Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas,
Playa Grande, Costa Rica

Leatherback Turtles and Costa Rica’s Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, the stunning beach of Playa Grande with its pristine shoreline and clear blue sea, is one of the ancient Leatherback Turtles egg laying beaches on the Guanacaste coast.

Lying in the North Pacific Coast in Guanacaste province, Playa Grande is home to the endangered Leatherback Turtles that come ashore every year to lay their eggs on the beach during November to April, professional guided nightly eco tours can be arranged.

Marino las Baulas de Guanacaste National Park is another of Costa Rica’s important sea turtle nesting sites. Located on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific Coast north of Tamarindo.

Created in 1990, this national park was created in order to protect the endangered Leatherback turtles, which come every year to nest on the shores of the beautiful Playa Grande.

Encompassing an area of roughly 445 hectares of mangrove swamps and coastline, the Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas is made up of the four beaches, Playa Grande, Playa Langosta, Playa Ventanas and Playa Carbon.

The two mangrove estuaries in the park are the Estero de Tamarindo and the Estero de San Francisco, the former of which is the biggest mangrove estuary in Latin America. This national park on the Guancaste coast of Costa Rica also extends 12 miles off shore as well, to protect the Leahterback Turles from poachers and tourists alike.

The nesting ground for thousands of Leatherback Turtles who make the journey every year to Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas also protects 174 species of birds and a number of different animals that live in the estuaries here, on Guanacaste Beaches, Playa Grande.

The largest marine reptiles in the world, the Leatherback Turtles or Baulas as they are known in Spanish, come here in huge numbers during the months of November to April to mate and lay their eggs.

To get to Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, you can fly into the Liberia International Airport and then drive west toward the town of Tamarindo; from here, you need to go north to Playa Grande. Another way of reaching this national park is by boat across the Estero de Tamarindo.

Getting Up close to the Leatherback Turtles

Eco tours and Leatherback Turtles are of great fascination for us all… the desire to watch them up close and possibly even touch them seems logical, but it is important that visitors be aware of certain rules and respect of Nature when on a guided eco tour on Playa Grande.

Costa Rica’s beaches host the breeding grounds for several species of sea turtles: Green, Leatherbacks, Carey and Lora which all continue their ancestor’s traditions in returning to the same shores where they were born to lay their eggs.

Sadly, all of these species are now under strong environmental pressure and at a high risk of extinction. As a result, one must be careful while observing their breeding habits and take extreme caution to prevent further negative impact on their survival.

You will have to go on eco tours with professional certified guides to see the turtles, without a guide you will not be allowed on the beach. Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas is a great place to visit with family, this national park also has a turtle museum and night tours during the turtle nesting season.

The most important precaution when visiting the nesting grounds is to prevent noise and bright lights, which can scare and confuse the turtles, which might cause them to return to the ocean without laying their eggs. The use of “flash” is absolutely prohibited in the nesting area and cars and quads are definitely not allowed on these beaches. Thank goodness!

All the lights used at these locations must be red lights, which the turtles cannot see and therefore will not confuse or disorientate them.

It is also important to walk on the wet parts of the beach, so you will not interfere with the nesting that takes place higher on the dunes or with the exiting of the baby turtles from the nests.

Observation of this process must take place behind the turtles, to ensure that we do not obstruct the path between the ocean and the nest. Guides will direct you to keep silent and squat down several meters away to ensure minimal impact. Remember, always go with a qualified guide and follow the rules established by the park.

The following is a list of precautions that must be taken when you’re scuba diving or on the beach near the Leatherback turtles:

1) When scuba diving:

Normally the turtles will come close without fear, but please do not touch or try to clean the algae from their shell.

In fact, the algae you see help them to stave off infection and are very necessary for their well being.

Of course, never grab them or try to ride them, or take a picture with them. Also, one should not position themselves right in front of them as this may interfere with their route or the direction in which they are moving.

2) On the nesting beaches:

The female marine turtles arrive during high tide when the moon is full seeking warm sand to lay their eggs in.

Before they dig their nest, the turtle lays her body over the sand forming a bed and then starts to dig a hole in the sand with her rear fins.

When she finishes the nest, the turtle falls into a “trance like state” and begins to lay her eggs. The eggs are still soft at this point; they fall together with a mucous liquid, which in addition to acting as a lubricant performs an antibacterial and fungicidal role.

