Off the Beaten Path
Costa Rica is home to over 300 beaches and hundreds of communities, many of which are far from the tourist pathways most visitors choose to explore. These off the beaten path destinations offer beautiful views, interesting sites, and welcoming hosts. Some are a challenge to get to, while others are just around the corner from the main travel routes.
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San Gerardo de Dota
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A haven for birdwatchers and hikers awaits visitors around the town of San Gerardo de Dota, huddled up against the roaring Talamanca Mountain Range. Nestled in the Savegre River Valley, tourism hasn’t quite hit this quaint settlement which provides quick access to the recently named Los Quetzales National Park.
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Cabo Matapalo
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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
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Golfo de Santa Elena
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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. The small fishing village of Cuajiniquil is the largest population center nearby, meaning that a trip here is sure to be both tranquil and secluded.
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Uvita
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For a less crowded beach vacation, Uvita may be the ideal location. Sitting 11 miles (17 km) south of Dominical along Coastal Highway 34 (Costanera Sur), this tropical hamlet possesses great charm in an unspoiled, serene atmosphere. With palm trees swaying in the wind, providing shady relief from the intense Pacific sun, it may seem surreal that this environment is as uncorrupted as it is. It won’t stay like this forever though, conditions will one day change and the secret of the Bahía Ballena will be out.
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Sarapiqui
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Surrounded by lush green forests and banana plantations, this main city was once just a small port town. Located at the junction of the Puerto Viejo River (Río Puerto Viejo) and Sarapiquí River (Río Sarapiquí), this growing area is quickly becoming a main destination for adventure-seeking tourists and nature enthusiasts. And for good reason as this area has soo much to offer.
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Bahia Salinas
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Bahia Salinas is located in the far northwestern corner of Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province, near the border with Nicaragua. It is a remote and often windswept destination with scenic bay views and charming, untouched beaches. It is a relaxing place to experience rural Costa Rica and nature, and it can be a thrilling location for world-class wind surfing and kite boarding.
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Cahuita
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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. Only 27 miles (43 km) south of Puerto Limón, Cahuita is an easy drive down Highway 36 along the Caribbean coast, despite a few potholes here and there. It is assuredly a must-see destination for visitors already in the Limón Province. This village is a hit amongst the young and free-spirited, or those simply seeking the easy life for a few days.
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Carate
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Carate is situated along Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast in the wonderfully isolated Osa Peninsula. Lying about 50 km south of Drake Bay, right next to the lush Corcovado National Park, Carate is off the grid for most tourists, and as such is one of the country's most pristine natural areas.
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Tenorio Volcano Area
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The Tenorio Volcano area is located in northern highlands along Guanacaste's eastern border with the Alajuela Province. With many rivers, waterfalls, dense dry tropical forests, rainforests, and primary cloud forests, the area hosts an abundance of wildlife, and it is an excellent location for a combination of exploration and relaxation. The scenic Tenorio Volcano, which stands 6,287 feet tall, is considered dormant. Yet the surrounding terrain is dotted with geothermal activity in the form of thermal hot springs and geysers. The area is perhaps best known for the mystical Rio Celeste, a fascinating river with a unique and strange blue hue, g
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Playa Brasilito
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Nestled along parts of Guanacaste’s most lovely coastline is Brasilito Beach, a sprawling grey-sand beach and charming town. This hamlet is substantially less developed and visited than the neighboring Conchal and Flamingo Beaches, but is an ideal getaway spot for vacationers seeking a low key destination with plenty of local flair.
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Playa Bejuco
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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. The beach is pristine and clean with a Blue Flag rating, is a popular nesting area for birds and even has some pretty good surf from time to time.
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Playa Zancudo
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A long stretch of black sand backed by coconut palms and almond trees forms the idyllic setting for Playa Zancudo. Located along the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Golfo Dulce, Playa Zancudo is a beautiful and untouched area that sees significantly fewer tourists than other parts of the country. The atmosphere here is laid-back, and a variety of activities ensures that visitors will be occupied as much (or as little) as they'd like to be.
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