Costa Rica's coastlines stretch along both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, offering beaches that feel completely different from one another. Some have long stretches of soft sand ideal for swimming, while others feature rocky formations that create sheltered spots and interesting shapes along the water. You will find locals and visitors spending their days here, swimming, wading, and simply enjoying the sun and sea. The beaches change with the seasons, so what you experience in one month may feel different in another. From the Caribbean side, beaches like Punta Uva and Manzanillo offer calm waters and a tropical feel. The Pacific coast presents more variety, with places like Samara Beach providing gentle waves for swimming, while Playa Carrillo and Playa Conchal draw people with their sand and rock formations. Further south, Marino Ballena Beach has distinctive features shaped by the tides, and Corcovado Beach sits in a more remote setting. Whether you seek a protected bay where the water feels calm or a more open coastline with stronger waves, Costa Rica has options that suit different preferences and seasons.
Limón Province, Costa Rica
Punta Uva Beach is a sandy beach on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica with calm waters and a relaxed setting. This beach fits well within Costa Rica's collection of beaches that line both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The water here invites swimming and wading while visitors enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Limón Province, Costa Rica
Manzanillo Beach in Limón Province is a Caribbean shore where gentle waters make swimming inviting. This beach is part of Costa Rica's diverse coastal landscape, offering visitors a place to spend time in the sun and enjoy the natural beauty of the country. Coral reefs nearby shape the character of this beach.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Samara Beach in Guanacaste is part of Costa Rica's collection of beautiful beaches along both Pacific and Caribbean coasts. This wide strand has soft sand and shallow water that works well for families. Locals and visitors spend time here in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Corcovado Beach is a remote Pacific coast beach located within a national park setting. This beach fits well into Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations, as it draws visitors with its natural surroundings and wildlife. The sand invites long walks, while the water is suitable for swimming. Animals such as monkeys, herons, and crocodiles live here and give the place its special character.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
This Pacific beach is known for its distinctive sandbar that takes the shape of a whale's tail when the tide recedes. The beach is part of Costa Rica's diverse coastal landscape and offers both visitors and locals a place to swim, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country in the sunshine.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Negra is a black sand beach along the Pacific coast in Guanacaste Province that embodies the raw character of Costa Rica's beaches. The dark sand, born from volcanic rock, defines the look and feel of this place. The beach is where locals and visitors spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and take in the natural beauty of the country. With its unspoiled coastline, Playa Negra offers one of the different beach experiences that Costa Rica has to offer along its Pacific shores.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Carrillo is a curved Pacific beach with golden sand and nearby palm trees. As part of Costa Rica's wonderful collection of beaches, this place offers a calm experience where visitors and locals spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country. The beach belongs to a diverse range of coastal places, from sheltered bays to open coastlines.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Conchal is one of the beaches that define Costa Rica's Pacific coast. What makes this beach special is its covering of crushed shells instead of typical sand. This unusual surface gives the beach a distinct character for swimming and relaxing. The beach shows how each stretch of Costa Rica's coastline has its own feel. Visitors and locals use the beach to spend time in the sun and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Quesera is a Pacific beach located in the Nicoya Peninsula region. This beach fits well within Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations, where locals and visitors spend time under the sun, wade into the water, and experience the natural beauty of the country. The beach offers its own character with sandy shores perfect for swimming and relaxation.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Rajada is a Pacific beach in Puntarenas Province with a more secluded feel in the southern zone. As part of Costa Rica's diverse beach collection, this beach offers its own character with sandy shores perfect for swimming and rocky coves with scenic views. Locals and visitors spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Hermosa is a wide Pacific beach where the water runs clear and inviting. This beach belongs to Costa Rica's varied collection of coastal destinations that stretch along both coasts. Visitors and locals come here to swim and enjoy water sports in good conditions. The beach shows the natural beauty Costa Rica offers with its sandy shores and open ocean.
