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Beach Photos – Nicoya

The Nicoya peninsula is famous for nearly deserted beaches and excellent surf.  The pavement and bridges are slowly creeping south from Tamarindo, north from Paquera and expanding in the middle by Samára but there are still plenty of remote spots where the rivers are too high to ford in the rainy season and you may need 4WD even in the dry months.

Ostional is famous for the arribadas of nesting Olive Ridley turtles and the surf is legendary from Tamarindo, Negra and Avellanas in the north to Santa Teresa in the south.

Click on the thumbnails for a more detailed description, location and larger images.

Playa Avellanas (south of Tamarindo, north of Negra)
Playa Avellanas
Horses waiting while their riders have a beer. Playa Negra (south of Tamarindo)
Horses waiting while their riders have a beer. Playa Negra (south of Tamarindo)
View from Cerro Lagarta north to the Río Nosara and Playa Nosara
View from Cerro Lagarta north to the Río Nosara and Playa Nosara
Stand Up Paddle Boarding Playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast
Stand Up Paddle Boarding Playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast
From Punta India across an un-named beach towards Punta Rayo with Ostional and Nosara fading into the background
From Punta India across an un-named beach towards Punta Rayo with Ostional and Nosara fading into the background
Suzy on Playa Cuevas Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco)
Suzy on Playa Cuevas Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco)
My favorite chair
My favorite chair
Sea kayaking in the bay in front of playa Carrillo, central Nicoya peninsula
Sea kayaking in the bay in front of playa Carrillo, central Nicoya peninsula
Playa Montezuma, east coast of the Nicoya peninsula near the tip
Playa Montezuma, east coast of the Nicoya peninsula just north of the tip (Cabo Blanco) on the east side
Vendors and fishing boats near Olga's on Playa Pelada
Vendors and fishing boats near Olga’s on Playa Pelada
Playa Carrillo south of Samara on the central Nicoya peninsula Pacific facing coast. Many people say this is the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica
Playa Carrillo south of Samara on the central Nicoya peninsula Pacific facing coast. Many people say this is the most beautiful beach in Costa Rica
Boats off Tamarindo
Boats off Tamarindo beach
Playa Langosta Marino Las Baulas National Park
Playa Langosta Marino Las Baulas National Park
Playa Cabo Blanco
Playa Cabo Blanco
Playa Negra (south of Tamarindo)
Playa Negra (south of Tamarindo)
Do you prefer fresh water or salt water this afternoon?
Do you prefer fresh water or salt water this afternoon?
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Tamarindo
It's easy to see how the white point got its name when looking down Playa Cabo Blanco
It’s easy to see how the white point got its name when looking down Playa Cabo Blanco
Playa Langosta meets Playa Tamarindo at the point
Playa Langosta meets Playa Tamarindo at the point
Playa at Punta Islita
Playa at Punta Islita
Trying out a new Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) in the surf
Trying out a new Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) in the surf
Unique sand ridges along the edge of Estero Coyote under rain clouds, central Nicoya penisula
Unique sand ridges along the edge of Estero Coyote under rain clouds, central Nicoya penisula
Playa Pelada is beautiful to look at and while there is a surfable wave here it's best left to the experts because the bay is littered with rock outcroppings and hidden reefs. Swimmers should be cautious of vicious beach breaks at high tide.
Playa Pelada is beautiful to look at and while there is a surfable wave here it’s best left to the experts because the bay is littered with rock outcroppings and hidden reefs. Swimmers should be cautious of vicious beach breaks at high tide.
Playa Mal Pais, southern Nicoya peninsula
Playa Mal Pais is a popular surfing destination on the southern Nicoya peninsula
Playa Caletas
Playa Caletas
Pair of wood storks hunting crabs on the shore near Mal País
Pair of wood storks hunting crabs on the shore near Mal País
Sue boogie boarding on Playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast
Sue boogie boarding on Playa San Miguel
Playa Garza south of Guiones and Nosara
Playa Garza south of Guiones and Nosara
Punta Islita cemetery
Punta Islita cemetery – when you gotta go this wouldn’t be bad final resting place
Playa Cabo Blanco
Playa Cabo Blanco
The actual Playa Nosara is much less visited than playa Guiones (which many people call playa Nosara) to the south
The actual Playa Nosara is much less visited than playa Guiones (which many people call playa Nosara) to the south
This late comer was headed ashore after sunrise when nearly all of her companions had already headed back. We watched her for about an hour as she made her way up to the high tide mark, scratched around in the sand, changed her mind and headed back to the water
Wrong way turtle – This late comer was headed ashore after sunrise when nearly all of her companions had already headed back. We watched her for about an hour as she made her way up to the high tide mark, scratched around in the sand, changed her mind and headed back to the water
Playa San Miguel
Playa San Miguel
Packing up or spreading out? On playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast
Packing up or spreading out? On playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast
Playa San Miguel SUP
Playa San Miguel SUP
Costa Rica...Pura Vida...Costa Rica...Pura Vida the signs are the mantra on the boardwalk downtown Tamarindo Beach
Costa Rica…Pura Vida…Costa Rica…Pura Vida the signs are the mantra on the boardwalk downtown Tamarindo Beach
Access on the western side of Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco) is restricted to the tiny but strikingly beautiful Playa Cuevas. There are no public trails from this entrance.
Access on the western side of Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco) is restricted to the tiny but strikingly beautiful Playa Cuevas. There are no public trails from this entrance.
Playa Manzanillo
Playa Manzanillo
Boogie boarding in the whitewater. In front of Sand Dollar Cove, Playa San Miguel central Nicoya Peninsula
Boogie boarding in the whitewater. In front of Sand Dollar Cove, Playa San Miguel central Nicoya Peninsula
Boca Nosara and Playa Ostional from Cerro Lagarto above Guiones
Boca Nosara and Playa Ostional from Cerro Lagarto above Guiones
Sunrise reflected on the water, as a turtle returns to the Pacific Playa Ostional
Sunrise reflected on the water, as a turtle returns to the Pacific Playa Ostional
Playa Camaronal south of Samara on the central Nicoya peninsula is both a famous surf break and an important wildlife reserve and turtle nesting site
Playa Camaronal south of Samara on the central Nicoya peninsula is both a famous surf break and an important wildlife reserve and turtle nesting site
Playa Manzanillo, southern Nicoya peninsula
Playa Manzanillo, southern Nicoya peninsula
Jabilla estuary is a warm stream of fresh water between playa San Miguel and Playa Coyote on the central Nicoya peninsula
Jabilla estuary is a warm stream of fresh water between playa San Miguel and Playa Coyote on the central Nicoya peninsula
Playa Avellanas when the surf is calm. Nicoya (south of Tamarindo)
Playa Avellanas when the surf is calm. Nicoya (south of Tamarindo)
Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle nesting on Playa Ostional
Protecting nesting sea turtles is a popular volunteer action – Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtle nesting on Playa Ostional

Ray & Sue

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