Costa Rica, from a distance, can look like the very essence of romance. To some, it is a realm of tropical beaches with warm waters and palm trees moved by the breeze. A place that seems to come out of a fantasy film. And it is also a kingdom of nature. The land of pura vida (pure life). A place where toucans hop from branch to branch while monkeys howl in the distance.
Either way, when you think of Costa Rica, you think of an intense land where beauty and adventure are combined with unfathomable peace.
Surrounded by two oceans, diverse climates, breathtaking forests, and a plethora of wildlife to encounter… When you put all these together, you can understand why coming to Costa Rica is a lifetime experience!
In many of our articles, we discuss our hometown of Monteverde, but in this article, we'll discuss what happens when you've already stayed at beautiful Monteverde Hotels and are ready to explore the rest of the country! Where to go in Costa Rica after Monteverde? Let's find out!
This post will talk about the most popular beach regions of the Costa Rican Pacific:
These two destinations have several things in common, but also some dramatic differences.
Beautiful landscapes, warm seas, harmonious settings to enjoy long and lovely beaches. You will find first-class accommodations, excellent gastronomy, and joyful Costa Ricans in both areas.
Interestingly, Monteverde is located almost directly in the center of Costa Rica’s two international airports (with a transit difference of about 4 minutes between each). So if you are coming straight to Monteverde, it makes little difference which airport you’re using.
However, which airport you fly into can definitely help you determine which part of the Pacific coast to visit. If you are thinking about starting or ending your trip to the beach in Costa Rica, the following table might help you decide which region.
|
From Daniel Oduber International Airport (Liberia) to: |
Approximate travel time |
Approx. driving distance |
|
Tamarindo |
1h 40min |
48.23 mi (778 km) |
|
Manuel Antonio |
5h 0min |
160.93 mi (259 km) |
|
Monteverde |
2 hr 26 min |
77 mi (125 Km) |
|
From Juan Santamaría International Airport (San Jose) to: |
Approximate travel time |
Approx. driving distance |
|
Tamarindo |
4h 50min |
149.42 mi (240.48 km) |
|
Manuel Antonio |
3h 4min |
95.86 mi (154.27 km) |
|
Monteverde |
2 hr 22 min |
77 mi (125 Km) |
So, if you have already purchased your flight, you can see that coming to San Jose, it is easier to go to Manuel Antonio. If you chose Liberia, then, of course, it might make sense to choose the beaches from the North Pacific.
But that’s just one factor to consider when looking at these beautiful destinations!
We will talk about some of the main differences between the two areas. First of all, the weather.
The North Pacific of Costa Rica is the driest area in the country. It has a longer dry season, and therefore not only is the humidity rate lower, but it also rains less. In fact, between mid-November and April, it’s possible to see no rain at all.
However, the further south you go in Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast, the rainier and wilder the environment gets.
The areas of Herradura and Jaco are considered transitional life zones between the dry tropical forest and the humid rainforest. You still have prolonged periods of sun, but humidity is higher, and you’ll have rain showers more often.
The Central and South Pacific are mainly about nature and adventure. However, like anywhere in Costa Rica, you can find relaxation and leisure!
For example, the Herradura Beach area with Los Sueños Marriott hotel and gated community has created a commercial and tourist hub. The beaches are small, and although the ocean is warm and pleasant, the place is more about the swimming pools and all the hotel facilities.
Meanwhile, Jaco Beach is very popular among locals and is on the way to being the only coastal area of Costa Rica where you will find high buildings of over 20 stories.
But just down the coast at Playa Hermosa, which is considered a bit of a satellite of Jaco, is a top-notch place for surfers with big and constant waves and several tournaments held throughout the year.
Definitely a wide variety to offer!
And in the Central Pacific is Manuel Antonio National Park (where the region gets its name from) the most visited preserved area of Costa Rica.
Interestingly, Manuel Antonio National Park was surrounded by plantations and banana companies but was kept untouched by different fortunate circumstances.
And there it has remained for many years, an island of rainforest among rice, banana, and palm plantations, where the wildlife has found a sanctuary to live in peace and good conditions.