Once this is completed, she covers the nest and sometimes walks in circles around it to disguise the prints and diminish the risk from predators. Mother Nature at work!

The best place to observe this awesome work of nature is at one of Costa Rica’s many sheltered areas where the turtles are properly protected and guides are available to teach you to ensure your presence will not negatively impact the species.

Flamingo Beach Costa Rica

Playa Flamingo, on the Guanacaste coastline, is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. While Tamarindo and Coco Beach may be the most developed and popular beach hubs along the Guanacaste Coast, Playa Flamingo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

Flamingo sits on the country’s Pacific Gold Coast and is less than 50 miles southwest of Liberia International Airport LIR. Flamingo sits on the country’s Pacific Gold Coast and is less than 50 miles southwest of Liberia International Airport LIR. This beach is perfectly situated in between Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito, two more awesome Guanacaste Beaches.

Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama on the Pacific coast of Central America.

Playa Flamingo hosts fantastic annual international sailfish tournaments sponsored by the Costa Rican Amateur Fishermen’s Club and scuba diving is available here all year round, we have golf, tennis and a little bit of heaven too.

Year round Sail fishing and Scuba diving

With its stunning white sand, unspoiled beaches and pristine clear blue waters, Playa Flamingo is the ideal vacation getaway, offering vacationers some of the best deep sea fishing in the world. Marlin, tuna, swordfish and snapper can be found off the coast all year around, making this beach an extremely popular vacationer’s destination. Every July, this beautiful beach also plays host to a fantastic international sailfish tournament sponsored by the Costa Rican Amateur Fishermen’s Club.

Scuba diving is available here all year round too, allowing vacationers to experience the excitement of swimming with white-fin sharks and an array of other stunning tropical fish and marine life. Sailing and diving expeditions and tours can be arranged. I’ve been told the tour companies will keep you up at your hotel, can’t beat that.

Besides deep sea fishing, Playa Flamingo also offers a wealth of water sports and outdoor adventures at the amazing Santa Rosa National Park and the Palo Verde natural reserve. Nearby, for the golfing enthusiast is also an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Home to some of the most beautiful hotels, condos and private residences on the the Guanacaste coast, Playa Flamingo is a fabulous get away resort if you prefer taking advantage of the world class fishing, simple sunset cruise or world class hanging out at the beach. The best time to visit Playa Flamingo is from late November to May, (high season), when the beaches are bathed in sunshine and the average temp is about 82°F.

Green season, (June through mid November), is a nice time to visit as the weather is just like Hawaii, clear and beautiful in the morning, rain in the afternoon with a spectacular sunset and evening. Book your hotel accommodations in advance, especially during the Easter holiday.

Playa Grande

Playa Grande is a small, quiet awesome beach town on the Guanacaste Pacific coast of Costa Rica just north of Tamarindo. Surfing Grande is incredible and has attracted surfers from all around the globe. Although many skilled surfers have descended upon Playa Grande it is also a great family beach and is considered one of the better places to learn to surf or improve surfing skills.

This international beach is very popular as one of Costa Rica’s best surfing spots as well as home to Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, the nesting ground of the Leatherback Turtle. Playa Grande is the second largest nesting area for the Leatherback and Ridley Turtles in the world. We’ll talk more about that later.

Downtown Playa Grande

Grande’s convenient to just about everything… kinda, sorta and in respect to the turtles, it’s pretty quiet at night, except at Kike’s Place. Grande doesn’t have a traffic problem on the road or on the beach, except during Semana Santa, or Easter Week, which is one of the busiest times of year in Costa Rica.

Playa Grande has an eco funky vibe and is a little more laid back than Tamarindo and Flamingo. Aside from its breathtaking beauty, this beach offers a bohemian lifestyle while surrounded by neighboring Guanacaste beaches. There are a number hotels, restaurants, surf shops and camps, mini-market, and activities to do while hanging out at this beautiful beach.

There are great hotel accommodations available in the area at affordable prices. Although no rooms can legally face the ocean by law, the ability to lodge within a protected area is a rare luxury in Costa Rica.

