SOUTH GUANACASTE
Diving is becoming more and more popular in Guanacaste, thanks to its excellent dive sites. Sport fishing is another of the Pacific region’s attractions. Artisan and recreational fishing are possible, but of greater interest are the tournaments in which several world billfish records have been broken. The fish are returned to the water after weigh-in.
Playa Lagarto – Playa Pitahaya
Lagarto is distinguished by its artisan-fishing activities. Though beautiful, this stretch of coast offers few services for tourists. Toward the south are beaches such as El Coco, Marbella and Pitahaya, where visitors can walk and swim in the ocean. At the north end of this stretch, Playa Pitahaya features an attractive cove. Surfers like these beaches for their waves.
Playa Azul
Playa Azul has strong surf and blue waters. Its midsection (to the north) features a rocky promontory (Punta Eriza) from which visitors can enjoy an extensive, breathtaking view of the entire coast stretching from the north to Punta Trinidad (San Juanillo) in the south. The beach is suitable for walking and observing the scenery. Caution is advised when swimming, especially in the southern part of the beach.
Playa Pleito and Playa San Juanillo
Lush with coastal greenery, these beautiful, small coves are connected by a rocky platform that joins Punta Trinidad and Punta Pleito to the north. Playa Pleito features a lovely bend at its south end that is ideal for swimming. San Juanillo’s special feature is a beautiful point (Trinidad) made up of a tongue of fine sand that forms a cove with little surf to the north and stretches a hundred meters to the south, there forming the cove of Playa Cocal.
Playa Ostional
Long and wide with strong surf, this beach joins Playa Nosara in the south, from which it is separated by Punta División. Ostional enjoys worldwide prestige, because it is here and in Nancite (in Santa Rosa National Park) that the largest number of olive ridley turtles come to nest, especially from July to November. For this reason, Ostional and the entire coast southward to Punta Guiones are included in the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. The most scenic part of the beach is the rocky coast toward the north.
Playa Nosara
This beach features a lovely estuary and a large mangrove swamp (Río Nosara) that can be toured by boat or kayak to observe the vegetation and wildlife, especially birds. Nosara offers horseback-riding and kayaking tours.
Playa Pelada
Great for walks, Pelada features a rocky point that offers a gorgeous panoramic view. Visitors enjoy horseback riding, sunbathing, sport fishing and snorkeling.
Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones is great for walking, horseback riding and sunbathing and has good waves for surfing.
Playa Garza
Set in a beautiful bay with moderate surf, this beach features an estuary to the south, where the Río Garza empties to form a mangrove swamp. Garza offers sunbathing, swimming, walking and sport-fishing tours.
Playa Barco Quebrado
This beach is set in a beautiful cove with moderate surf. Surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs that give it special appeal, Barco Quebrado is perfect for swimming and observing the surrounding landscape.
Playa Buena Vista
Playa Buena Vista is a large beach with moderate surf and lush vegetation. The beach is ideal for sunbathing and walking. Some parts of the shoreline feature sharp drop-offs. Trips on ultra-light planes are organized from these spots.
Playa Samara
Samara features moderate surf, mangrove swamps and coastal greenery. Near the center of the beach stands an enormous old strangler fig that is one of Sámara’s hallmarks. The beach offers sunbathing, walking, horseback riding, swimming, mountain biking and boat or kayak trips.
Playa Carrillo
Swimming is very safe, especially on the south end, where a large number of coconut palms provide shade. Carrillo is also great for sunbathing and walking. Surrounding this point is a very safe bay for anchoring artisan- and sport-fishing boats.
Playa Camaronal
This large, open beach has moderate to strong surf. Known as a nesting site for giant leatherback and olive ridley turtles, Camaronal features a wildlife refuge. It’s also great for camping and fishing.
Playa Islita
Shaped in a half-moon, this cove with little surf owes its name to the little rocky island next to Punta Islita at the northeast end of the bay. Besides swimming and sunbathing, activities include walking, horseback riding, four-by-four and quadracycle tours, mountain biking and boat trips for fishing and diving.
Playa Corozalito
This small beach features a wide estuary and a mangrove swamp, excellent for observing flora and fauna. Tourists frequent the beach on horseback.
Playa Bejuco
A very large beach with moderate to strong surf, Bejuco has an extensive mangrove swamp that stretches to the mouth of the Río Bejuco. Near the south end lies Punta Bejuco, which lends even greater scenic beauty to this popular surfing beach.
Playas San Miguel Y Coyote
The access road leading to these two beaches runs over San Miguel hill in the north, offering an impressive view of the open coast. Though the two beaches make up the same stretch of coast, they are separated by the Jabilla mouth and estuary, home to a large mangrove swamp. The surf on these beaches is strong and continuous. San Miguel is three kilometers long, while Coyote stretches almost five kilometers to the estuary of the same name. This area is great for boat trips, relaxation, sea gazing, walking and horseback riding, as well as observing the plant and animal life of the mangrove swamps.
Playa Bongo
South of Coyote, Playa Bongo is a long, open beach that stretches several kilometers. Near the north end is an area called Caletas that is great for surfing. Five kilometers south of here lie the mouth and estuary of the Río Bongo, which marks the border between the Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces. Some three kilometers further south is Playa Manzanillo, a beautiful beach lush with vegetation. Visitors can rent horses, walk on the beach, enjoy the ocean, take boat trips, kayak and camp.
Playa Pochote
South of Manzanillo lies Punta Pochote, which features a small rocky cove, profuse vegetation and beautiful scenery. The beach is good for walking, enjoying the ocean and sunbathing.