Top 10 Costa Rica

Five Popular Beaches in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has always been associated with the great outdoors: from rainforests to volcanoes like Arenal, the country has offered visitors “me time” with Nature. Athletes book flights to Costa Rica to do marathons and triathlons and complex hikes; eco-lovers visit the stately rainforests and stay in “green” lodging options. As for the pure leisure seeker? The beaches of course.

Here are Costa Rica’s most popular beaches, and why:

Manuel Antonio: This beach is one of the most beautiful and raw beaches in the world. This is a great beach to spot wildlife including the howler, white faced, and squirrel monkeys. On a good day you can also spot sloths. Visitors can not only swim here but also fish.

Playa Dominical: The waters are a little rougher here, and you can’t go for a really calm swim. However but the sands are quite uncrowded and the color of the water is a deep, deep turquoise. For these reasons, it is a popular spot for surfers.

Corcovado: Considered to be one of the best kept secrets of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, this beach will offer you seclusion and privacy with breathtaking scenery, including palms and mountainous inland jungles. This is the beach for the true eco lover, and you can spot several bird and mammal species while you’re walking on the dark sand. Expect to find sea turtles in season.

Nicoya Peninsula: Comprised of several beaches, this is Costa Rica’s largest Peninsula. Here, you can expect to see miles of scenic beaches
without too many crowds. This is where honeymooners go to really get some quality romantic time. The area is spread liberally with beautiful strips of sand.

Tortuguero: This is a very unspoilt part of Costa Rica, with eco-friendlybeaches that would make the naturalist go wild. You can do safaris in dugout canoes while spotting seriously endangered species from tapirs, ocelots and manatees. If you want to enjoy some private time, you can do that on a relatively commercialized part of the island.

Diana Wilson