pura vida passENES

Things to do in Nicoya Peninsula

78 places and 165 secret spots in Nicoya Peninsula, with start times, how long each takes, prices as published and practical tips.

Tours & Adventure

  • Bahía Rica (bioluminescent kayak tours & fishing lodge)Tours & AdventureA small wooden kayak-and-fishing lodge on the bluff 1.5 km east of the Paquera ferry landing, best known for its night kayak tour on Paquera's bio-bay, where every paddle stroke lights up blue-green plankton and you can even jump in and swim through the glow.
  • Macho ATV Rentals & ToursTours & Adventure · from $65Owner-run ATV outfit in Nosara.
  • Natural Center ToursTours & Adventure · from $50Sámara's one-stop tour agency for boat tours, kayaking and snorkeling, plus day trips and shuttles.
  • Ollie's AdventuresTours & AdventureSanta Teresa adventure shop specializing in horseback rides, with ATV and motorbike rentals, surf lessons and day trips.
  • Playa PoniesTours & Adventure · from $80Small Nosara stable running guided rides through the jungle trails by the Nosara River and out to Playa Pelada and Guiones.
  • Samara Adventures (Nosara Adventures)Tours & Adventure · takes 3 h–4 h · from $52Tour and transport company in Sámara and Nosara offering kayaking, snorkeling, surf lessons, zipline and horseback tours on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Sun TrailsTours & AdventureMontezuma-based tour and transfer company covering Santa Teresa, Malpaís and Tambor, best known for its zipline over the Montezuma waterfalls.
  • Tiko ToursTours & Adventure · from $100Santa Teresa tour desk with the Isla Tortuga snorkeling day trip, a Curú wildlife-refuge tour and a bioluminescence night tour.
  • Tortuga Island Tour (Isla Tortuga Tour Costa Rica)Tours & Adventure · from $70High-volume Isla Tortuga operator: snorkeling, a beach day and lunch on the island, with departures from Tambor and Montezuma, Santa Teresa and Puntarenas.
  • WingNuts Canopy ToursTours & Adventure · from $40Family-run canopy near Sámara with up to 9 cables and rappels, a 500 m cable and a canopy-surfing option where you ride a suspended surfboard.

