Playa Junquillal

Newly paved roads and commercial centers opening in 2009 make Junquillal a more accessible destination for visitors, and fostering growth of the residential community. Attracting a variety of artists and family businesses, there is wide opportunity for young families to settle and grow. Thinking I would retire, I moved here in 2005 and found Junquillal too refreshing and vitalizing to quit working. Opened my studio and gallery, returned to my career of pottery making, I discovered it is possible to work at an incredibly slow pace and still survive in paradise, as opposed to the stress and rat race pace of the US business scene. Come to visit us in Junquillal and experience the calm tranquillity, tropical sounds and floral perfume of Costa Rica. http://coopermays.blogspot.com/

Playa Junquillal is probably the least heard of beach in Guanacaste. It is stuck between Tamarindo, Flamingo and Playa Langosta on the one side, and the beaches of Nosara and Ostional on the other, all of which are highly popular spots. Junquillal is a calm little beach, the village, small by any standard is well organized and clean, and tries to keep it that way. The Blue Flag, symbol of a clean and ecologically sound beach, flies proudly in the breeze on the beach. The swimming is not really advisable because of strong currents and powerful waves, although there are some nice rock pools nearby.

So, why write about Junquillal, or indeed, why go there?

Going south, you will find the estuary of the Rio Nandamojo that formed a lagoon and mangroves, and it is popular with the locals for fishing and as a picnic spot. It is possible to rent kayaks to explore upstream and wander in the jungle, taking it easy in the shade of the trees while admiring the flora and fauna, the monkeys, the birds and even some crocodiles, as they like to rest on the river banks sometimes. When the tide is low, it is possible to cross the river, and you will be able to really experience what it is like to be alone with nature. Eventually, or some 6 kms further south, you’ll get to Lagarto, a small fishing village.

In the opposite direction up North is Playa Blanca, a white sand beach as its name indicates, with decorative rocks and lovely little pools to soak in. Further up north is Playa Callejones, and 3.5km further is Playa Negra, a very sought after surfing beach. As with any attempts to travel south, this walk can only be done at low tide, so ask locals for the timetable of the tides.

The best place to stay or to have a sunset drink in Junquillal is definitely up in the hills behind the beach, from where the whole scenery of the beach and its neighbors can be admired. Although it is a small and quiet little place, it does have good places to stay and eat including the Hotel Iguanazul, which has the most popular Sunset Cocktail hour in town. It also offers a wide array of activities, apart from the hiking ones just mentioned.

The most interesting and inspiring of them all is without a doubt The Sea Turtle Project. The WWF supports this project that aims at protecting the leatherback and the Olive Ridely turtles that come between July and January to nest in Junquillal. Poaching up to now has been devastating and patrols now survey the beach at night during this period. If you are very lucky, you may even see these incredibly small baby turtles make their way to the surf!

Junquillal also offers excursions to Ostional, some 30 minutes away, one of the most important nesting beach of the country, or even the world.

Horseback riding, snorkeling in the rock pools, and of course, surfing, are more attractions Junquillal has to offer, apart from its natural beauty and tranquility. Surfing is especially good in Junquillal at the northern and southern end of the beach, other wise a short trip to either Playa Avellanas or playa Negra is a good idea, as they offer excellent surfing conditions all year around. Sport fishing is also practiced in Playa Callejones, for anyone interested.

Junquillal is easy to get to, whether you come from Tamarindo or Santa Cruz, look for 27th Abril (yes, the name of a village) and from there Junquillal is indicated. It is a dirt road, so think about which type of car you are driving before starting anything you may later regret! There is a direct bus running daily from San Jose.