The locals of Manuel Antonio say that there are still more monkeys than people despite Costa Rica’s growth as a destination and the improvement of the surrounding area.
Manuel Antonio is one of the most complete touristic places in Costa Rica. It is a very sophisticated destination, with first-class big and small boutique hotels immersed in nature and in front of secluded beaches.
It is important to realize that almost all hotels in the region of Manuel Antonio are placed on the hills around the beach and it’s not as developed as Guanacaste. It is smaller, thus more crowded.
You can find everything from rafting to canyoning, ziplining, rainforest hikes (strenuous and soft), and all sea activities including surfing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, exploring tide pools, and kayaking. And then, as if it wasn’t enough, the four species of monkeys of Costa Rica and the two types of sloths.
It is a fantastic place and a must if you are a nature lover.
Guanacaste is a province of Costa Rica located in the North Pacific region. It borders Nicaragua and has its own character, history, and folklore. This region didn’t belong to Costa Rica until the people who lived there decided to annex it to our country in 1824.
Guanacaste was named after a lovely tree native to the Americas' tropical regions. It was declared Costa Rica's national tree in August 1959 and is also known as the "Elephant Ear Tree" (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) due to the form of its brown seed shells.
Guanacaste has it all: dream beaches, wild nature, incredible natural parks, and an abundance of activities.
It is the region of the country with the most sunshine hours and the slowest onset of rain. And, well, yes, fortunately, there is rain some months of the year as this allows this amazing region to keep the balance of the rare tropical dry forest going.
It also has an international airport from which you can fly directly. The Guanacaste International Airport (LIR) is 2.5 hours away (71.5 mi./115.2 km) from Monteverde and less than an hour away from the ocean.
In terms of hospitality, it is the most developed region of Costa Rica with brands such as Four Seasons, Andaz, Westin, JW Marriott, and Secrets. And that’s not all, Guanacaste also has a great array of enchanting boutique hotels and even luxurious beach towns created for guests to connect with nature and beauty. It’s a selection of some incredible environments, all of them immersed in a rare and stunning landscape.
After reading all of this, you won't be surprised to learn that Guanacaste is the most visited region in Costa Rica by both local and international tourists.
This is a coast to walk on the beach, relax close to the pool while watching the kids playing, a place to go out fishing, or sunset sailing.
The perfect area to surf, dive, and play in the water. Although you can find the breathtaking nature of Costa Rica, it is not as all-encompassing as you can find in the Central and South Pacific regions.
You can find Tamarindo Beach in the North Pacific, a busy town with malls, restaurants, bars, and shopping options where surfers and party animals share the beach with families and honeymooners. At Tamarindo Beach, you can also find, very close by, mangroves and giant sea turtles laying their eggs, so you’re never too far from nature.
Just a bit up the coast, you can also find beaches like Playa Flamingo and Potrero where there are medium-sized hotels, few restaurants, and a general leisure atmosphere with a blend of expats, tourists, and locals.
We’ll cover some of the many gorgeous destinations you can explore below!
El Jobo is a quiet fishing town on a small, remote peninsula in the northwest of Guanacaste, close to the border with Nicaragua. It is surrounded on three sides by the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
The most well-known spot in the region is the Dreams Las Mareas Resort, built on beautiful Jobo Beach, with light cocoa-colored sand and green forest-covered hillsides.
Some of the other beaches in the Bahia Salinas region are Rajada, La Coyotera, Copal, and Papaturro. Moving north, near Nicaragua, there are other more quiet beaches, such as Playa Pochotes and Puerto Soley. Quite a few spots to explore on a day trip!
El Jobo is quite close to various national parks, reserves, and even volcanoes.
In the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste World Heritage Site, you can find the Guanacaste National Park, the Junquillal Refuge, and Santa Rosa National Park.
The Junquillal Reserve is a tiny refuge that protects mangroves and coastal areas. Guanacaste National Park is a large park in the west that protects tropical dry forests and the Orosi Volcano. To the south is Santa Rosa National Park, one of Costa Rica's most significant national parks, preserving the tropical dry forest, mangroves, and marine environments.