Food & Coffee

  • Banana Beach RestaurantFood & Coffee · from $5Banana Beach is a big open-air bar and restaurant right on the sand at the south end of Santa Teresa, a short walk from the Playa Carmen junction, with a small hotel of casitas next door.
  • Bar y Restaurante El RetoñoFood & CoffeeLocal bar-restaurant in Nicoya known for chifrijo (rice, beans and fried pork in a bowl) and hearty meat plates.
  • Blue Zone BreweryFood & CoffeeOpen-air craft-beer taproom in a jungle clearing near Playa Guiones, brewing its own beers and serving creative tacos with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
  • Brukas RestaurantFood & CoffeeA hilltop restaurant above Playa Carmen with one of the best sunset views in Santa Teresa - hundreds of reviews mention it.
  • Butterfly Brewing CoFood & CoffeeCraft brewery up the hill out of Montezuma, on the road toward the canopy tour and the upper falls, with a deck looking out over the jungle - a cold pint after the waterfall hike.
  • Couleur CaféFood & CoffeeFrench-inspired café with colourful décor and tables under a big shady tree at the first entrance to Playa Hermosa - a surfer's breakfast or a lazy lunch, with vegetarian options.
  • Drift Restaurant & BarFood & CoffeeFusion kitchen and cocktail bar in the heart of Santa Teresa with Asian, Indian and Mediterranean influences, local fish and plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes; the in-house bakery has the town's biggest choice of vegan and gluten-free cakes and pastries.
  • Eat StreetFood & CoffeeOpen-air food court-style spot with Mexican tacos, bowls, burgers and wood-fired pies, plus plenty of vegan choices.
  • El ChivoFood & CoffeeA Nosara staple since 2009, nicknamed the town's 'Cheers': tacos, burritos, sandwiches and burgers with solid vegetarian options, local craft beer, a kids' menu and games.
  • El Facon Grill & BarFood & CoffeeArgentine asado house: meat cooked slowly over the grill for a smoky flavour, milanesas, fresh fish and veggie dishes, in a family-friendly room with live music.
  • El Lagarto BBQFood & CoffeeA long-time Sámara classic at the northern end of the beach: open-air tables and steak, chicken and seafood cooked on a big wood-fired grill, served with baked potato and vegetables.
  • El Somos CaféFood & CoffeeA café, small hotel and surf shop in Santa Teresa loved for its coffee - house-roasted beans, excellent cappuccinos - and fresh pastries, with a garden to sit in.
  • Gusto Beach Club (Sámara)Food & CoffeeAn upscale beach club on the sand in the center of Sámara with loungers facing the bay and a big Italian-leaning menu – antipasti, pasta, pizza, focaccia, poke bowls and a kids' menu.
  • Ice Dream Gelato & Coffee ShopFood & CoffeeLittle café in the middle of Montezuma for coffee, breakfast and gelato - the easy cool-down stop between the beach and the falls.
  • Indígena Café & ChocolateFood & Coffee · from $15A jungle café 100 m before the Cabo Blanco reserve entrance making bean-to-bar chocolate: hot chocolate, brownies and coffee, plus hands-on chocolate tours where you taste cacao and make your own bar.
  • Kooks SmokehouseFood & CoffeeSports-bar-style smokehouse at the north end of the Playa Carmen strip: slow-smoked brisket, giant onion rings, comfort food and craft beer on tap.
  • La Selva Cerveza ArtesanalFood & CoffeeA small, low-key craft brewery in Cabuya pouring its own well-liked beers - a laid-back spot to end a day at Cabo Blanco.
  • Las Olas Beach Bar (Sámara)Food & CoffeeA locally owned, rustic hangout with tables right on the sand at the northern end of Sámara beach: tacos, burritos, burgers, sushi and pasta, happy hour 4–6 p.m., and live music, open jams and karaoke nights.
  • Mar y Fuego Pizzería & RestauranteFood & CoffeePizza and seafood place near the beach: sourdough pizzas from a wood oven, tuna poke, lobster tacos and fish straight off the grill, with live music some nights.
  • Naked FoodsFood & CoffeePlant-based food truck and kitchen by chef Jan Paul in north Playa Guiones: organic burgers, bowls, breakfast burritos and cold-pressed juices.
  • Orgánico Nosara (Bakery & Grocer)Food & CoffeeBeloved Nosara bakery, café and organic grocer.
  • Pacífico Azul RestaurantFood & CoffeeCosta Rican family-owned seafood restaurant at Playa Guiones, cooking Garza-family recipes with local fish and shrimp.
  • Panadería Cabuya CafeteríaFood & CoffeeCabuya's village bakery-café, the go-to for breakfast or lunch before or after Cabo Blanco and the cemetery island: fresh bread, pastries and simple plates, with hundreds of happy reviews.
  • Panadería La Castellana (La Caste)Food & CoffeeNicoya's go-to bakery for breakfast, sweet breads and cakes, with a reputation for clean, fresh baking; the strawberry lemonade with spearmint is a local favourite.
  • Restaurante La ChozaFood & CoffeeFarm-to-table Costa Rican restaurant serving traditional casados, ceviches and slow-cooked beef.
  • Restaurante La Fulana CosaFood & CoffeeRestaurant tucked into the woods outside Nicoya, praised for its mixed ceviche, Italian dishes, friendly staff and relaxed garden setting.
  • Restaurante La Luna (Playa Pelada)Food & CoffeeAn upscale beachfront restaurant on Playa Pelada with one of the best sunset views in Nosara; the menu is international with a Mediterranean lean and plenty of seafood.
  • Restaurante Montezuma Latino Beach FoodFood & CoffeeA casual beachfront spot in the center of Montezuma for fish and shrimp tacos, patacones with guacamole and whole fried snapper, with mojitos, coco locos and passion fruit margaritas and an ocean view.
  • Roots Bakery & CaféFood & CoffeeA small, locally owned bakery-café on the road out of Sámara with homemade pastries, tarts, scones, cinnamon rolls, croissants and pies, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches; seats inside with A/C and in a garden courtyard.
  • Sabor de Mar MontezumaFood & CoffeeSmall seafood spot in Montezuma that reviewers call a hidden gem: very fresh ceviche, fish in shrimp sauce and big portions at fair prices, with friendly staff.
  • Sano Banano Restaurant & BarFood & CoffeeLong-running vegetarian-friendly restaurant a few steps from Montezuma beach, with a leafy patio, vegan and gluten-free plates and a mixed menu (mushroom pasta, tofu curry, seafood).
  • Tanga Restaurant & Camping (Punta Coyote)Food & CoffeeBeach restaurant and campground in the palm grove at the south end of Playa Coyote, near Punta Coyote, where the rocky headland keeps the water calm; it rents surfboards for the reef breaks about 20 minutes' walk around the point.
  • Teca BeachFood & CoffeeA cozy dinner spot on Sámara's soccer field, opened in 2021 by a French chef: beef tenderloin with sweet-potato gratin, tuna steak, a classic burger with fries.
  • The BakeryFood & CoffeeOne of Santa Teresa's most reviewed spots: a bakery-café serving pastries, big breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers and Mediterranean-style plates from early morning until late.
  • The Roastery CoffeeFood & CoffeeCoffee bar near the Playa Carmen crossroads, one of the cafés travellers single out in Santa Teresa; vegan options.

