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Secret Beaches of Costa Rica

Semi-Secret Beaches

Semi-secret beaches are our favorites. They aren’t totally deserted – some of them even have a few little houses, some residents and maybe a bar, soda, or restaurant but if you ever see more than ten people per mile of sand on any of these playas that would be considered a crowd.

The list of super deserted beaches is at the bottom of the article.

Un-named Beach, Gandoca Manzanillo, Southern Caribbean

One of the tiny beaches you can have all to yourself in the Gandoca Manzanillo wildlife refuge, southern Caribbean coast looking towards Punta Mona
There are dozens of tiny unnamed beaches like this one in Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge on the southern Caribbean. Hikers on the Punta Mona trail to Gandoca can pop out to the coast and have one all to themselves (although some get pretty narrow or completely submerged at high tide).

Playa Rio Claro aka Pavones, Burica Peninsula

Waiting on "the" wave, Playa Rio Claro (Pavones)
Playa Rio Claro is better known as Pavones the home of the second longest left in the world according to local surfers (apparently the longest is in Africa). Much of the shoreline is relatively rocky but there are sandy stretches. Despite being a LONG way from almost everything on the southern Burica peninsula Pavones gets quite a few visitors because of the reputation of its wave. People are pretty spread out and it’s still one of the best spots if you want a bar or two on your “deserted” beach

Piscina Natural, Cahita, Southern Caribbean

Piscina Natural tiny beach
Piscina Natural north of Cahuita on the Caribbean coast is a natural swimming pool formed by the erosion and collapse of a huge lava tube. There is a tiny sandy beach just right for two at the foreground and the pool continues around the corner through a slot that is great fun to ride through on the surge when the tide is in.

Playa Caletas, central Nicoya Peninsula

Playa Caletas
Playa Caletas is a protected turtle nesting beach on the unpaved coast road if the western Nicoya Peninsula. It’s about equidistant from the asphalt to the south and to the north…in other words about as far as you can get from civilization on a road.

Playa Carate, southern Osa Peninsula

Pelicans above the surf playa Carate
Playa Carate is just outside Corcovado National park on the Osa Peninsula. It stretches about 3 km from where the 4WD road ends to the southeastern boundary of of the park and is “built up” with half a dozen tiny remote eco-lodges and tent camps with room for a total of about 40 lucky visitors.

Playa el Hachal, far northern Guanacaste

Bahia Hachal is north of the Santa Rosa National Park Murcialago sector
Playa el Hachal is hike in access only starting from the Murcialago ranger station on the northern boundary of Santa Rosa National Park Guanacaste. Small smooth stones make it a very pleasant change from the typical sand beaches

Sand Dollar Cove Playa San Miguel, central Nicoya Peninsula

My favorite chair
The luxurious house (yes the only house) at Sand Dollar cove is one of our favorite spots in all of Costa Rica. A small private cove on the north end of Playa San Miguel on a 4WD road half way between Santa Teresa and Tamarindo

Playa Bahía Junquillal, far northern Guanacaste

Playa Bahía Junquillal
As its name might suggest, Cabo Blanco National Wildlife Refuge protects a number of amazing white sand beaches and this little gem on the north west corner – Playa Cuevas. It’s just a short drive south of Santa Teresa followed by a short walk to this bit of deserted paradise.

Playa Cuevas, far southern Nicoya Peninsula

The secret beach in Cabo Blanco
As its name might suggest, Cabo Blanco National Wildlife Refuge protects a number of amazing white sand beaches and this little gem on the north west corner – Playa Cuevas. It’s just a short drive south of Santa Teresa followed by a short walk to this bit of deserted paradise.


There are almost a hundred beaches in Costa Rica that appear on better maps and receive mention in one guidebook or another, but there are over two-hundred more that don’t!  I’ve got about fifty more favorites my list of “Deserted and Secret Costa Rica Beaches” and another fifty two to see before I’ve visited them all.

