With over 750 miles of coastline along the Pacific and Atlantic, there are a multitude of luxurious beaches in Costa Rica, each one with its own distinctive and charming identity. From the black sands of Tortuguero National Park, to the white sands of Tortuga Island, from the nightly parties down on Jaco Beach to the secluded mystery of the beaches along the Osa peninsula, there is a little something for everyone in Costa Rica.
The majority of Costa Rica beach resorts are found on the Pacific side of the country. Growing exponentially every year is Jaco Beach, where the nightlife is always hopping and a wide array of bars and dance clubs greet you with blinking neon lights. Choose any street just off the main drag and you will find all types of Costa Rica beach resorts awaiting your business.
Tamarindo Costa Rica is another part of the country that is growing steadily, mostly due to the large numbers of Americans that have recently begun to call the city home. And it's no wonder: some of the best surfing and snorkeling in the country is found at this Costa Rica beach. The town is especially popular because of its ability to incorporate small scale growth into the city's infrastructure without losing any of its charm. Tamarindo Costa Rica also offers more than just a fine beach, though – its close proximity to wildlife reserve and national parks make it the most popular place to stay along the Nicoya Peninsula.
Squirrel monkeys will greet you at the beach in Manuel Antonio, one of the first beaches in Costa Rica to achieve widespread popularity. Waterfalls and – strangely – UFO seekers abound at the beaches located in Montezuma, a short ferry ride from Jaco Beach. Not too far from Tortuga Island, the beach here seems interminable, stretching out into infinity. For those that want their beach unspoiled by other travelers, this is a good spot to seek out. You can easily keep walking until the beach becomes deserted.
The eastern side of the country offers fine beaches too, though they are significantly less popular. The northern part of the Caribbean side is mostly protected beaches, so most of the beaches available will be south of Limon, near Punta Viejo. Here you will find more of a traditionally Caribbean flair in the cities and on the beaches then you would at, say, Tamarindo Costa Rica. Here you'll see more palm trees, more coral reefs and the impeccable white sand and turquoise waters that the area is known for. If you travel further south towards Manzanillo, the differences become even more apparent, and the beaches are even emptier. For those that want to combine a Caribbean and Costa Rican trip, this is a good place to take a few days and relax, just near the Panamanian border.