Yoga & Wellness

Sodas & Local Food

  • Cocina a Leña La CobaneñaSodas & Local FoodA Costa Rican restaurant in central Cóbano cooking over a wood-fired stove (cocina a leña) - traditional country-style food right on the route between Paquera and the beaches.
  • La CevicheriaSodas & Local FoodPeruvian-style ceviche house using locally caught seafood; reviewers single out the Mexichina and shrimp ceviches.
  • Malibu Restaurante (formerly Soda Colochos)Sodas & Local FoodA simple soda in the center of Sámara, right next to the weekly farmers market and shaded by big Guanacaste trees – some of the best traditional food in town at local prices.
  • Olga's BarSodas & Local FoodA super-casual local favorite right on the sand at Playa Pelada that has been around for years – grab a cold beer, watch the surfers and beach walkers, and order the patacones with guacamole.
  • Restaurante Agua DulceSodas & Local FoodCosta Rican food done a notch up, in the middle of Sámara across from the Palí supermarket: gallo pinto, casados, ceviche, patacones and rice dishes, fresh fruit smoothies, and olla de carne on Sundays.
  • Rosi's Soda Tica (Guiones)Sodas & Local FoodTraditional lunch soda in Guiones where fish or steak comes with rice, beans, salad and vegetables.
  • Soda ChuSodas & Local FoodA friendly roadside soda in Paquera that's a favorite breakfast stop on the way to or from the ferry: gallo pinto, empanadas, pollo en salsa and huge fruit milkshakes, served at outdoor tables.
  • Soda El ArtesanoSodas & Local FoodSimple local soda in the centre of Montezuma, right next door to Soda La Naranja, serving typical plates and fish at some of the lowest prices in town.
  • Soda FamiliarSodas & Local FoodA well-loved family soda in Cóbano, the market town on the way to Santa Teresa and Montezuma - good for an early, cheap Tico breakfast or lunch.
  • Soda La EsmeraldaSodas & Local FoodA roadside soda on the Paquera-Tambor road with a solid Google rating from over 250 reviews - a handy refuel stop for traditional Costa Rican food.
  • Soda La NaranjaSodas & Local FoodFamily-owned soda in Montezuma serving authentic Costa Rican plates: orange chicken, ceviche, fish tacos and mango smoothies in generous portions at reasonable prices.
  • Soda La PerlaSodas & Local FoodFamily-run soda a few streets from Sámara beach with a loyal local following: big casados, ceviche and fried fish at fair prices in a cozy, no-frills room.
  • Soda Lula (Paquera)Sodas & Local FoodA well-rated local soda in Paquera that opens before dawn - handy for an early breakfast before the first ferry.
  • Soda Pura Vida (Santa Teresa)Sodas & Local FoodLocal soda on Santa Teresa's main road - the budget pick for typical Costa Rican food among the strip's pricier restaurants.
  • Soda RocamarSodas & Local FoodBeach soda built around locally caught fish, with fish tacos, guacamole and sandwiches served a few steps from the sand.
  • Soda Soy TicoSodas & Local FoodA busy, no-frills soda in Santa Teresa serving generous Costa Rican plates - casados, ceviche with patacones, arroz con pollo - and fresh fruit juices, with fans cooling the open dining room.
  • Soda Tica LindaSodas & Local FoodSmall family-run soda praised for crispy patacones, fried snapper, ceviche made from local fish and fruit smoothies, with the best value-for-money reputation in town.
  • Soda Típica Las PalmerasSodas & Local FoodBudget-friendly soda in the center of Montezuma with a balcony over the beach where white-faced monkeys play in the trees.
  • Soda TiquiciaSodas & Local FoodCasual local soda in Santa Teresa known for generous plates of Costa Rican comfort food, especially fish casado, fried red snapper and mixed ceviche, at fair prices.
  • Soda VanessaSodas & Local FoodEveryday soda in Nosara, popular with locals for big breakfasts and set lunches at friendly prices; gallo pinto with eggs and tomato is the reviewers' favourite.
  • Soda y Cevichera MarySodas & Local FoodSmall cevichería-soda in Nosara with fresh ceviche, fish casados and a few vegan plates.