There will be no late nights partying around a beach fire on the beach at Grande. It’s in a national park and protected area for our beloved Leatherback Turtles and we not permitted to go out on the beach after sundown.

Watch out for the Howler Monkeys especially those across the street from Kike’s…they been known to have fun with the tourist by hanging in the trees throwing foul debris and making the most horrifying howl. Their sound makes them sound 10 feet tall, but they are the cutest. They are small and stay in the trees with their families.

There is much more to the town of Playa Grande. The surrounding area known as Palm Beach is an exclusive owner occupied neighborhood nearby that you can walk to and through to catch the boat to Tamarindo.

Palm Beach Estates, the southern end of Grande, is a gated community with its own atmosphere and quality restaurants and hotels. It also has a dock that allows quick boat rides to Tamarindo…I think it takes about 5 or 10 minutes to get there… keep your eyes open because on a good day you might see a crock, as in crocodile, in the water.

Now based on this picture, I don’t remember how it goes when you see a crock in the water, but you either act big or play dead – not dumb…I didn’t have a chance to ask this guy how it worked out for him!

Surfing Grande

Breaks are moderate and constant, earning Grande a reputation of one of Costa Rica’s premier surf destinations. In fact, nearby Tamarindo and Grande host several international surf competitions, a testament to the quality of surfing available at this beach and the surrounding Guanacaste Beaches Top Surfing Hub “neighborhood” beaches.

The following info is for the true surfer, otherwise skip over this next part and find the link to make your hotel reservations!

Playa Grande is one of the most consistent breaks in the area, and often holding more size than Tamarindo Beach. This quality beachbreak is located on the north side of the rivermouth from Tamarindo (about 25 minute drive/30 minute beach hike), focusing anything from the Southern Hemi, especially SouthWest swells. There are outer reefs, which make low-tide not ideal (close-outs mostly). Mid tide is best, offering fun A-frames, ripable rights and lefts, and barrels.

A big high tide will often produce backwash. If everywhere else is flat, Playa Grande will have something to ride, and it’s especially good when an off-season Southern Hemi swell combines with winter-time offshore winds.

This area is the closest surfing beaches to Liberia International Airport (LIR), about 1 hour drive on all paved roads.

Playa Ventana is an amazing family beach to the right of Playa Grande. When you walk to Grande, just keep walking to the right and you’ll be at Ventana beach. Fun place for the kiddie-bops.

Coco Beach Guanacaste

Playas del Coco is one of the most well-known beaches in the country. Located near the Golfo de Papagayo, this beautiful beach is easily accessible and is less than a 25-mile drive from the Daniel Oduber International Airport, in Liberia. One of the main reasons this beach is so popular, besides the great beauty and weather, is Coco is so convenient to everything hotels, markets, casinos, and the variety of outside nature activities.

Many tourists use Playas del Coco as a base camp because of its affordable accommodations, when touring the Guanacaste region. Coco Beach is also known primarily as the gateway for surfers to reach places like Ollie’s Point and Witches Rock, where the waves are superb.

There are plenty of charming boats anchored in Playa del Coco and that means plenty of opportunities to go fishing excursions. Coco is noted for a great number of Pacific sailfish, some in excess of 150 pounds; hello, striped marlin to 275 pounds, and blue and black marlin, some approaching 700 pounds, 700 POUNDS! It may also be the very best location known for record class roosterfish. 60 to 70 pounders are almost always available, with frequent catches approaching 100 pounds. All billfish and roosters are catch and release.

Playas del Coco also boasts a variety of other pelagic fish including wahoo, yellowfin tuna, and dorado. Additionally, there are 100 pounds plus amberjack, big cubera snapper, grouper, cabrilla, and jack crevalle

Most of the fishing company’s are nice enough to pick you up at your hotel and of course, guarantee you so some awesome sport fishing. Nothing like reeling in a 100 to 700 pounder…we think that’s something you’ll never forget! I’m getting excited just writing about this!

This busy beach is a prime scuba diving spot, with many tours and dive companies ready to serve. I’ve been told they will pick you up at your hotel! The sandy shore at Playa del Coco Costa Rica is quite wide at low tide and just about nonexistent at high tide.

In between high and low tide, it’s just right to begin a new adventure…Diving is by far the most popular water sport in Playa del Coco Costa Rica. From there you can also head out to Pelonas Islands, Catalinas, and Bat Islands, which are excellent sites to spot turtles, sharks, and octopuses in the natural environment.

