There’s so much to see, do, and experience in Costa Rica that the biggest planning challenge can be narrowing down your options. Nowhere is this quite so evident than when you’re selecting the beaches in Guanacaste that you’d like to visit.
Thanks to Costa Rica’s volcanic origins, the country’s 800 miles of coastline does not unroll as a single strip of sand. Instead, Mother Nature treats us to cliffs and hills and outcroppings – all scenic, all stopgaps between one beach and the next. The result is a string of many hundreds of small beaches, some measuring just a few hundred yards and others stretching for miles.
You’ll have to choose which of these beaches in Guanacaste you’d like to visit. To help, we’ve rounded up a dozen of our favorites. From south to north:
Playa Lagartillo
Shh, don’t tell, but Playa Largartillo is an underhyped king of the coast! Just a few minutes from Hacienda Pinilla (you can walk from Avellanas; just head south!), this secluded beach is considered crowded when there are more than just a few people here. And that means you have a decent shot at being one of the only people on the beach. There’s joy in just that!
But it’s more than that. Because Playa Lagartillo is home to soft, cinnamon-hued sands that melt into deep blue waters. The coast is lined with shade trees, hermit crabs scuttle here and there, and the rocky coast reveals itself for discovery, come low tide.
Playa Avellanas
Located right here in Hacienda Pinilla, home to our spectacular Beach Club, and widely considered one of the best beaches in Central America, Playa Avellanas is a popular choice for both surfers and beach lovers.
When you think Avellanas, think surf swells first. That is, after all, the beach’s claim to fame: waves that climb as tall as 18 feet (during the best conditions) and that, even on calmer days, almost never fail to churn up a challenge. All that promised, this lovely beach is also a bastion for sandy strolls, seafoam frolicking, and lounging beneath the sand-side shade.
Playa Mansita
The third and quietest beach at Hacienda Pinilla, Playa Mansita offers the community a tranquil spot for relaxation, any time of day. Take a stroll. Pull up a chair. Dig your toes into the sand. And just enjoy the view.
Come low tide, though, you’ll witness Playa Mansita’s claim to fame: the ocean floor’s porous rocks reveal themselves, forming tide pools and ocean paths that make you feel like you’re walking on water. Head out and look down to observe an entire ocean world – crabs, fish, and more – swimming in these sun-splashed pools.
Playa Langosta
Hacienda Pinilla’s spectacular beaches include Langosta, Mansita, and Avellanas.
Another of Hacienda Pinilla’s famous trio of beaches, Playa Langosta is perhaps the most well-known. That’s because this stretch of white sands, rocky outcroppings, and consistent surf extends from just south of Tamarindo, through the Playa Langosta community, and down into the stronghold of Hacienda Pinilla.
And oh, what an addition to our shores! Home to laid-back beach vibes, Playa Langosta is a tree-lined and scenic spot where towering Guanacaste trees cozy up to the coast and tide pools emerge when the weaves ebb. It’s also here that every night, the ideal conditions seem to converge to create breathtaking, heart-pounding sunsets. This is the kind of place that invented “a day at the beach.”
Playa Tamarindo
The beach that gave a place its name! Famous Playa Tamarindo, also known as Tamarindo Beach, literally put our region on the map. Why? Well, for its world-famous surf!
For here, cozied up to pillowed white sands and a tree-lined coast, Playa Tamarindo drops some serious waves – that’s everything from baby to gargantuan – onto its coastline. As it stretches for a couple of miles, there’s quite a lot of coastline to cover. And that means that there are so many slivers of scenic paradise to explore: if one wave is too big and one wave is too small, like Goldilocks, you’ll eventually find your sweet spot.
Note: A few stretches of Tamarindo Beach are also safe for swimming. The rule of thumb is to look for where lots of swimmers are and always ask a local surfer about the day’s conditions!
Playa Grande
If you go to Playa Tamarindo, then you should go to Playa Grande. Because here, at the north end, just an estuary separates Tamarindo from Playa Grande. It’s a $1, 1-minute ride and it is so worth it. (And do take the estuary ferry, or drive, as the estuary and river are home to crocodiles.)
Once you reach the other side, Playa Grande unfolds over Las Baulas National Marine Park, one of the world’s most important leatherback sea turtle nesting sites. (A big deal, given that these sea giants are endangered.) This protected beach is also a favorite for beach-goers, who stroll its expansive coast, sunbathe, surf-watch, and enjoy a day on the sand.
Playa Ventanas
Sitting just north of Playa Grande and well ensconced within Las Baulas National Marine Park (so named for the leatherback sea turtles that nest here), Playa Ventanas offers a “window” (= ventana) toward Tamarindo and into some of our area’s most postcard-perfect scenery. (Although don’t confuse this Playa Ventanas for the Playa Ventanas of the southern Pacific; that one’s famed for its caves.)
Our Playa Ventanas treats you to soft, almost-white sands, tide pools, and sweeping views that extend down the coast. What’s more, thanks to its sheltered position, Playa Ventanas is also an excellent swimming beach (always check conditions, though!). And, as it’s also part of the national marine park, this special spot welcomes a host of wildlife, from the aforementioned leatherbacks to crabs, monkeys, and waterbirds.
Playa Carbón
When you’re in the mood for something a little different – something a little eye-catching – then we highly recommend a trek to Playa Carbón, or Charcoal Beach. Instead of Costa Rica’s typical sand-color trio (white, cinnamon, and pink), here you’ll find something entirely different.
