Best Beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Once you've settled in to our 1-bedroom, ocean-view condo in Playas del Coco, you'll have access to some of the best beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica! Besides the cocoa-colored sands of beautiful Playas del Coco, you'll be near 3 other unique beaches worth visiting. Let's take a look!

Playa Hermosa:
An 8 km drive north, Playa Hermosa is famous for it's black sand that sparkles with a touch of gold, which is rumored to provide healing properties. The calm waters of Playa Hermosa are popular for swimming, as well as scuba diving and snorkeling.

Playa Tamarindo:
About 1.5 hours south, this picturesque, white sand beach is seemingly endless! It's a perfect beach for walking, people watching and beachcombing. Activities available on Playa Tamarindo include surfing, sunset cruises and ATV tours. 

Playa Conchal:
About an hour south, you'll find Playa Conchal and the mega resorts of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. It's perfect for surfers looking to ride the big waves. Plus the abundance of waves means a huge selection of beachcombing shells! Even though Playa Conchal is popular with surfers, it's also a great beach for swimming, snorkeling and deep sea fishing excursions.

For more information on the beaches of Guanacaste, read:
The Beaches of Playas del Coco, Costa Rica!

And remember, you can save big on our condo in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica, during Green Season (April to October), with rates as low as USD $25 per night!!

Pura vida!
Ed & Connie
🌴🐒🍹🐠🐢👙🌴

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Golf & Surf for Charity in Tamarindo, Guanacaste

Only one hour from our brand new ocean view condo in Playas del Coco, trendy Tamarindo offers epic surfing, beaches, golfing, restaurants and shopping.  

And this weekend, March 15 to 18, you can take part in the 14th Annual Robert August Surf n' Turf 2013 charity tournament to benefit local Costa Rican children through Asociacion CEPIA (Culture, Education and Psychology for Infants & Adolescents).

This golf & surf tournament to be held at Witch's Rock Surf Camp promises fun for the four-man teams while incorporating a barbecue lunch, fashion show, silent auction, take home swag bags, sailing tour and a DJ after party.

The entrance fee for the 14th Annual Robert August Surf n' Turf 2013 tournament is $200 per person or $150 for golf only.  For more information, visit Witches Rock Surf Camp and be sure to check out:

• Best North Pacific Coast Surfing in Costa Rica
• Riding the Waves: Surfing in Costa Rica
• Best Beaches in Costa Rica

Pura Vida!

Ed & Connie

Image:

Witches Rock Surf Camp

The Secret Labyrinth of Santa Rosa

If you decide to make the one-hour trip from our brand new ocean view condo in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, down to trendy Tamarindo, we've got a secret to tell you...

Besides the beautiful beach, abundance of shells and shopping, Tamarindo is also home to the biggest labyrinth in the world!  Who knew?!  Just 20-minutes from Tamarindo, La Senda Labyrinth (also known as the Tamarindo Labyrinth) is located in nearby Santa Rosa.

While you'll travel over a bumpy dirt road to get there, the labyrinth was built by Belgian owner, Griet Depypere, in response to the properties natural energy centers. Meandering along the almost 2-mile (3 km) path, visitors are invited to do nothing at all.  The labyrinth allows for quiet meditation as visitors simply soak up the sun and natural beauty of the area.

La Senda Labyrinth admission is free but donations are always welcome!  For more information, visit La Senda Labyrinth and be sure to read about the Best North Pacific Coast Surfing in Costa Rica.

Pura vida!!

Ed & Connie

Sea Turtle Watching in Costa Rica

While there are seemingly endless activities to enjoy in Costa Rica, turtle watching is always a favorite - visitors can view turtles nesting on the beach or spend a day with a volunteer turtle conservation program.

According to the Costa Rica Tourism Board, five of the world's seven species of sea turtles can be found in Costa Rica including Olive Ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Green and Loggerhead.  

From our brand new ocean view one-bedroom condo in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste (El Coco on the map shown), you'll be a short distance from two great turtle watching sites on the Pacific Coast: Playa Nancite in Santa Rosa to the north Playa Grande to the south.  Let's take a closer look!

Playa Nancite

Home to the Nancite Biology Station, visitors to Playa Nancite can view an amazing 5,000 to 8,000 Olive Ridley sea turtles each night during the July to November nesting season.  Only 25 visitor permits are issued each day so be sure to contact the Guanacaste Conservation Area Administration well in advance.

Playa Grande

Just 13 miles north of Tamarindo, Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas at Playa Grande has a concentration of nesting Leatherbacks from mid-October to mid-February that make up half of the entire Leatherback population in the western Pacific.  Reservations to experience Playa Grande turtle watching can be made up to 8 days in advance with public transportation available from as far away as San Jose and Santa Cruz.  

Turtle watching in Costa Rica can also be enjoyed at Curu Wildlife Refuge (Nicoya Peninsula), Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ostional (Playa Nosara), and Playa Camaronal (Nicoya Peninsula).

Volunteer Turtle Conservation Programs in Costa Rica

• Asociacion ANAI
• Earth Island Institute
• Earthwatch Institute
• Save the Turtles
• Sea Turtle Conservancy

For more information, visit Wildlife Viewing in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida!

Ed & Connie

Costa Rica JungleMan Trail Run

With it's starting point in the gorgeous beachside town of Tamarindo, the Costa Rica JungleMan Trail Run is set to place on March 31, 2012.


Locally sponsored by La Ruta Adventures, this world-class race combines a half or full-marathon with the natural beauty of Costa Rica making it the perfect location to attract athletes from around the world.