Wellness Retreats Guanacaste

It’s time and you know it’s THE time to get away and find yourself. You think, can I go to Costa Rica and simple mediate on the beach, have an awesome massage, practice silence, do community service – what about the hubby and kids?

Guess what,
yes you can and we’re here to help you find THE best Wellness retreat
just for you in Guanacaste, The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.

What are you thinking right now?? Scared and Something like “No way, I can’t go on a vacation by myself, how decadent, who do I think I am, blah, blah. I’ve heard it all. Believe me, you owe it to yourself. How long do you think you can keep the pace you’re at, never giving a moment to yourself and you think can continue to be the best authentic you, you are? It’s time, as my mom would say, “Listen to me….”
med

If you don’t listen to me now, someone will be making choices for you later. You need to decide massage, meditation, yoga, hiking, surfing, dancing, beach walking, what is it that will bring you back to your authentic self. Is it laughter, connections, alone or with a group, mixed group or women only – only you know and you gotta let me know so we can put your perfect retreat, or should I say,
your rejuvenation back together.

So, who are you and what is your gift that got buried?
It’s time to shine it up and share it with the world.

So are you in? Great, glad to see you’ll treat yourself as well as your treat others. OK. this is what you need to think about, 4, 7, 10 days….Tamarindo, Playas del Coco, Playa Flamingo, Luxury, All-Inclusive, Tico Style. Community Service, total pampered. No guilt, you decide, there are many choices, I’m just grazing the surface.

What will bring you back to knowing how beautiful you are and how special you are to this entire world process? I hope you remember there is nothing you can do to buy your way to greatness…you are already great. It takes some peace and quite to remember you are a spirtual being having a human experience, right? If you knew who you really were you would fall to the floor and weep, no this is all true.

Dream big and believe in you.

Playa Avellana is another beautiful white sandy Guanacaste beach, many locals and tourists call this beach “little Hawaii”. South of Tamarindo, Playa Avellana packs extraordinary offshore waves that can reach up to eighteen feet, making it a perfect destination for experienced surfers from around the world.

Wow, the waves are huge and pictures I’ve seen on Magic SeaWeed are quite stunning. This secluded white sand beach invites tranquility and peace, the real Costa Rica Pura Vida vibe.

Here’s a description from WannaSurf.com he speaks ‘surfer’. He describes Avellana is an alternative beach to Playa Negra, (The Endless Summer beach), being a less radical spot.

This is a classic Guanacaste beach, with the long sandy crescent. At the southern end of the beach (in front of the parking area) there is a small rock platform which produces some okay lefts at mid to high tide. Got that?? The main hot spot on this beach is the river mouth, which is not much more than a depression in the sand at the Northern End. Still with me?? A small rocky area there holds sand and produces a quality peak, with the right being the longer ride.

Got that? Okay let’s carry on…The waves pick up fast on the ‘reef’ – but this is not in the same league as Playa Negra. Many people rate this as a better break than the more easily accessible Tamarindo river mouth. Okay, let’s go!

Avellana is totally worth visiting, there are at least three different breaks on this beach (including the beach break). It’s a little difficult to get to, you need a car, and then it’s a 5 minute walk down to the beach. Once there, you’ll see it’s a fun wave spot when the swell is not closing it out, or when other surf spots, like Grande, Negra, Tamarindo are crowded.

Playa Avellana is kind of connected in close proximity to Tamarindo Beach, Playa Langosta, Playa Negra and the unique Playa Junquillal. Actually if looking at the map, you are going south, once you leave Tamarindo the first beach is Langosta, Avellana, Negra and Junquillal. Each one of these beaches is completely different, with different waves, sand, breeze, vibe and scene.

Once you’re in the area make sure you see and experience all of these beaches. You’ll kick yourself if you don’t. You can always make coming to Guanacaste beaches a personal annual or semiannual tradition. Whether you are looking for a surf vacation, relaxation, nightlife, or adventure, it’s all available in Playa Avellana area.