Just a short and secluded stroll from Playa Ventanas (depending on the day, you may be one of the few on the beach!), you’ll come upon this black-sand beach, streaked by only the occasional flash of pure white. If you’re wondering what kind of alchemy has unrolled at your feet, know this: Playa Carbón’s vivid and unique coloring comes courtesy of Costa Rica’s volcanic origins, which have left deposits of magnetic iron oxide offshore. As it washes in, voilà!
Playa Piratas
Arrr, mateys! This is the beach you’ve been looking for. Known as Bahía de los Piratas, or Pirate’s Cove, Playa Piratas is little known but well deserving of a visit. Because, while you may not find pirates on these sands, you will find sheltered swimming waters, cinnamon sands, and coastal islands that scatter your view.
Even better, this sweet little beach is often deserted (or nearly so). On a good day, you’ll have its entire length and all its gentle waters to splash, play, and enjoy for yourself.
Playa Minas
If we tell you a secret, will you keep it? Here goes: Though you won’t find it on your GPS, Playa Minas is one of the best beaches in Guanacaste: sun-kissed sand, soft coastline, beautiful views, and sea breezes make it so!
But, you’ll have to know how to get there. And here’s the secret: On maps, this beauty is named Playa Zapotillal. What’s more, you’ll need (or at least, strongly desire) a 4×4 or high-clearance car rental to take you down the bumpy road. But when you get there, you’ll be rewarded by a could-be-private, spectacular corner of Costa Rica that few tourists rarely see. Note that Playa Minas has rough surf, so plan to stroll, not swim!
Playa Conchal
Though it’s about a 45-minute drive from Hacienda Pinilla, we can’t create a list of the best beaches in Guanacaste without mentioning Playa Conchal, perhaps the most famous beach in Costa Rica.
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, know this: Playa Conchal glows pink in the sunlight, thanks to the millions of crushed seashells that cover its coast. Though the effect is a little more rosé than a rose bouquet, and while the panorama changes depending on the sun, it’s always to gorgeous effect. Add to that calm swimming waters and decent snorkeling conditions, and it’s easy to see why this is such a popular beach.
Sugar Beach
Its Spanish name is Playa Pan de Azúcar, or Sugarloaf Beach, but most call it just “Sugar Beach.” Any way you slice it, though, this strip of sand offers a sweet spot to beat the heat and spend some quality time with your toes buried in the sand.
As you can access Sugar Beach via the trail from Playa Prieta, you’ll find that this is one of the least traveled beaches in Guanacaste. And that means that, on any given day, you may find yourself alone with the Pacific. That can be a wonderful thing, when it’s accompanied by sugar-soft sands and gorgeous scenery, especially as viewed from Mirador Playa Prieta, the scenic viewpoint from the trail.
Casa Leon
8 Beds | 8 Baths | 16 Guests
Just steps to the beach and Hacienda Pinilla’s luxury Beach Club, Casa Leon is a hidden treasure that promises a world of extraordinary promise and unfettered joy.
A perfect home for large families, groups, and friends traveling together, this special villa offers all the luxury amenities you’d expect: a private pool, gourmet kitchen, expansive interiors, indoor-outdoor living, and walls of glass.
Pair that with daily breakfast preparation and Hacienda Pinilla’s arguably best location – literal steps to the sand and, from there, a 60-yard stroll to the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club – and it’s easy to see why Casa Leon is an easy favorite for beach lovers, surfers, and anyone who loves to walk the beach at sunset.
>> Book Casa Leon<<
Casa Costa Blanca
7 Beds | 7 Baths | 24 Guests
Craving a hefty dose of Vitamin Sea? Welcome to beachfront Casa Costa Blanca: a luxury vacation home located at the edge of sea and sky, infused with the energy of the Pacific and warmed by golden rays of sun.
Welcome to “the life.” You know – that one you always dreamed. Casa Costa Blanca is home to two master suites, a separate casita, an expansive infinity pool, a sun-splashed and ocean-view terrace, and a heated Jazzuzi. And then there’s the palm-thatched outdoor living area, the outdoor rancho with barbecue, double living rooms, and some of the best ocean views in the country.
Your in-house “vacation mom” pulls the entire experience together with cocktail preparation, daily breakfast and lunch, housekeeping and laundry service. Proof positive that you can have it all, if only for as long as your stay at Casa Costa Blanca.
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Free Concierge Services with Your Vacation Home
We know it’s a hard job, but someone had to trek to dozens of beaches in Guanacaste to decide on a few must-visits. And hey, if it has to be us… well, we accept! Because here at Luxury Villas Pinilla, it’s our job to know Hacienda Pinilla and our surrounding area. And we know a lot!
The question is, did you know that, when you reserve your Hacienda Pinilla vacation home with us, you gain access to our full concierge services? And by that, we mean an on-the-ground expert whose job is to explore, engage, and do everything. Cris knows her national parks in Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
When you book with us, we’ll get in touch to help you plan all the details of your stay. Our job is to get to know you, so we can help you plan the trip of your dreams. Whether you just need help arranging transportation or would like a full itinerary – everything from your airport shuttle to a full trip’s worth of activities, private chef services, and golf cart rental – we’re happy to help.
Even better, our concierge services are always free. So, why wait? Get in touch and let’s get started!