Costa Rica is a land full of magnificent waterfalls, breath-taking landscapes, and heart-pounding adventure opportunities. When visiting Costa Rica it may be hard to decide what exactly you want to spend your time doing. Whether you choose to fly through the rainforest canopies on a zipline or be entranced by hiking through the lush forests, it is easy to say that after a long day of adventuring and experiencing all that the country has to offer, the perfect thing to do is to pick a plot of sand and relax by the water with a drink in your hand. There are many beautiful beaches to relax on, and it may be a difficult decision to pick which one you like best, but here is a list of the top five beaches to visit when you are in Costa Rica next!

Playa Conchal

The first beach that you must visit when you are in Costa Rica is Playa Conchal. Playa Conchal is located in the Guanacaste region and is any beach lover’s paradise. The calm turquoise water is not a top choice for anyone looking to surf, but if you like snorkeling just off-shore, this is a wonderful choice. The white shell covered beach may tempt you into planning your next adventure and wondering when the best time to visit is, but luckily, this area is sunny almost year-round and is on the list for a reason. Make sure to add Playa Conchal to your Costa Rican beach bucket list.

Playa Flamingo

The next beach on the list, Playa Flamingo, is also located in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica and is just north of Playa Conchal. This crescent-shaped beach gets its name from the slightly pink hue that the sand has. Playa Flamingo is a perfect beach for anyone who wants to visit but staying nearby costs a pretty penny! With a number of water activities including fishing, snorkeling, and diving; calm water; and a number of restaurants and resorts lining the beachside, Playa Flamingo is a definite winner and has earned its spot as one of the top five beaches to visit in Costa Rica!  

Manuel Antonio Beach

Number three on the list of top beaches in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio Beach and is located inside of Manuel Antonio National Park. This beach is not only on our list of top beaches, but it is also one of the most popular beaches in the country! The beach is extremely family-friendly thanks to the calm water and because of the protection of the national park, you may even get the opportunity to see a slow-moving sloth, a green iguana, or even a white-faced monkey as you relax on one of the top beaches in Costa Rica!

Playa Manzanillo

Next on the list of beaches is Playa Manzanillo. Unlike the Manuel Antonio Beach, which is a very popular and highly sought-after beach, Playa Manzanillo is in a remote location and is not as prevalent on tourist agendas. This beach is already not as popular as most other beaches in Costa Rica, but if you visit in the months of September or October, you are likely to have a relaxed and calm beach vacation with minimal amounts of people because these are the least touristy months for this area. If the minimal crowds are not convincing enough that this beach has earned a spot in the top five beaches to visit in Costa Rica, then maybe the coral reefs, local manatees and dolphins, or the tropical rainforest backdrop will do the trick!

Costa Ballena

The fifth and final beach on the list of top beaches in Costa Rica is Costa Ballena or Whale Coast. This beach is located in Punta Uvita’s Marino Ballena National Park. This beach has been aptly named for two reasons. The first is that there is a sandbar just offshore of this beautiful beach that is shaped like and resembles a whale’s tail. The second reason that this beach is aptly named is that if you choose to visit this beach between August and October or December and April, you are more than likely to see quite a few humpback whales as they migrate through the area. Not only is Costa Ballena a wonderful adventure for those that love whales, but this beach and the national park are also home to nesting sea turtles that call the beach home from May to November. Be sure to bring your binoculars and your camera when your next adventure to this animal lover’s dream beach!

All of these spectacular beaches have something incredible to offer those that choose to visit them. These beaches harbor adventures that are meant to be taken and warm sand that is meant to be laid on. Let Acanela help you book your next trip to Costa Rica and make your dreams of laying on a beach become a reality!

Post written by Jaide Matson