San José Province, Costa Rica
Playa Biesanz is a small cove on Costa Rica's Pacific coast located near a populated area with easy road access. This beach fits into Costa Rica's varied collection of shorelines and offers a welcoming place to swim and spend time in the sun. The water here invites swimmers, and the sheltered setting makes it a comfortable spot for both locals and travelers looking to enjoy the country's natural beauty close to urban centers.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Jacó is a busy Pacific beach town with hotels, restaurants, and a long sandy shore. This beach offers the kind of coastal experience that Costa Rica provides: a place where locals and visitors spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Manuel Antonio is a Pacific beach located within a national park in Costa Rica. Dense rainforest surrounds the shoreline, and the area is home to diverse wildlife including monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds. The sand beach offers good swimming conditions, and trails wind through the jungle nearby. Visitors come here to enjoy the combination of coastal relaxation and natural exploration.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Dominical is a Pacific beach that belongs to Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations along both coasts. This place draws people who want to spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country. The beach has its own character with a laid-back rhythm and small town feeling, where visitors and locals gather together.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Montezuma is a Pacific beach at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula and fits naturally into Costa Rica's collection of varied coastal spaces. This beach has a relaxed, artistic character that draws people seeking to spend time in the sun and enjoy the natural life of the country. The beach combines sandy shores for swimming with rocky areas, offering diverse experiences much like other coasts throughout Costa Rica.
Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
Playa Tamarindo is a Pacific beach town in Costa Rica where surfers and visitors come for waves, nightlife, and dining. The beach fits into Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations, each with its own character. Here, locals and travelers spend time in the sun, swim in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Mal País is a Pacific beach at the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula where strong waves shape the coastline. This beach is part of Costa Rica's diverse collection of shores, offering a different experience from the calmer bays found elsewhere in the country. Visitors come here to feel the power of the ocean and enjoy the natural beauty of this exposed section of coast.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Tambor is a Pacific beach in Puntarenas Province that maintains an undeveloped character compared to other shores in Costa Rica. This beach fits within the country's collection of diverse coastal experiences, where locals and visitors spend time in the sun and enjoy natural surroundings. The beach offers a relaxed setting for swimming and spending time by the water.
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Playa Esterillos is a long Pacific beach in Puntarenas Province that feels quiet and residential, away from bustling towns. This beach fits into Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations where locals and visitors spend time swimming, relaxing in the sun, and enjoying natural surroundings. The beach has a settled, lived-in quality that makes it different from more crowded coastal areas.
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Playa Mantas is a sand beach in Puntarenas and part of Costa Rica's diverse coastal landscape. This beach provides a relaxing place for swimming and sunbathing. With its wide sandy shore, Playa Mantas welcomes both visitors and locals to spend time in the sun and enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific coast.
Cuajiniquil, Costa Rica
Playa Lagarto is a sand beach located in Cuajiniquil and fits within Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations along both Pacific and Caribbean shores. This beach offers a place where visitors and locals spend time under the sun, wade in the water, and take in the natural beauty of the country. Like many Costa Rican beaches, it has its own character and contributes to the range of experiences available throughout the year.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Playas del Coco is a beach on the Pacific coast in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. It is part of Costa Rica's collection of beaches along both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. This beach offers a place where locals and visitors spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Flamingo is a white sand beach in Guanacaste Province and part of Costa Rica's collection of coastal destinations. This beach features calm, sheltered waters perfect for swimming and sits within a bay that welcomes both visitors and locals seeking to spend time in the sun and enjoy the natural surroundings. The beach embodies the gentle character found in Costa Rica's more protected coastal areas, offering a quieter experience away from rough waves and open coastlines.
Tempate, Costa Rica
Playa Danta is a black sand beach in Tempate and part of Costa Rica's collection of beautiful beaches along both coasts. This beach offers a place where locals and visitors spend time in the sun, wade in the water, and enjoy the natural beauty of the country. With its dark sand and sheltered location, Playa Danta has its own character and appeals to those seeking an authentic beach experience away from crowded tourist spots.