The secluded beach of this park is also a major nesting habitat for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, which may come by the thousands at a time to nest on Playa Nancite during the arribadas.
The Papagayo Peninsula is a 1400-acre private community flanked by the ocean on three sides and in the range of the huge Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, a UNESCO Heritage site protecting the rare tropical dry forest that thrives in the region.
It’s a luxury hub that encompasses gated communities, high-end resorts, private homes, a beach club, a golf course, and a marina.
The views here are particularly spectacular due to the small coves, soft sand, and bays that flank the emerald-green waves of the Pacific. Furthermore, the Papagayo Peninsula and the neighboring Bay of Papagayo are less than an hour's drive from the Guanacaste International Airport, allowing for quick and simple transportation to your accommodation and the beach.
While several of Guanacaste's beaches are popular with surfers, those on the Gulf of Papagayo are safe for families with children.
All of Costa Rica's beaches are open to the public, but because the peninsula is more remote, the beaches of Papagayo are a bit more secluded.
The Marina Papagayo is located in Culebra Bay, within the Gulf of Papagayo, and is Costa Rica's first and only luxury marina. Built with an eye on the environment, the little marina merges perfectly with the gulf's vivid bays and inlets.
One of the world's most beautiful beach communities, Las Catalinas, is three hours from Monteverde and less than an hour from Guanacaste International Airport (LIR), making it an ideal site to conclude your vacation.
Las Catalinas is encircled by more than 1000 acres of pristine tropical dry forest, providing a stunning area to do cycling and hiking with an abundance of breathtaking landscapes and wildlife sightings.
It has been envisioned as a place where children may play and run free and safely while their parents enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean while sipping cocktails and enjoying life. Inspired by the timeless architecture of the Mediterranean and the New World Tropics like San Miguel de Allende, Cartagena, or Antigua, Guatemala, Las Catalinas provides a haven for all visitors.
You have full access to water sports like boogie boarding and snorkeling, and scuba diving at the nearby Catalinas islands, as well as mountain biking, hiking, and a few delicious restaurants.
You will find not only a menu for excellent dining but also stores to buy fresh ingredients and gourmet products.
If you are staying at a villa, you may have access to the beach club, although many houses have plunge pools, and Beach Town North has a fun plaza and fountain for children.
You can also find prime hotels:
The Santarena Hotel features a pool—on the roof—as well as a cafe serving espresso drinks, kombucha in a can, and buttery banana bread.
Posada San Rafael in the area of Playa Danta offers an exclusive possibility of wonder in its four suites.
Casa Chameleon has 21 breathtaking villas and overlooks the coast and the town.
"It turns out that when you remove [cars] out of the equation and construct communities the way they were before automobiles, the result is sociability, beauty, and safety," Johnson asserts. This offers children more freedom, which usually implies that adults do as well. (01)
Playa Conchal is a beach and a wonderful community with colonial-style architecture and a wonderful Robert Trent Jones 18-hole golf course.
Playa Conchal is located between two rocky points and boasts serene, azure waters and white sand beaches ideal for swimming or just floating easily. There are also lovely islands offshore and jagged rocks on the extreme southern end to tempt snorkelers who like to discover small brightly colored fish.
However what makes Conchal unique, gives its name (Concha means shell in Spanish), and has granted it recently the title of the “Most beautiful beach in the World” is its sand composed of white, brown, and pinkish tiny grains of broken shells.
Conchal is a place for leisure and relaxation. You can take it easy at the Westin Reserva Conchal’s amazing grounds and delight in all the extraordinary activities, or stroll on the magnificent beach at sunset.
Nosara is a popular resort for surfers, yogis, families, and environmental enthusiasts due to its stunning verdant beaches.
It is located 4 hours (159.0 km) from Monteverde and 2 hr 30 min (114.0 km) from the Guanacaste International Airport (LIR).
It is a location of peace, natural beauty, year-round waves, and an open multicultural community. Nosara residents are also concerned about environmental sustainability. It is also located on the Nicoya Peninsula, which is one of the world's five Blue Zones, areas where people have lived healthily for more than 100 years.
