number of golf holes alongside the ocean and wildlife including howler monkeys.

Playa Ocotal

Just as you enter Coco, the paved road to the left will take you to the other environmental award-winning beach, Playa Ocotal. This relatively small beach is a favorite among locals and residing ex-pats largely because its rocky shore is great for snorkeling.

It’s also a popular destination for divers; Ocotal is home to the resort with the other longest established dive shop in the area. As with the other beach communities, you can make arrangements for sport fishing and other water sport activities from here as well.

Aside from the resort, there are a couple of other places to stay in Ocotal, including a bed and breakfast and a “hotel” offering condo’s and villas. Primarily, it is made up of large, expensive private homes and condo’s that lie within a gated community.

This is the place to go if you want something a little out of the way but within easy reach Coco, which is about a mile away. There are no grocery stores or other service outlets here and only a couple of restaurants, including one bar and “burger joint” just off the beach that locals like to frequent.

Bahia Pez Vela

More secluded is Bahia Pez Vela, the smallest of the area’s beach communities. To reach it, you must drive through the gated community of Ocotal. Here, there is only a single resort, expensive villas and a restaurant set against a picturesque garden and lawn overlooking the bay.

But you don’t have to be a resident or guest to enjoy Pez Vela’s often deserted w/b sand beach if you are really in the mood to get away from it all.All beaches in Costa Rica are public, so everyone has free access to them.

Playa Panama

Slightly north of Playa Hermosa, at the entrance to Bahia Culebra, you’ll arrive at Playa Panama, a popular destination for Costa Ricans. Nestled into the bay as it is, Panama is among the calmest beaches in the area, so like Pez Vela, it offers a tranquil place for swimming and lazing about in the sun.

Playa Langosta - Langosta Beach - Guanacaste - Costa Rica Unlike Pez Vela it is much less secluded. Playa Panama is part of the long-standing Gulf of Papagayo Project aimed at developing the gulf for tourism. Several large, all-inclusive resorts are in operation here, with another currently in development. Some residential developments are underway as well. But there are no stores in Panama and only one restaurant. And while one dive shop is based in this beach community, independent water sports operators do not make their home here.

Peninsula Papagayo

The same is true at Peninsula Papagayo at the other end of the bay, which with the recent opening of the Four Seasons Hotel is on its way toward becoming a luxury resort and residential community for the wealthy.

This is also part of the Papagayo Gulf project and other high-end hotels are expected to open here in the future. Currently, only Four Seasons guests have access to its exclusive seaside golf course, spa, beach facilities and other services, although outsiders can book reservations at the resort’s gourmet restaurants if occupancy dips low enough.

But the two beaches on either side of the resort-Playa Virador and Playa Blanca-are, of course, open to the public. With this in mind the Peninsula Papagayo developers have established parking and free shuttle service to those who want to come and spend the day on the area’s beaches.

Part of the Papagayo Project’s plan is eventually to develop a full-fledged town, with shops, offices, medical facilities, gas stations and bus service, to support its aspiring beach community. But for now none of this exists.

There is, however, a canopy tour and horseback riding available to tourists, whether they are guests of the Four Seasons or visitors who come to the peninsula just for the day. Although each of the northern Gold Coast beaches has their own character, there are common elements among them. All of the communities are making efforts to keep their beaches clean.

All are considered safe, although visitors should still exercise common sense. Don’t leave valuables in your car or leave them unattended on the beach. Also, all are within easy reach of many Costa Rican national parks, where tourists can hike, horseback ride, take canopy tours and get a closer glimpse at the country’s famous biodiversity. Any hotel or tourist facility can help you book day trips to such parks as Arenal, Palo Verde, Santa Rosa and Rincón de la Viéja. There are also public and privately operated buses or private taxi in the area that can help you get to where you want to go.