Parks & Wildlife

  • IAR Costa Rica - Nosara Wildlife Rescue CenterParks & WildlifeWildlife rescue and rehabilitation center near Nosara that opens a few mornings a week for guided educational visits.
  • Parque Marino del PacíficoParks & WildlifeAquarium park in Puntarenas' old railway station, about three hectares of tanks with sea turtles, tropical fish, rays, crocodiles and large sharks, plus a small pool and play area for children - an easy family stop at the east end of the seafront.
  • Sibu Wildlife SanctuaryParks & Wildlife · from $40Non-profit sanctuary near Nosara that rehabilitates and houses injured and orphaned wildlife, mostly howler monkeys.

Surf, Boats & Diving

  • Iguana DiversSurf, Boats & DivingPADI 5 Star dive center in Santa Teresa since 2014 running daily dive trips, courses and wildlife boat tours.
  • Natura SurfLifeSurf, Boats & DivingSanta Teresa surf school with more than 20 years of experience, also renting ATVs and booking waterfall and Isla Tortuga tours.
  • Tico's Surf School (Sámara)Surf, Boats & Diving · from $60Beachfront surf school on Playa Sámara's gentle, sandy break with ISA-certified instructors, lockers and showers.

Day Passes & Hot Springs

Stays

Transfers & Rentals

  • Zuma ToursTransfers & Rentals · takes 1 hMontezuma-based operator running the water taxi between Jacó and Montezuma, plus private transfers and boat tours.

