Whats the best place for a beach vacation in Costa Rica?

It has an extensive shoreline along the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which makes it one of the most breathtaking and diversified beach locations in the world. Whether you want an extravagant stay at a beach resort or a boutique surf city, a sleepy fishing village, or an empty white sandy beach, a beach vacation is available for nearly every taste. But for what, there are so many possibilities along the coastline of Costa Rica, how should one come to the decision? Here is the general information that will help you to choose the best place to stay in Costa Rica for your beach vacation!

Playas del Coco
If you are aiming for a laid-back and casual Costa Rican experience with good restaurants and fun bars, Playas del Coco in the Northern Pacific is for you. With a crescent-shaped beach of golden sand and shallow waters which are ideal for swimming, Coco is known for its bustling backpacker and expatriate population. Here you will find restaurants, beach bars often with happy hours, shops, and other food vendors that are found within the vicinity of the beach. It also serves as the starting point for travelers who want to book snorkeling, scuba diving, sport fishing, and sailing tours. It is quite easy to secure a place to stay as there are numerous hotels, RV parks, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfast establishments. From Coco, you are also within close driving distance of other surfing destinations like Tamarindo for those who want more or the quiet, secluded Papagayo Peninsula for those who do not.

Manuel Antonio
This is an exceptional park, and any list of top beach destinations in Costa Rica cannot be considered complete without this iconic location on the Central Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio National Park provides stunning beaches with views of greenery that could be out of a picture postcard looking out on to lush forest home to monkeys and sloths. These beaches are usually patrolled thus the waters are warm and the waves are easily controllable there are also cheap food and drink stands that are within the vicinity so one can spend the entire day at the beach. The drawback is that the beaches are crowded during this period, with high season referring to December to April. However, we were able to have a great view of the park as well as the surrounding scenic views when we stayed in the lively town of Quepos which is just about 20 minutes away from the park and offers cheap meals, shops, and other facilities after you have been accosted by expensive meals and services once you get into the park by the expensive so-called luxury resorts.

Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo ranks as the best beach town for a relaxed Caribbean vibe, and with an Afro-Caribbean influence, in the country of Costa Rica. Here you will hear laid-back music, a green jungle backdrop, and shacks that serve refreshing coconuts playing reggae music. The town has a very laid-back artsy vibe, with yoga studios, fresh produce markets, cafés, and shops that sell surfwear and accessories. The neighboring Cocles, Chiquita, and Punta Uva beaches boast of fine golden sand, breathtaking calm sea, and snorkeling and sea turtle nesting sites. This beach also serves as an excellent starting point for any jungle tours or as a home base for day trips south to visit other smaller Garifuna fishing villages before returning to shower and relax on the beach as the sun sets. Please remember that accommodation is cheaper in the low season from May to November but the prices increase in the December-April high season.

Uvita
The South Pacific coast especially the Uvita area is perfect for a serene beach holiday in the middle of breathtaking views and sceneries. Stretching for many kilometers, broad sandy shores were nestled between the mountainous regions of the jungle and the Whale’s Tail sand spit that shielded the region’s shallow and sheltered lagoons and snorkeling reefs. Here sea turtles lay their eggs, especially green turtles while humpback whales are observed off the coast from July to October. Off the tourist-crowded areas of the small town center and neighboring villages, long, long stretches of sandy beaches are waiting to be discovered. Visitors are allowed to pay a small fee to explore some of the features of Marino Ballena National Park, take a dip in one of the natural pools, rent equipment, or even camp on the beach at Playa Colonia. There are basic camping and hostels and standard B&B targeting middle(low to mid) class travelers who seek to leave their gadgets behind and relax in the natural environment.

Conclusion
When choosing your perfect Caribbean island vacation at the beaches of Costa Rica, think about how you would like; to be in a lively tourist beach with diverse activities or explore unknown and hidden treasures. There’s always a compromise in achieving accessibility, notable and adequate facilities, and seclusion in a specific area. However, if you take your time to plan before the trip, taking into consideration your important activities – OR – just winging it once you get there, ahh, in Costa Rica, you are sure to find that perfect patch of sand to relax on the beach and absorb the ‘Pura Vida’ atmosphere. Ride the wave to where?