Costa Rica’s Top Beach Destinations
If you want to visit Costa Rica simply for its beaches, you are not making a bad decision. While the whole cultural and ecological side to the country is great, for those of you who are just looking for a place to get away from it all, but don’t want to spend 24 hours traveling to get there, Costa Rica’s beaches are calling to you. From surfers to shell lovers to hippies at heart, the beaches will give you everything you want and more, as long as you choose correctly.
If you are looking for a nature experience, the national parks of Corcovado, Manuel Antonio, Santa Rosa and Tortuguero are all nuzzled up against the ocean and most include an extensive protected marine zone as well, great for snorkeling and scuba divers. The land portions of the parks include hiking trails or extensive canals in the case of Tortuguero to facilitate boat transportation. The beaches of the south west Nicoya Peninsula are also refuges for many animal and bird species thanks to their out-of-the-way location that discourages heavy development in the region. If you don’t mind the ferry ride and the bumpy roads, from Montezuma to Samara and in between you will find some of the country’s most pristine beaches as well as a lot of iguanas, macaws and monkeys.
If you are looking to catch some waves, Costa Rica surfing is truly top notch. Some of the most popular surf destinations include the infamous Witch’s Rock near Playa del Coco, Tamarindo, Mal Pais/Santa Teresa, Jaco/Playa Hermosa and the Dominical area, all of which will cater to your need for strong breaks and your cultural identity.
If you want an elegant, romantic experience, Costa Rica also plays home to a variety of world renowned beach resorts and boutique hotels. Beach areas such as the Papagayo Peninsula, Manuel Antonio and Santa Teresa have some of the best hotels in the country. With destinations such as Punta Islita, the Buena Vista Villas, Tulemar, the Four Seasons and Sueno del Mar, it is no wonder that Costa Rica is one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.
Filed under: Beaches on May 30th, 2008