Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Costa Rica is known for la Pura Vida, or the pure life.

Spend just a few minutes here, and you will find that no one seems to be in a particular rush, smiles are common, and your most difficult challenge of the day might be trying to decide between beaches. It’s a hard life, but someone has to live it.

The good news is that you have plenty of options, and many of the beaches in Costa Rica are even free. Below is a sampling of some of the most well-known beaches to assist you in finding that little slice of paradise that is most appealing to you.

North Pacific Coast Beaches

Easily the most visited region in Costa Rica, the North Pacific Coast is well-known for its parties and surfing beaches. Some of the best beaches to consider along the North Pacific Coast include:

Playa Grande: This is one of the quieter beaches, but it also is one of the best surfing spots in the area.

Playa Del Coco: If you’re looking for a quiet beach that is ideal for swimming and relaxing, this is it.

Playa Negra: Experienced surfers love this beach.

Playa Avellanas: Located south of Tamarindo, this beach boasts beautiful white sand and is great for swimming.

Playa Tamarindo: While this beach is great for surfing, it does tend to be quite expensive.

The Nicoya Peninsula

This region is not as easy to access, but the beautiful beaches here make it well worth the effort.

Playa Hermosa: It can be difficult to reach this beach without a vehicle, but if you can catch a ride, it’s a great beach to visit and easily lives up to its name, which means beautiful in Spanish.

Santa Teresa Beach: Here, you will find some of the most beautiful sunsets in the country and world-class surfing.

Mai Pais: Beginners will find the waves here to be great for surfing, while the party atmosphere offers a great time even if you’re not into surfing.

Playa Samara: Offering the ideal blend of liveliness and relaxation, this beach has everything you could possibly desire.

Montezuma: It may be tiny, but this sleepy little beach actually has four different beaches to discover as well as waterfalls and yoga retreats.

The Magnificent Beaches On The South Pacific Coast.

Along the South Pacific Coast, you will find many beautiful beaches to enjoy and call me biased, but these are my favorites.

Manuel Antonio: Popular with tourists, this beach is a national park and is an experience that should not be missed, but expect it to be crowded.

Jaco: Recognized as a surf beach, Jaco has a tendency to be touristy, but if you’re looking for great surfing conditions, this could be the ideal choice.

Uvita: When you’re looking to get away from the tourist traps, Uvita’s relaxed atmosphere and secluded beaches are a warm welcome.

Playa Dominical: Boasting surfing that is great for all levels, Playa Dominical also has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.

Pavones: Pavones is a hidden gem with one of the second longest left hand break in the world. A must for any avid surfer or beachgoer. I find myself escaping to this spot at least once a month.

Caribbean Coast

Puerto Viejo: Here, you will find some of the biggest waves in Costa Rica along with fewer crowds, breathtaking sunrises, and wonderful blend of relaxed liveliness.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.