Costa Rica has nearly 300 different beaches along its stunning Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, each with a unique draw and distinct setting. Even on nearby beaches the sand can vary from white, black, or brown coloration. Some beaches are full of shells or scattered with rocks; others are soft with fluffy fine sand. Some are fantastic for swimming, and others are better for surfing.
Once a quite fishing hamlet, Tamarindo has evolved to be the area’s most developed and accessible tourist town. Rated 7.9/10 by visitors.
Set high above the enchanting national park, Manuel Antonio boasts world-class views and beaches. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
The sleepy beach hamlet of Malpais is billed as a surfer's paradise, and the surf is indeed exceptional. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
Playa Jaco is the closest beach to San Jose, the Central Valley and is one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. Rated 7.7/10 by visitors.
Known for its laidback attitude and famous for it's surfing, Puerto Viejo beckons visitors to come experience Costa Rica’s eccentric side. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
Hermosa, which means "beautiful" in Spanish, is an aptly named gray-sand beach that perches between two mountains. Rated 8.3/10 by visitors.
Referred to by locals as "little Hawaii," Playa Avellana packs extraordinary offshore waves that can reach up to eighteen feet, making it an ideal destination for experienced surfers from around the world. Rated 8.4/10 by visitors.
Separated from Tamarindo by the Matapalo River is Grande Beach (Playa Grande) located within Marino Las Baulas National Park, Grande Beach is the site of the arribadas of the leatherback turtle. Rated 9.2/10 by visitors.
This mile-long, crescent shaped beach, also known as Playa Blanca (White Beach), is as beautiful as any of the famed beaches in Costa Rica. Rated 8.3/10 by visitors.
Playa Potrero is a wonderfully tranquil place for passing the day, lying on warm sand, bathing in the sun and reading in the shade of palm trees. Rated 9.0/10 by visitors.
Playa Ocotal is a wonderfully peaceful place to enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in the sun. Rated 8.1/10 by visitors.
At Playa Conchal, the sand is composed of millions of tiny crushed shells that rustle beneath your feet. Rated 8.2/10 by visitors.
A favorite for youths, surfers, and alternative-types, the bohemian town of Montezuma is an ideal, laidback beach town. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
Coco Beach (Playa del Coco) is well known for its popularity with Costa Rica's youth. Rated 8.0/10 by visitors.
Resting on the northern side of the Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay (Bahía Drake) is an adventure-seekers paradise. Rated 9.5/10 by visitors.
The northern Guanacaste shoreline looks out over the expansive Gulf of Papagayo (Golfo de Papagayo), the setting for Costa Rica's premier luxury resorts and most sought after beaches. Rated 7.9/10 by visitors.
Nestled along parts of Guanacaste's most lovely coastline is Brasilito Beach, a sprawling grey-sand beach and charming town. Rated 8.9/10 by visitors.
Panama Beach (Playa Panama) is located a short distance away from Playa Hermosa, on the southern point of Culebra Bay. Rated 7.8/10 by visitors.
The beautiful coastal hamlet of Samara is a paradise on the Nicoya Peninsula's western shore. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
No crowds, chocolate colored beaches, and great surf best describe the beaches of Esterillos. Rated 7.0/10 by visitors.
About 27 mi (44 km) south of Quepos is the quaint and growing beach town of Dominical. Rated 8.6/10 by visitors.
For a less crowded beach vacation, Uvita may be the ideal location. Rated 9.1/10 by visitors.
Cahuita is a laid back and vibrant little village in the setting of Costa Rica’s unique Creole culture, brought about by its Afro-Caribbean heritage. Rated 9.0/10 by visitors.
Nosara's beach town of Guiones is a tucked-away delight with lucrative real estate, vibrant flora, and a world-class white sand beach. Rated 8.7/10 by visitors.
The town of Ojochal and its surrounding beaches provide solitude and the ideal setting for some rest and relaxation. Rated 9.4/10 by visitors.
Playa Hermosa on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is situated about 3 miles (5km) south of Jaco and is one of the best surf destinations in the country. Rated 7.9/10 by visitors.
Located on the wild and untamed Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park embodies Costa Rica's most truly splendid wonders. Rated 10.0/10 by visitors.
Three kilometers south of Samara Beach is its sister beach, Carrillo. Rated 8.4/10 by visitors.
Playa Herradura is a small beach located on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, about 3. Rated 8.2/10 by visitors.
Puerto Jiménez might be the best town from which to access Corcovado National Park. Rated 8.1/10 by visitors.
Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya on the Central Pacific Coast. Rated 7.6/10 by visitors.
The Caribbean Coast is home to the beautiful town of Tortuguero and it's National Park. Rated 9.2/10 by visitors.
Just off the beaten track, yet possessing all of the natural beauty of the Central Pacific, Matapalo is an escape from the typical tourist destination. Rated 9.4/10 by visitors.
The small fishing hamlet of Tambor sits not far from Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Rated 8.8/10 by visitors.
Bahia Salinas is located in the far northwestern corner of Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province, near the border with Nicaragua.
Situated on the tip of the Osa Peninsula in southern Costa Rica, the small town of Cabo Matapalo provides visitors with backdoor access into some of the country's most beautiful and least visited places: Corcovado National Park, Golfo Dulce, and Isla del Cano. Rated 10.0/10 by visitors.
Carate is situated along Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast in the wonderfully isolated Osa Peninsula. Rated 9.1/10 by visitors.
Playa Coyote is one of several pristine beaches along the relatively remote shores of the Nicoya Peninsula's southwestern edge.
A long stretch of black sand backed by coconut palms and almond trees forms the idyllic setting for Playa Zancudo.
Playa Bejuco is only about 35km north of Manuel Antonio and about 30 km south from Jaco but the atmosphere could not be more distant from the more popular destinations.
Due north of the surfer's paradise, Santa Teresa, is the rural beach hamlet of Manzanillo, a late comer to tourism that is just now coming into its own.
Playa Negra is a beautiful dark-sand beach famous in the surfing community for its right-hand barrel waves. Rated 8.9/10 by visitors.
A sun worshiper's paradise- with golden sunshine, brilliant sunsets, and breathtaking beaches- the quaint community of Punta Islita makes for an outstanding beach vacation. Rated 9.2/10 by visitors.
Situated within the northwestern reaches of the Guanacaste region, the Golfo de Santa Elena provides visitors with sun-dappled beaches, thriving forests, and a bountiful Pacific Ocean.
Pavones Costa Rica is a small town located in the southern Pacific Zone about 1 1/2 hour drive from Golfito.
Playa Azul is a stunning beach, named for its mile-long stretch of dark, almost cobalt blue sand and azure sea.
Playa Cocles is a small village on the Atlantic Coast south of Puerto Viejo, Limon in the Caribbean lowland Zone.