Secret spots in Nicoya Peninsula

  • Puntarenas-Paquera Ferry CrossingLandmarkThe car ferry between Puntarenas and Paquera is the classic way onto the southern Nicoya Peninsula, and the crossing is a mini cruise through the Gulf of Nicoya, past green islands and, on late runs, sunsets over the water.
  • Isla TortugaBeachA palm-fringed island in the Gulf of Nicoya with white sand, clear water for snorkeling and a lookout trail.
  • La Punta Lighthouse & Sunset Point (Puntarenas)Viewpoint · FreeThe very tip of the Puntarenas sand spit: a red-and-white lighthouse over a rock breakwater, a small seafront park with lit walkways and benches, and ferries to Paquera and Playa Naranjo gliding past.
  • Montezuma WaterfallWaterfall · about $4A tall jungle waterfall plunging into a big, deep swimming pool, reached by scrambling up the Montezuma riverbed from the edge of town.
  • Ostional Turtle BeachNature spot · about $10One of the world's most important nesting beaches for olive ridley turtles: during an 'arribada', thousands come ashore over a few nights to lay their eggs.
  • Paseo de los Turistas (Puntarenas seafront)Park · FreePuntarenas' seafront promenade runs about 3 km along the gulf side of the sand spit: tall palms, seafood restaurants, souvenir stalls and the kiosks where the churchill was born - shaved ice with kola syrup, condensed and powdered milk, topped with ice cream.
  • Playa CarrilloBeach · FreeA near-perfect crescent of white sand fringed with coconut palms, with calm water and not a building on the beach — a local favorite just south of Sámara.
  • Playa GuionesBeach · FreeNosara's long surf beach: forgiving, consistent waves on a sandy bottom and a green, forested shoreline with no buildings on the sand.
  • Playa SámaraBeach · FreeA reef-sheltered bay with gentle waves, a relaxed Tico village behind it and little Isla Chora offshore — the most family-friendly swimming beach on the peninsula.
  • Playa Santa TeresaBeach · FreeMiles of pale sand, consistent surf and black-rock points — the beach that turned a dirt-road village into the Nicoya Peninsula's surf and yoga capital.
  • ASVO Sea Turtle Hatchery (Montezuma)Nature spotA volunteer-run hatchery at the north end of Playa Montezuma, where sea turtle nests are protected in a fenced nursery on the sand.
  • Barra Honda National ParkTrail · about $12A limestone hill riddled with caves above the Tempisque plains: hike up through dry forest to a lookout over the Gulf of Nicoya, or climb down a ladder into Terciopelo Cave with a guide.
  • Cabo Blanco Reserve — Swedish TrailTrail · about $14Costa Rica's first protected area, at the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula: a hilly forest trail with monkeys and coatis drops to a wild, empty beach facing Isla Cabo Blanco and its seabirds.
  • Colonial Church of San Blas (Nicoya)Landmark · FreeOne of Costa Rica's oldest churches: thick whitewashed walls rebuilt in the 19th century on a 17th-century parish, with colonial statues and old bells, facing Nicoya's central park.
  • Curú Wildlife RefugeNature spot · about $15A family-run refuge of dry forest, mangroves and calm bays near Paquera where capuchin, howler and spider monkeys, deer and coatis are easy to spot.
  • El Chorro Waterfall (Playa Cocalito)Waterfall · FreeOne of the few waterfalls in Costa Rica that pours straight onto a beach — it spills off a cliff at the north end of Playa Cocalito into the Pacific.
  • Fiestas Cívicas de Cóbano (fairground)LandmarkFor two weeks every February the fairground just outside Cóbano hosts the southern peninsula's biggest local party: Costa Rican bull riding every late afternoon, a tope horse parade through town, decorated ox carts, carnival rides, food stalls and live bands with dancing late into the night, wrapping up with fireworks and marimba.
  • Isla ChoraNature spot · about $10A forested islet just off Sámara beach, reached by kayak, boat or a strong swim, with a small beach, reef snorkeling and iguanas and pelicans on the rocks.
  • Isla San Lucas (old prison island)LandmarkAn uninhabited island in the Gulf of Nicoya that served for decades as one of Costa Rica's most feared prisons and is now a national wildlife refuge.
  • Mal País Tide Pools (Mar Azul)Swimming spot · FreeNatural 'hot tubs' carved into the volcanic rock shelf at Mal País: when the sea pulls back, it leaves clear pools full of little fish, some barrel-sized, some big enough to float in.
  • Montezuma Coast Trail (Nicolás Wessberg Reserve)Trail · FreeA jungle-and-beach path that leaves the north end of Montezuma and runs through the Nicolás Wessberg reserve past rocky coves to Piedra Colorada and on towards Playa Grande.
  • Museo Islita - open-air art villageLandmark · hidden gemSince the early 2000s Costa Rican artists have been turning tiny Islita into what's billed as the country's only open-air contemporary art museum: house walls, the community hall, the plaza and even tree trunks carry murals, mosaics and carvings - some made to fade with sun and rain.
  • Nicoya Central Park (Parque Recaredo Briceño Arauz)Park · FreeNicoya's shaded town square with big trees, walkways and a playground, right next to the colonial San Blas church - a good place to people-watch.
  • Pelada–Guiones Trail & Lookout (Nosara NCA trails)Trail · FreeNosara's beaches are tied together by about 9 km of forest trails that the Nosara Civic Association protects on some 250 hectares through Guiones, Pelada and Boca Nosara.