Guanacaste Province Costa Rica Hub of The Pacific Northwest

Guanacaste is on the Pacific northwest of Costa Rica. The province is hugh, rich and full with the best beaches, tons of activities, wildlife, (animal and human), and easy to get to with the International airport in the capital city Liberia, LIB. Liberia is the hub to all beaches in the Province, Playas del Coco, Tamarindo Beach, and Flamingo are all conveniently located.

Some call Guanacaste the Gold coast because of the “richness” of the area in natural and man made beauty. Luxury hotels, private villas, eco villages are being built up in this vast area. With the hot dry climate during the summer months of November through April and May many visitors are escaping their cold wintery months back home.

Guanacaste Province and their beaches on the Pacific Coast were made famous in the film Endless Summer back in the 1960’s, The weather, waves and constant temperature, generally around 83 F and 28 C, is perfect for surfers looking for the endless summer surf. Summer here is endless even when the storms come, and boy do they, wait a bit and the sun peaks through shortly.

Guanacaste Day July 25th!

Despite the daily international comings and goings, Liberia remains a small town at heart, with a population of about 40,000 to 60,000. It is one of Costa Rica’s oldest towns, a fact that is clearly visible in the colonial appearance of many buildings. Liberia, “la ciudad blanca”, “White City”, called by the residents because of the white graveled roads of old and the white washed colonial buildings in town.

Liberia’s oldest surrounding neighborhood is comprised of old colonial style homes that were constructed over a century and a half ago and are full of architectural gems. Beautiful!

Broad avenues make for easy navigation to the town’s traditional attractions. The town’s oldest historic church, Iglesia de la Agonia, is a relic from the past colonial era. Its white exterior is beautifully adorned in typical Spanish fashion, twin pillars with an arched entrance. The Sabaneros Museum (Museo de Sabaneros) pays homage to Guanacaste’s cowboy of yester year.

Rodeos are a timeless tradition and most popular event in the Guanacaste Province. From all over the region, rodeos draw many locals who just have to see the brave cowboys hurled by infuriated bucking bulls. This is not for the faint of heart nor is it an eco tour!

One of the biggest traditional holidays is Guanacaste Day on July 25th, celebrating the province’s annexation and independence from neighboring Nicaragua. The celebrations include an annual horse parade, bullfight, costumed dancers, and rural fairs – all the makings for a lively cowboy fiesta. Remember to pack those cowboy boots!

The drive from Liberia from San Jose is about 145 miles or 234 km along the Inter-American Highway. In Liberia, there are many buses that offer countrywide transportation throughout the workday. Car rentals are also available at the airport.
Traditional Costa Rican Holidays

Most holidays in Costa Rica are generally Catholic religious holidays. Most government offices and banks are closed during these holidays and the commercial businesses generally follow so there is little activity going on in town, which follow the traditions.

Easter, Seman Santa is one of the main big Costa Rican holidays. The Holy week celebration begins on Thursday through Easter Sunday when all businesses are closed. There is also a law that prohibits restaurants and bars from selling alcohol during that time. Buses stop running too.

If you’re planning your retreat and surfing vacation during that Costa Rica holiday time frame make sure, double sure, you have everything reserved well in advance.

Easter falls between late March and early May – the holiday days change every year. Reserve your hotel and car well in advance, get your confirmation numbers and if you are running late stay in contact with your hotel and car company. Trust me, you don’t want to spend your holiday Easter week searching for a room or car. Oh, the beaches are packed during that holiday week too. It’s a great time, just plan, reserve and check in early.

The province is huge, the beaches are never that crowed even during their busiest of holidays.

The processions during Easter are awesome, don’t miss coming during the holidays, Easter, Christmas, New Years. Awesome Holy days, you feel like you’re in a foreign country for goodness sake. You don’t want to miss the traditional holiday celebrations, yes it’s crowded, but that’s part of the fun.

Holidays according to the article 148 of Costa Rican work law are the following:

January 1st: New Year’s Day, celebrated everywhere in Costa Rica with fiestas, dances and sometimes Fireworks.

March 19th: Dia de San Jose. St. Joseph’s Day, the patron saint of San Jose (Capital city and province of Costa Rica.

Easter Holy Week: (Semana Santa) Late March through early May, Thursday through Easter Sunday.

April 11th: Juan Santamaria Day (National Hero of Costa Rica). This Public holiday is to commemorate the national hero that fought at the battle of Rivas against the North American William Walker. Wm Walker invaded Central America in 1856.