The natives can live that long because of the clean air and water; plenty of fresh food all year; an active lifestyle; and a strong feeling of family.
The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge includes Nosara's stunning beaches: Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, Playa Garza, and Boca Nosara. The sanctuary was designed to preserve the turtles that come to Ostional Beach every month to lay their eggs. As a result, building on the beach's edge is prohibited, which has aided in the protection of the refuge's flora and wildlife and preserved Nosara as the tropical paradise that it is.
The structures that surround the beaches have to be small and cause the littlest impact, so there are no large resort-style properties or beaches crowded with visitors and chairs, fast food restaurants, or paved roads. Furthermore, the majority of hotels and restaurants are environmentally friendly and contribute to the community. The ideal location for reconnecting with nature and finding calm.
Nosara is an area comprising some small towns and different beaches.
Guiones is a tourist town, so you can find all the amenities you need, but because everything is scattered around the forest, you don't get the impression that you're in a tourist trap.
Of these small towns, Guiones is the most popular since it boasts regular waves for beginners to professionals all year, as well as a variety of restaurants catering to various diets, yoga centers, boutiques, and hotels.
Pelada is a small town containing both tourists and locals, as well as a wonderful beach ideal for swimming.
Garza is a small fishing village from which most boat trips — to fish, see whales and dolphins, snorkel, and enjoy other activities — depart.
Although Nosara town is not on the coast and is home to the majority of the inhabitants, you may visit the town to enjoy authentic Costa Rican culture and gastronomy. Other little communities can be found all around.
Santa Teresa is a unique tropical location, different from most other places in the country with its trendy hip restaurants, digital nomads, co-working places, and fantastic parties. That's all part of the appeal. It is situated in the southern area of the Nicoya Peninsula and it’s 4 hours and 40 minutes away from Monteverde.
You can also travel directly from Guanacaste International Airport for 4 hours (205.1 km) or 5 hours from Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose.
And it takes that long because of its side dirt roads and its difficult access. As popular as it is getting, it’s still one of Costa Rica's best hidden treasures.
This may be one of the most popular off-the-beaten-track hideaways for celebrities from all over the world. As you arrive at Santa Teresa Beach, you will feel a slowness in the pace, a general easiness to it all.
People like Leo Di Caprio, Zac Efron, Tom Brady, Mel Gibson, Salma Hayek, Chris Hemsworth, and many more celebrities come to take their vacations, enjoy the surf and the beauty in the region and, as you can see, talk about it in their interviews. It is a free realm where beauty is everywhere and peace is the way of life.
Even if you can find WiFi all throughout the area, this is a great destination for a digital detox.
Santa Teresa's beautiful beaches are the attraction. The village is only a short distance from the palm-tree-lined sand. The steep hillside directly behind the main road is also dotted with homes and rentals. These have stunning ocean views.
Aside from surfing and sunbathing, Santa Teresa's beaches are a popular meeting spot, especially towards sunset. From around five o'clock in the afternoon until far after the sun sets, around six o'clock, it appears like the entire town comes out. Small and huge crowds congregate on the sand, surfers catch their final waves of the day, and everyone attempts to capture the ideal sunset photo.
Playa Carmen is the town's principal beach and generally has the most going on. An excellent beach break draws both intermediate and advanced surfers.
Restaurants and stores abound along the route. There are fewer places to dine and drink closer to the shore, but they are popular, especially after sunset.
Playa Santa Teresa is located just north of Carmen. Since this neighborhood is new, it has its own area with restaurants, motels, and stores.
Access to the whitish-sand beach is a bit more difficult since it is separated from the main strip by private mansions, hotels, and vegetation.
Playa Hermosa (Beautiful Beach)
One of the top favorite places to see in the region, and not to confuse it with the other Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica. Despite its popularity among novice surfers, this beach feels more solitary than others.
Malpais
South of Santa Teresa on the southern tip of Nicoya, you can find Malpais, and it is completely worth it to mention it here.