Print out the whole list and start checking them off!

If you started walking south along the Pacific coastline at the Nicaraguan border you’d pass by the beaches in the following order.  When you reach Panama in about ten years (you’re likely to get distracted…) you can start up the Caribbean.

Bold are the ones you might know. Normal text are some you might not recognize.

There are a lot of repeats.  These are not errors, they’re just beaches with the same name.  For example there are 4 beaches named Playa El Coco, 1 named Playa Coco, and 1 named Playa Del Coco but none of these are included in the famous “Playas del Coco” which is the name for the little cluster of beachlings west of the village of El Coco north of Ocotal between Punta Centinela (playita Blanca) and Punta Cacique.

Playa Copal
Playa El Coco
Playa La Coyotera
Playa Mostrencal
Playa Pochotes
Playa Rajada
Playas Papaturro
Playa Blanca
Playa Carrizal
Playa Danta
Playa Gringos
Playa Guarumo
Playa Mariquita
Playa Morritos
Playa Morros
Playa Respingue
Playas Coloradas
Playa Potrero Grande
Playa Escondida
Playa Guaria
Playa Penque
Playa Toyosa
Playa Nancite
Playa Naranjo
Playas Del Coco
Playa Hermosa
Playa Ocotal (Playa Matapalo)
Playa Blanca
Playa Blanca
Playa Calzón de Pobre
Playa Grande
Playa Guacamaya
Playa Guacamayita
Playa Jícaro
Playa Matapalito
Playa Matapalo (Playa Ocotal)
Playa Nacascolito
Playa Pedregosa
Playa Penca
Playa Venado
Playita Blanca
Playita Manzanillo
Playa Panamá
Playa Iguanita
Playa Monte del Barco
Playa Sombrero
Playa Cabuya
Playa Honda
Playa Nombre de Jesús
Playa Pedregosa
Playa Real
Playa Roble
Playa Ventanas
Playa Zapolital
Playa Azucar
Playa Brasilito
Playa Conchal
Playa Flamingo (Blanca)
Playa Potrero
Playa Blanca (Flamingo)
Playa Danta
Playa Guachipelin
Playa La Penca
Playa Las Playitas
Playa Prieta
Playa Avellanas
Playa Grande
Playa Lagartillo
Playa Langosta
Playa Negra
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Bajo Grande
Playa Callejones
Playa Majagua
Playa Mansita
Playa Róbalo
Playa Arbolito
Playa Blanca
Playa Pochotes
Playa Azul
Playa Coco
Playa Junquillal
Playa Lagarto
Playa Manzanillo
Playa Ostional
Playa Aguas
Playa Blanca
Playa Cementerio
Playa Cocal
Playa Cuajiniquil
Playa Frijolar
Playa Honda
Playa Pitahaya
Playa Rosario
Playa Curazao
Playa Bonita
Playa Calera
Playa Camerita
Playa Lagarito
Playa Lagartero
Playa Roble
Playa Bajo Piñuela
Playa El Coco
Playa Guiones
Playa Nosara
Playa Pelada
Playa Garza
Playa Sámara
Playa Bote
Playa Barco Quebrado
Playa Barrigona
Playa Buenavista
Playa Pavones
Playa Camoronal
Playa Carrillo
Playa Islita
Playa Bejuco
Playa Corozalito
Playa Vuelta del Sur
Playa Bajo Negro
Playa Barrigona
Playa Bellavista
Playa Blanca
Playa Buenos Aires
Playa Cañablancal
Playa Chanchera
Playa Chino
Playa Coronado
Playa El Coco
Playa El Inglés
