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)

View from Cerro Lagarta north to the Río Nosara and Playa Nosara

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

Suzy on Playa Cuevas Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco)

My favorite chair

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

Boats off Tamarindo — Boats off Tamarindo beach

Playa Langosta Marino Las Baulas National Park

Playa Cabo Blanco

Playa Negra (south of Tamarindo)

Do you prefer fresh water or salt water this afternoon?

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 at Punta Islita

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

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

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

Punta Islita cemetery — Punta Islita cemetery – when you gotta go this wouldn’t be bad final resting place

Playa Cabo Blanco

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

Packing up or spreading out? On playa San Miguel central Nicoya coast

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.

Playa Manzanillo

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

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 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

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