Malpais is a great place to do yoga, learn to surf, or simply relax and enjoy the laid-back vibe. The area may be called "bad land," (Malpais in Spanish means bad land) yet it is far from that. Mal Pais is a surfer's paradise, with a lengthy beach break, steady waves, and big swells. The shoreline is lined with hip bars and restaurants, as well as a wide range of lodging options for all budgets.
Day Trip to Montezuma
Montezuma is a laid-back seaside village in the same direction as Cabo Blanco. There are a few activities worth seeing here. A big waterfall, a zip-line course, and several picturesque beaches (including the eponymous Montezuma beach, one of Costa Rica's best beaches) are among them. The little village also has its own collection of stores and eateries.
Cabo Blanco National Reserve.
Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is the ideal trekking destination for anyone wishing to get off the beaten path. This was one of the country's earliest protected zones. It keeps land and sea areas from being built on, so animals like monkeys and birds can usually be found there.
Cabo Blanco borders the southern end of Malpaís.
There are so many places to explore in Costa Rica that it can be hard to capture all of them, but that doesn't mean that Costa Rica's Caribbean coast isn't worth exploring. Leave a comment if you'd like us to touch on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, with locations like Puerto Viejo, in a future article.
The routes from Monteverde to both regions start with the Panamerican Highway. So, once you are out of Route 167 (the road to Monteverde) taking a right will take you to the North and the Guanacaste Province. If you take a left, you will find the Central and South Pacific areas.
Depending on where you are going in the North Pacific, you may want to go to Liberia or take El Puente de la Amistad as a shortcut.
The main difference between these routes is that the shorter route, through the bridge, is more of a regional road going through towns, while the other way you will find more highways.
And if you do stop at El Puente de La Amistad I recommend enjoying a Palo Verde National Park boat tour if you are driving. It is very diverse, and you may witness some of Costa Rica’s largest and most colorful reptiles, mammals, and aquatic birds. A great experience!
As you get to the Sardinal Gas Station, you will turn left and go down to the area of Puntarenas, where you will detour to get on Coastal Road (Costanera). Driving quite often parallel to the ocean, this road will take you to Herradura, Jaco, and Manuel Antonio.
Along the way there are a few places I highly recommend. It’s worth stopping at the Tarcoles area, where you can find
Along the way, there are a few places I highly recommend. It’s worth stopping at the Tarcoles area, where you can find two experiences to enjoy after you go across the bridge.
First, you will find the Carara National Park, where you may want to go hiking as it is incredibly diverse and a paradise for birdwatchers.
A little after you pass the Carara National Park, you will find a detour to get to the town of Tarcoles where there’s another option to take a boat tour to see this region’s impressive (and sometimes awe-inspiring!) wildlife.
If you are coming to Monteverde, don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange transportation for you from any of the airports, we can arrange all your necessary transportation within Costa Rica and your departure as well. If you prefer, we can also offer you a car rental.
If you’re heading onward to the Pacific Coast, in the following table, you can find the times and distances from Monteverde to the most popular locations on the Pacific Coast.
Remember, we can arrange transportation for you from and to these fantastic destinations.
|
From Monteverde, Puntarenas to: |
Approximate driving distance |
Approx. travel time |
|
Central Pacific: |
||
|
Herradura, Puntarenas |
94 miles / 150 km |
2 hr |
|
Jaco, Puntarenas |
70 miles/114 Km |
2 hr 15 min |
|
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas |
141 miles / 225 km |
3 hr 30 min |
|
North Pacific: |
||
|
Tamarindo, Guanacaste |
109 miles / 175 km |
3hr |
|
Flamingo, Guanacaste |
103 miles/ 167 Km |
3 hr |
What would you like? Adventure and nature, leisure and comfort, surfing and nightlife?
This is a question to ask yourself when deciding where to go after or before enjoying the magnificent cloud forests of Monteverde and the Ocotea Boutique Hotel's hospitality and warmth. And if you’re interested in any, you can find them on the Pacific Coast.
And if you’d like for us to handle the details, just ask. We can arrange any tour or transportation anywhere in Costa Rica.