10 Epic Beaches in Costa Rica You Must Visit

One of the best things to do in Costa Rica is to visit the beautiful beaches. Costa Rica is a popular beach destination with tropical white sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters, palm trees, and incredible wildlife.

All beaches are free to visit (except if the beach is in a national park). It is another good reason to add Costa Rica to your bucket list.

Have you heard of “Pura Vida”? Pura Vida means pure, simple life. Come to Costa Rica, experience the feeling of Pura Vida, and explore the most beautiful destinations.

We’ve put together a list of the best beaches to visit in Costa Rica. Use the map at the bottom of this post to find the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through our link. This is a free way to support us and allow us to continue to create inspiring travel guides.

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When is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica Beaches?

The best time to visit Costa Rica is usually from December to April during the dry season when the weather is pleasant and not so humid.

The rainiest months in Costa Rica are September and October. Although tropical rain can occur all months.

Puerto Viejo’s temperatures are warm all year round. But Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast has different weather, usually more rainy and humid. The best time to visit Puerto Viejo is from February to April and September to October.

Read our → Costa Rica Itinerary

How to Get to the Beaches in Costa Rica?

There is no public transport to the beaches. So the best way to reach Costa Rica beaches is by car. You can easily rent a car at San Jose International Airport.

Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.

The best way to explore Costa Rica is by renting a car. Although public transport is cheap, travel time is long, and some places are not accessible by bus. Renting a car in Costa Rica provides the freedom to explore at your own pace and visit hidden gems or get off the beaten path.

You don’t need a 4×4, but a car with higher ground clearance is worth booking for your Costa Rica Road Trip!

During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.

Recommended post → How to Renting a Car in Costa Rica

Best Beaches in Costa Rica

1. Punta Uva Beach

Puerto Viejo has many beautiful beaches, but in our opinion, the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica is Playa Punta Uva.

Punta Uva Beach is just a 15-minute drive from Puerto Viejo.

Punta Uva is a quiet and peaceful beach on the Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. The tropical white sand beach of Punta Uva, with its many palm trees and turquoise waters, is the perfect place for beach lovers.

See also → Things to Do in Puerto Viejo

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If you have a drone, bring it with you because the views from above are stunningly beautiful.

If you’re looking for adventure, you can rent a kayak at Punta Uva. Paddle down the river to Punta Uva, a fantastic way to watch wildlife closely and get a great experience.

Book your kayak tour HERE.

Spend some relaxing hours at Punta Uva Beach, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the most beautiful sunset in Puerto Viejo.

2. Manuel Antonio Beach

Manuel Antonio Beach is one of the most popular beach destinations in Costa Rica. It is located on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, in Manuel Antonio National Park.

This is the smallest national park in Costa Rica, although it is one of the best places to see wildlife. During your visit, you can see monkeys, sloths, raccoons, snakes, frogs, reptiles, beautiful birds, and much more.

Walk the rainforest trails and enjoy some of the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Recommended post → Guide to Manuel Antonio National Park

Take a day trip to Manuel Antonio and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. The tour price includes round-trip transportation, a bilingual guide, the entrance fee to Manuel Antonio National Park, breakfast, and lunch.

Book your tour with Viator.

The untouched white sandy beach of Manuel Antonio National Park is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a refreshing swim.

Good to know
The Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays!

3. Uvita Beach

One of the best beaches in Costa Rica is Uvita Beach, located in the Marino Ballena National Park on the South Pacific Coast.

The Marino Ballena National Park is open daily from 7 AM to 4 PM, and the entrance fee is 6 USD.

Marino Ballena National Park is a protected area, making it the perfect place for humpback whales to breed and give birth. You can see northern humpback whales usually from December to April and southern whales from late July to early November.

See also → Uvita Guide

You can book a whale-watching tour, swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or enjoy the tropical scenery of the national park.

Whale watching tours usually start from 99 USD, which includes the entrance fee to national park. Many tour operators offer whale watching tours in Uvita. But we recommend booking your whale watching tour online.

The best attraction in the Marino Ballena National Park is the Whale Tail. But you can only see it at low tide and you’ll need a drone to capture this beautiful moment.

4. Manzanillo Beach

Some of the best beaches in Costa Rica are on the Southern Caribbean Coast. Not far from the Panama border and just a 15-minute drive from Puerto Viejo is the beautiful Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, which is worth a visit.

Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge is open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM. There is no entrance fee, but visitors must pay a donation.

When exploring Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, don’t miss the Mirador viewpoint of the beautiful Manzanillo Beach.

Playa Manzanillo is the perfect beach for swimming and snorkeling. With its incredible coral reefs, stunning turquoise waters, and lush tropical rainforests, visitors are attracted to this beautiful white sand beach.

