Best Beaches in Costa Rica

From Santa Teresa's world-class surf to Puerto Viejo's Caribbean soul — the complete guide to Costa Rica's most remarkable beaches on both coasts.

By BeachLoco Editorial Team

Costa Rica's Best Beaches — Pacific and Caribbean

Costa Rica packs an extraordinary range of beach experiences into a country roughly the size of West Virginia. Two oceans, microclimates that shift within kilometres, and a conservation ethic that protects 25% of the national territory combine to create beaches that feel simultaneously wild and accessible.

The Pacific coast runs 1,016 kilometres from the Nicaraguan border to Panama, delivering everything from powerful reef breaks to sheltered bays where warm, calm waters lap against volcanic black sand. The Caribbean side, shorter but no less compelling, offers a distinctly different cultural identity — Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jungle-backed shores, and reef systems that rival the Bay Islands.

Santa Teresa & Mal País

At the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa has evolved from a remote fishing village into one of the world's most sought-after surf destinations. The main beach break — a long, exposed stretch of white sand — delivers consistent waves year-round, with overhead sets arriving regularly during the May–November swell season. The town's single dirt road is lined with boutique hotels, yoga studios, and open-air restaurants serving ceviche and fresh-caught mahi-mahi.

Mal País, the quieter extension to the south, offers reef breaks and rock-bottom point breaks that reward experienced surfers willing to walk. The area has maintained much of its raw character despite growing popularity, largely because the unpaved road access acts as a natural filter.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo is Costa Rica's most accessible surf town, a place where beginners can catch their first wave in the morning and join a sunset catamaran tour by afternoon. The main beach provides gentle, forgiving waves ideal for learning, while Playa Grande — a 20-minute drive north — offers more powerful breaks and serves as a critical nesting site for leatherback sea turtles (October–March).

Beyond surfing, Tamarindo functions as Guanacaste's social hub. The dry season (December–April) transforms the town into an international beach scene with live music, craft cocktail bars, and weekly night markets.

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park contains four beaches within its boundaries, each backed by dense tropical forest where white-faced capuchin monkeys, three-toed sloths, and scarlet macaws are regular visitors. Playa Manuel Antonio — the park's main swimming beach — is a crescent of calm, turquoise water framed by rocky headlands. Espadilla Sur and Playa Gemelas offer more seclusion for those willing to hike.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca

Puerto Viejo is Costa Rica's Caribbean counterpoint — a town where reggae and calypso replace the Pacific's surf-rock soundtrack, and the culinary tradition draws from Jamaican, Costa Rican, and indigenous Bribri influences. Playa Cocles provides the Caribbean's best surf (the famous Salsa Brava reef break is for experts only), while Punta Uva — a 10-minute cycle south — delivers the calm, clear waters ideal for snorkelling and family swimming.

Nosara

Nosara has carved a niche as Costa Rica's wellness capital. Playa Guiones — a five-kilometre stretch of white sand — offers some of the country's most consistent beginner-to-intermediate surf. The Nosara Biological Reserve protects 90 acres of tropical forest directly behind the beach, creating a buffer zone that keeps the coastline remarkably undeveloped. The town's yoga retreat scene is internationally recognised, with studios like the Harmony Hotel offering daily classes with ocean views.

Best Time to Visit

The Pacific coast's dry season (December–April) delivers the most reliable sunshine, though surf is bigger during the green season (May–November). The Caribbean coast follows an opposite pattern — its driest months are September–October and February–March. Water temperatures hover between 79–84°F year-round on both coasts.

Explore top local spots and experiences in Tamarindo — from beachfront dining at Pangas Beach Club to sunset catamarans and surf camps along the Guanacaste coast. For the full Central America beach guide, see our regional hub.