Participants, including featured racer Dylan Bowman of Aspen, CO, will trek either 5-K or 10-K through inland rainforest as well as the picturesque white sand beaches of Tamarindo.  


The Jungleman Trail Run will be an exciting race for everyone including both runners and watchers alike.  Additional sponsors include Toyota Rent a Car, Powerade and Movistar.


Only two days away, the Costa Rica JungleMan Trail Run is a sporting event not to be missed!!


Trendy Tamarindo is only a one-hour drive away from our spacious one-bedroom condo in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste.  When you're tired of the hustle & bustle you'll find in Tamarindo, head on back to our serene location where you can just relax and enjoy the ocean views from our roof top terrace ;)


Cheers!
Ed & Connie

Ottawa Citizen: Life is a Wave to Ride

Check out this great article on Surfing in Costa Rica by Paula Worthington of PostMedia News:

Best North Pacific Coast Surfing in Costa Rica

Hands down, the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica offers some of the best surfing in Latin America.  From beginners to experienced boarders, there are truly waves for everyone...

• Playa Naranjo (Witch's Rock) - in Santa Rosa National Park, the strongest waves and best surfing happen during December to March
• Potrero Grande (Ollies Point) - depart from Playas del Coco to enjoy these hollow and fast waves
• Playa Tamarindo - an hour south of Playas del Coco, Tamarindo offers two main points for surfing - B-El Estero and Pico Pequeno
• Playa Grande - long boards, short boards, beginner or not, Playa Grande offers that perfect wave for everyone
• Playa Langosta - near Tamarindo, Langosta offers waves created at the mouth of a small river
• Playa Avellanas - just south of Tamarindo, you'll find very hollow waves with a great beach break
• Playa Negra - with some of the fastest waves in Costa Rica, Playa Negra is a true surfer's paradise
• Playa Nosara - on the Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara offers consistent swells with a beach break
• Santa Teresa & Mal Pais - beach breaks, point breaks, surfing competitions, and sometimes pro-surfer Kelly Slater can be found here

For more information, check out Riding the Waves: Surfing in Costa Rica.

Flickr.com Photo Credit:

Nice Ride by JarleNaustvik

Best Beaches in Costa Rica: Nicoya Peninsula

Costa Rica has a wealth of beautiful beaches just waiting for you to arrive!  Offering warm waters, sands ranging from traditional white to sparkling black, tall swaying palms, and nearby attractions - all these add up to offer some of the best beaches in Latin America.

The Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica offers all of the above so let's take a look:

North Nicoya Peninsula 
Near Playas del Coco, there are many beautiful beaches to choose from including the cocoa-colored sands of Coco Beach itself, Playa Panama, Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal, and playas Flamingo, and striking Tamarindo.  Here visitors can enjoy beachcombing, swimming, kitesurfing, snorkelling, scuba diving or just soaking up the warm Costa Rican sun.

Mid Nicoya Penisula
Moving down the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica takes visitors to beaches like Samara, jungle-like Nosaro Beach, and Carillo, all known for their inviting sands and picturesque views.

South Nicoya Peninsula
The southern Nicoya Peninsula offers beautiful beaches like Playa Tambor where deep sea fishing is at it's best, Puntarenas, the funky Bohemian-style Montezuma Beach, and the excellent snorkelling and surfing found at Mal Pais.

No matter what you like to do at the beach, the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica has got it all.

Cheers from Costa Rica!

   

Riding the Waves: Surfing in Costa Rica

Guests who rent our Costa Rica condo in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste, are situated in a prime location to enjoy some of the best water sports in the country including scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing. 

Within Coco itself or just an hour's drive away, you can experience the three best surfing locations that Costa Rica has to offer on the Pacific Coast.  Let's take a look at surfing in Costa Rica:

Playas del Coco - in our sleepy little town of Coco (but not at night!), visitors can take surfing lessons or take in the breaking surf at Ollie's Point or Witch's Rock

Playa Naranjo - close to Witch's Rock & Ollie's Point, but a rough 10-mile 4x4 ride in and no accommodations so it's better to stay and depart from Coco by boat

Tamarindo - offers a great surf just off Playa Tamarindo but it's a bit more expensive to stay and play when it comes to trendy restaurants and accommodations

When is the best time to go surfing in Costa Rica?  The best waves are crashing from March to November while locals tend to skip over October as it's the rainiest month in Guanacaste.

What do you need to bring to go surfing in Costa Rica?  Your board, straps to attach your board to your rental car, a ding kit as they're aren't many board repair shops in the area, and a general first aid kit in the name of being prepared.  According to the locals, generally a wet suit is not required ;)

Cheers from Costa Rica!

Flickr.com Photo Credit: 

High Quality Photos 1600x1200 by bm.iphone

Blue Morpho Butterfly of Costa Rica

Catching a glimpse of these most beautiful butterflies is one of the highlights of any Costa Rican trip.  The electric neon color of the Blue Morpho is almost mesmerizing as they flutter by oh-so-casually seemingly unaware of the excitement they create as they pass.


Many butterflies make their home in Costa Rica, in fact, the countries butterfly population makes up approximately 90% of all Central American butterfly species.  


Costa Rica offers many opportunities for butterfly viewing in the wild plus there are several dedicated Butterfly Gardens.  Visitors to our North Pacific condo in Playas del Coco can enjoy El Bosque Nuevo (The New Forest) near Liberia or at Monkey Park near Tamarindo.


Pura Vida Costa Rica!

Flickr.com Photo Credit: 
Blue Iridecent Butterfly : Morpho menelaus by tibchris