Explore the jungle trails, see wild animals, snorkel the Playa Manzanillo, and enjoy the beautiful, hidden beaches.

Good to know
It is crowded on weekends and holidays. But a fantastic place to visit in Puerto Viejo.

5. Espadilla Beach

Playa Espadilla is one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, which has two parts. The Espadilla Sur Beach is inside the Manuel Antonio National Park, and Espadilla Norte Beach is outside the park.

After visiting the national park, we recommend you spend a few relaxing hours on the beach. It is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, horse riding, surfing, or taking surf lessons.

Book a surf lesson.

6. Santa Teresa Beach

Are you looking for more beaches in Costa Rica? The Nicoya Peninsula is a favorite destination for surfers, backpackers, and yoga lovers.

There are many paradise beaches like Playa Santa Teresa, Playa Malpais, Playa Mar Azul, Playa Carmen, Playa Manzanillo, and Playa Hermosa.

Santa Teresa is a paradise for surfers, famous for its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, diverse wildlife, and world-class waves.

Join a Bioluminescent kayak tour.

Getting to Santa Teresa may seem difficult, but depending on your time and budget, there are several ways to get there. We have a detailed post on how to get to Santa Teresa with all the information you need.

7. Playa Cocles Beach

Playa Cocles is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, just 10 minutes from Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast.

Puerto Viejo is one of the best surfing spots in Costa Rica, so if you like surfing or want to take surfing lessons, visit Playa Cocles Beach.

Puerto Viejo’s surf season runs from December to March, sometimes with huge swells. It is very crowded at weekends as it is a popular destination for locals, so we recommend arriving in the morning or late afternoon.

Keep reading → What to Do in La Fortuna

8. Jaco Beach

Jaco is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica, just 1.5 hours from San Jose and about 2 hours from Monteverde or Uvita.

It is a perfect place for those who want to learn to surf or enjoy the beach bars and fantastic atmosphere. You can visit the Mirador de Jaco viewpoint and take photos at the colorful Jaco sign.

Join a horseback riding tour.

It is good to know that Costa Rica has several beaches called Hermosa. But one of the best is located a short drive from Playa Jaco.

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Don’t miss the famous Crocodile Bridge in Costa Rica, just a 25-minute drive from Jaco.

9. Dominical Beach

One of the best beaches in Costa Rica is in Dominical, a well-known hippie and surfer spot on the South Pacific Coast.

Dominical is just a 20-minute drive from Uvita, making it a popular stop on the Costa Rica Itinerary.

Dominical is the only beach with a year-round lifeguard program in Costa Rica. Besides surfing and swimming, you can enjoy stunning sunsets at Dominical Beach.

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If you are in Manuel Antonio, you can easily book a full-day tour to visit the Nauyaca Waterfalls, Playa Linda, and Dominical Beach.

10. Playa Negra Beach

Have you ever been to a black beach before? One of the most beautiful beaches in Puerto Viejo is the stunning black sand beach of Playa Negra.

You can take some creative photos of the black beach and nearby shipwreck. Spend a few relaxing hours on the beach and enjoy swimming and sunbathing. After that, you can easily combine a visit to Playa Negra with Playa Puerto Viejo and Playa Chiquita Beach.

Did you know that Puerto Viejo is one of the best places to see sloths in Costa Rica? So keep your eyes open when exploring Puerto Viejo and watch the monkeys and sloths in the trees.

More about Costa Rica → Monteverde

What to Pack for Visiting Beaches

Quick-dry towel
Swimsuit
Hat
Sunscreen
Mosquito repellent
Camera gear
GoPro or Waterproof phone bag
Water
Snacks

Tips for Visiting the Beaches in Costa Rica

The best times to visit the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica are at sunrise and sunset.
Lock your car, and don’t leave valuables out of sight.
Take plenty of water and snacks.
There are no entrance fees to beaches (except national parks), but bring cash for parking and to buy coconuts.
Spend as much time as possible in the country and enjoy the most beautiful beaches.
Beware of rip currents!
Petty theft often happens on beaches. So always keep an eye on your valuables while swimming.
The best way to visit the beaches is by car, so we recommend renting a car in Costa Rica.

Where to Stay Near Costa Rica Beaches

The best beach destinations in Costa Rica are Puerto Viejo, Tamarindo, Jaco, Uvita, Santa Teresa, and Manuel Antonio. These are our accommodation recommendations.

Map of the Best Beaches in Costa Rica

We hope you found our guide to the best beaches in Costa Rica useful and will inspire you to visit some beautiful beaches. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway

10 Epic Beaches in Costa Rica You Must Visit