Playa Gigante
Playa Gringo
Playa Guaitilar
Playa Hacienda Vieja
Playa Langosta
Playa Leona
Playa Limón
Playa Lisa
Playa Lombricera
Playa Lorenza
Playa Mango
Playa Mango
Playa Manzanillo
Playa Matapalo
Playa Naranjo
Playa Negra
Playa Pájaros
Playa Palomo
Playa Panamá
Playa Pilitas
Playa Pradera
Playa Sontolar
Playa Tamarindo
Playa Tumbabote
Playa Doña Ana
Playa Boca de Barranca
Playa Caldera
Playa Corralillo
Playa Icaco
Playa Pirata
Playa Terciopelo
Playa Tivives
Playa Arío
Playa Caletas
Playa Coyote
Playa Manzanillo
Playa San Miguel
Playa Pencal (Bongo)
Playa Cocal
Playa Tambor
Las Playitas
Playa Cocalito
Playa Pochote
Playa Quizales
Playa Camarón
Playa Cuchilla
Playa Curú
Playa El Coco
Playa Las Muertes
Playa Organos
Playa Pencal
Playa Punta Blanca
Playa Quesera
Playa Ventanas
Playa Viudites
Playa Bajamar
Playa Blanca
Playa Caletas
Playa Agujas
Playa Azul
Playa Carrizal
Playa Coyol
Playa Higuerón Mocho
Playa Limoncito
Playa Mantas
Playa Tárcoles
Playa Hermosa
Playa Santa Teresa
Playa Peñón de Arío
Playa Balsitas
Playa Carmen
Playa Malpaís
Playa Montezuma
Playa Peñón de Arío
Playa Balsitas
Playa Carmen
Playa Malpaís
Playa Montezuma
Playa Cabo Blanco
Playa Cabuya
Playa Cedro
Playa Colorada
Playa Cuevas
Playa Malpaís
Playa San Miguel
Playa Matapalo
Playa De Jacó
Playa Hermosa
Playa Herradura
Playa Balsal
Playa Punta Mala
Playa Esterillos Este
Playa Esterillos Oeste
Playa Bejuco
Playa Palma
Playa Palo Seco
Playa Cocal
Playa Isla Damas
Playa Escondido
Playa Espadilla
Playa Espadilla Sur
Playa Manuel Antonio
Playa Espadilla Sur
Playa Macha
Playa Playitas (Playa Silvia)
Playa Savegre
Playa Silvia (Playa Playitas)
Playa Barú
Playa Dominical
Playa Matapalo
Playa Guápil
Playa Hatillo
Playa Hermosa
Playa Dominicalito
Playa Bahía
Playa Ballena
Playa Piñuela
Playa de Arco
Playa Pedregosa
Playa Uvita
Playa Ventanas
Playa Garza
Playa Tortuga
Playa Boca Brava
Playa Bocachica
Playa Caletas
Playa Cocalito
Playa Ganado
Playa Blanca
Playa Colorada
Playa Guaromal
Playa Violín
Playa Bejuco
Playa Chal
Playa Isidora
Playa Islotes
Playa Palma
Playa Animas
Playa Saladero
Playa Llorona
Playa Pedrillo
Playa San Josecito
Playa Corcovado
Playa Blanca
Playa Sándalo
Playa Cativo
Playa Ciénaga
Playa Gallardo
Playa Mono
Playa Ñeque
Playa Nicuesa
Playa Nicuesa
Playa Platanares
Playa San Josecito
Playa Tigre
Playa Zancudo
Playa Cacao
Playa Madrigal
Playa Sirena
Playa Carate
Playa Piro
Playa Matapalo
Playa Sombrero
Playa Tamales
Playa Zapote
Playa Matapalo
Playa Río Claro de Pavones
Playa Bonita
CARIBBEAN
Playa Colorado
Playa Tortuguero
Playa Parismina
Playa Cocal
Playa Westfalia
Playa Bonita
Playa Cahuita
Playa Negra
Playa Vargas
Playa Cocles
Playa Negra
Playa Chiquita
Playa Pirikikí
Playa Uva
Playa Manzanillo
Playa Gandoca

Ray & Sue

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