May 1st: Labor Day. El dia de los trabajadores.

June 29th: St. Peter and St. Paul’s Day, (San Pedro y San Pablo) Catholic Holiday, not mandatory as a closed business holiday.

July 25th: Annexation of Guanacaste Day.

August 2nd” Religious celebration for the Patron saint of Costa Rica, Virgin de los Angeles Day.

August 15th: Mother’s Day ( Dia de las madres). National holiday, awesome!

September 15th: Independence Day from Spain since 1821. Parades with school bands.

October 12th: Day of the Discovery of Costa Rica by Christopher Columbus. Big Carnival in Limon.

November 2nd: All soul’s Day (Dia de los muertos).

December 8th: Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. (Inmaculada concepcion de la Virgen Maria).

December 25th: Christmas Day.

Enjoy!

Top Surfing Hub

Playa Negra, Costa Rica

These three Guanacaste Beaches are considered a Top Surfing Hub. They are Playa Negra, Langosta, and Junquillal.

First stop, Playa Negra, one of Guanacaste Beaches very popular family surf beaches, it’s convenient and just south of Tamarindo beach. Playa Negra is a beautiful dark black sand beach famous in the surfing community for its right-hand barrel waves.

Playa Negra sits in close proximity to other Guanacaste Beaches Top Surfing Spots, Playa Langosta, Playa Junquillal and “Little Hawaii” Playa Avellana, which is a short 10-minute drive away.

Surfers and non-surfers alike enjoy Playa Negra’s pristine, natural, colorful and remote landscape. Its dark-colored sand is interspersed with rocky outcroppings and tons of tide pools for the family to explore.

There are protected areas for swimming with the family at Playa Negra’s southern end of the beach.

The surf break at Playa Negra is a hollow right break reef that can at times get quite crowded. However, when you catch a good swell, it is definitely worth it to surf here. The surf at Playa Negra is ideal for the novice as well as the expert surfer.

Playa Negra has some of the most consistent waves and surf breaks along the Guanacaste Pacific Coast, as do Playa Langosta and Junquilla.

OK, here’s the real deal in surf talk…This beach is considered by many surfers to be one of the top beach areas in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Pacific Golden Coast.

It has become famous in part from its quality surfing wave. Playa Negra has a rock reef bottom with good right-hand barrels and a well defined channel for paddling out. This channel also assists surfers to return to the point where the wave breaks. There is a strong rip current that takes the surfers back through the impact zone.

Depending on the swell direction and tides; a left breaking wave may also be surfed. The break has good exposure to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere swells and is reasonably consistent year-round. The wave can break well with large and small swells. It may also produce good surfing waves during the entire tide range.

Despite the beach’s isolated location, its fast and hallow reef break draws surfers from throughout the area and the take off zone for riding its main break can get quite crowded.

Don’t depair, the Guanacaste Beaches Top Surfing Hub includes 3 different beaches to surf. Playa Negra, Playa Langosta and Junquilla and they are in close proximity so if one beach is too crowded, go to the next one. This Surf Hub of Pacific Coast beaches are all known for their amazing waves and pristine beaches.
Getting to the hub…

A 4-wheel drive vehicle is necessary, remember what I said on the home page, as the road can be kind of hard to travel and involve a number of river crossings.

Playa Negra is less than a 2 hour drive from Liberia’s International Airport, LIB. The drive from San Jose’s International Airport, SJO, takes 4 to 5+ hours and you cross the Tempisque Bridge.

Another option for you when traveling from San Jose, Costa Rica, is to fly into Playa Tamarindo. They have daily flights, small planes, and awesome views. It cost a bit more to fly into Liberia, but in the long run it’s worth the added expense. Don’t let transportation chew up too many of your vacation days.

Once you get to Tamarindo remember to rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle and then drive south to hit all of the Guanacaste Beaches Top Surfing Beaches

When driving from Tamarindo to Playa Negra it’s about a 35-minute drive, remember slightly longer drive in the rainy season. Wow, what a ride in the rainy season!

Playa Negra, Playa Langosta and Junquilla are all considered in the same beach “neighborhood”. Plan on visiting them all while in Guanacaste Province.