Best Beaches In Costa Rica

Tucked between the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, the expansive shoreline makes each beach in Costa Rica different from the next, each with its unique personality. If you consider yourself an avid beach goer and find yourself lazing by the beach any chance you get, you absolutely cannot miss the beaches in Costa Rica. With white sand, palm trees, black volcanic sand, and rugged coves surrounded by tropical rainforests, Costa Rica is the place to go.

You might not know where to start with so many beaches to explore. In this helpful guide, we’ll talk you through the must-visit beaches in Costa Rica, whether you’re after the perfect beaches for surfing or to relax and soak up some sun.

Must-visit beaches in Costa Rica

Although exciting, traveling to a new place can be stressful if you’re unsure where to start. If you’re about to start planning your trip to Costa Rica, you’ll find this list of must-visit beaches helpful in planning your days ahead! From the surfing beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula’s Guanacaste province in the North to the Southern Caribbean Puntarenas Province, there are many incredible places to explore. These include:

• Manuel Antonio Beach, Manuel Antonio National Park — One of the most popular destinations in the country, it borders the Manuel Antonio National Park — a coastal rainforest in Costa Rica booming with wildlife. If you enjoy a hike filled with incredible views, you can’t miss the 30-minute hiking trail that extends from the park’s entrance to Manuel Antonio Beach. Discover the country’s wildlife and finish off with a dip in the beautiful ocean water.
• Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste — Nicoya Peninsula’s Guanacaste province is home to Tamarindo Beach, a surfing beach ideal for beginner surfers and seasoned pros alike. With a variety of local resorts to choose from and plenty of nearby exotic restaurants, you’ll have everything you need in the happening town of Tamarindo.
• Jaco Beach, Puntarenas Province — The focal point of the Central Pacific Coast, Jaco Beach is the closest beach to San José in Puntarenas. With an incredible selection of restaurants, hotels, lounges, and clubs, and some of the most amazing waves in the country, Jaco Beach is perfect for party goers seeking the ideal combination of the surf, shops, and nightlife.
• Costa Ballena (Whale Coast), South Pacific — For a trip to remember, you can’t miss the famous Whale Coast of Costa Ballena. The coastal treasures of Uvita Beach and Hermosa Beach comprise the border, creating the shape of the “Whale’s Tail” on Punta Uvita in Marino Ballena National Park. Humpback whales return to this beautiful location every year — southern hemisphere humpbacks from July through November, and northern hemisphere humpbacks from December through March. Book a whale-watching tour, and rent some snorkel gear, kayaks, or paddleboards to make the most of it!
• Punta Uva Beach, Southern Caribbean Coast — If you’re looking for a relaxing beach to sit back and enjoy with your loved ones, Punta Uva Beach on the Southern Caribbean Coast is the perfect destination. Located within the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, its dense jungle is home to native monkeys, sloths, and bird species. Its calm waters are perfect for snorkeling and ideal for families with small children.
• Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limon Province — Picture this: a relaxing holiday sipping coconuts on deserted beaches, spotting native wildlife, trying the raw chocolate the town is famous for, and enjoying a lazy brunch at a local cafe, watching the sunrise. Soak up the Caribbean Costa Rican vibe at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. From the local Jaguar Rescue Center that offers fun, educational tours to Cahuita National Park — electric bikes are available to rent, so you can explore the relaxed town.

The beaches around Dominical — where we surf

We’re biased, but the stretch of coastline around Dominical on the south Pacific is some of the most beautiful and uncrowded in Costa Rica. These are the beaches our coaches take guests to every day, and each has its own character:

Playa Linda is our main surf break — over 2 km of open beach with consistent waves and almost nobody on it. This is where most of our coaching sessions happen, and where the majority of our guests catch their first green wave. It’s the kind of beach that travel magazines photograph but tourists rarely find.

Playa Hermosa (the Dominical one — there are several Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica) is a long, beautiful stretch about 25–30 minutes from the resort. At lower tides it’s excellent for all levels. At higher tides, backwash from the steep shore can make it trickier — which is why having coaches who know the daily conditions matters.

Dominicalito is a smaller cove that only works on bigger swells, with rocks at the edges. When it’s on, it’s a beautiful wave. Our coaches will take more experienced surfers here when conditions line up.

Playa Dominical itself — the town beach — is powerful and can be dangerous for swimmers. We don’t coach there out of respect for the local surfers who call it their home break, but it’s worth watching the locals surf it if you’re in town.

Further south, Playa Ventanas is known for its rock formations and sea caves, and Uvita Beach inside Marino Ballena National Park has the famous whale tail sandbar — a beautiful spot for a beach day on your Wednesday off.

For the full breakdown of each break, including tides and conditions, see our local surf guide to Dominical.

Book your next Costa Rica vacation with Kalon Surf

Kalon Surf is an all-inclusive surf resort perched at 1,200 feet with ocean views, jungle surroundings, and sunsets over the Pacific. We’re located in the hills above Dominical — a short drive from the beaches above and a 3-hour scenic transfer from San José airport (included in your stay).

We specialize in surf coaching for all levels — our coaches will help you or your loved ones build confidence and learn to surf, no matter your experience. After all, what better place to learn than on some of the most uncrowded beaches in the country?

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