  • Piedra Colorada (waterfall and cove)Waterfall · FreeA small stream drops out of the forest onto a pebble cove just north of Montezuma, with colorful rocks in the stream bed and a cool swimming hole.
  • Playa Carmen (Mal País)Beach · FreeA long surf beach just south of Santa Teresa with a more relaxed feel, forest behind the sand and beginner-friendly waves.
  • Playa CedrosBeach · FreeA beach on the stretch of coast between Montezuma and Cabuya, with two well-rated listings on Google (over 250 reviews combined).
  • Playa Cuevas (Playa Los Suecos)Beach · FreeA small, sheltered cove at the very south end of Mal País, where the road runs out next to the Cabo Blanco reserve.
  • Playa Grande (Montezuma)Beach · Free · hidden gemA long, nearly empty beach north of Montezuma, reached by a jungle coast trail past rocky coves.
  • Playa Hermosa (Santa Teresa)Beach · FreeA wide, jungle-backed beach a few minutes north of Santa Teresa with no buildings on the sand and some of the most consistent beginner-friendly waves on the coast.
  • Playa Islita (Punta Islita bay)Beach · FreeA horseshoe bay of grey sand tucked behind the rocky cliff of Punta Islita, with a forested islet off the point.
  • Playa Las ManchasBeach · FreeA pocket of pale sand and clear water just south of Montezuma, with dark rock points at the ends and forest right behind.
  • Playa Mal PaísBeach · FreeThe quieter, rugged southern neighbour of Santa Teresa - a working fishing beach with dark sand, rocky points, tide pools and big sunsets.
  • Playa MontezumaBeach · FreeThe palm-lined beach of bohemian Montezuma, with rocky coves strung north along a coastal path through the forest.
  • Playa PeladaBeach · FreeNosara's smaller, calmer beach, with rocky points, low-tide pools, shady trees and a blowhole that fires spray around the turn of the tide.
  • Playa QueseraBeach · FreeA small cove of dazzling white sand and clear, calm water next to the Curú wildlife refuge, once ranked Costa Rica's best beach by the GoPlaya guide.
  • Playa San JuanilloBeach · FreeA tucked-away cove where a thin strip of sand separates two bays - one calm, one with livelier waves - with rock shelves and tide pools at low tide.
  • Puntarenas Cathedral (Sagrado Corazón de Jesús)Landmark · FreeA stone-and-brick church built in 1902 in the middle of the port, unusual for the hot coast with its rough stone walls and square bell tower.
  • Puntarenas Municipal Market & old fishing mooringsLocal shop · FreeThe market hall on the calm estuary side of town, with the old port right behind it, where small traditional fishing boats still tie up.
  • Sámara Saturday Market (Feria)Local shop · FreeA tree-shaded Saturday market (7 am to 2 pm) with fresh tropical fruit and vegetables, fish, homemade street food, crafts and live music.
  • Annie's Beach (Playa Palmeras)Beach · Free · hidden gemA tiny cove just south of Montezuma, below Soda Típica Las Palmeras, framed by black rocks, palms and green hills.
  • Belén WaterfallWaterfall · Free · hidden gemA small waterfall with swimming holes in the hills behind Sámara, about 20 minutes from town.
  • Cabuya Island CemeteryLandmark · Free · hidden gemA tiny island off Cabuya used as the village cemetery — at low tide you can walk across the rocks to weathered graves facing the open sea.
  • Cerro CaballitoViewpoint · about $10 · hidden gemA family-run hill near the village of Caballito, between the Tempisque Bridge and Nicoya.
  • Cerro de la Cruz (Nicoya lookout)Viewpoint · Free · hidden gemA hilltop cross above the town of Nicoya, about a 40-minute hike up, with panoramic views over the town and the surrounding plains.
  • Cóbano Church and SquareLandmark · FreeThe parish church of the Immaculate Conception in Cóbano, the market town that serves Santa Teresa, Montezuma and Cabuya, with the town park a short walk away.
  • Humedal Riberino ZapandíNature spotA riverine wetland reserve in Guanacaste, created in 1993.
  • Isla Alcatraz & Isla Tolinga (snorkel channel)Nature spot · hidden gemTwo small islets beside Isla Tortuga with a sheltered channel of clear water between them - a stop for snorkeling and paddleboarding on day trips.
  • Isla de Chira (Gulf of Nicoya)Nature spot · hidden gemThe biggest island in the Gulf of Nicoya and one of the most local trips in Costa Rica: about 3,500 islanders living from fishing, oysters and salt pans, with mangroves covering a quarter of the island.
  • Isla Guayabo pelican colony (seen from the ferry)Nature spot · Free · hidden gemA cliff-sided rock island in the middle of the gulf and the largest of Costa Rica's few brown-pelican nesting colonies, shared with boobies and frigatebirds, and peregrine falcons in winter.
  • Isla Venado (Gulf of Nicoya)Nature spot · hidden gemA hilly dry-forest island of about 1,100 people, mostly in fishing villages on the north shore, reached by a short launch through the mangroves.
  • Mal País fishing harbor (Playa Muelle)Landmark · Free · hidden gemPast the last surf hotels, Mal País ends at a small fishing harbor on a little cove: boats heading out for snapper, wahoo and roosterfish, and the departure point for fishing, snorkel and SUP trips into the Cabo Blanco marine area.
  • Mirador Monte RomoViewpointA viewpoint near Hojancha, Costa Rica.
  • Mirador Puerto CarrilloViewpoint · FreeA lookout in the hairpin bend above Playa Carrillo with a postcard view over the palm-fringed crescent and the bay.
  • Montezuma Saturday Beach MarketLocal shop · FreeA small Saturday-morning community market by the beach in Montezuma: local produce, homemade bread and sauces, ready-to-eat food and crafts from local artisans, with a laid-back, hippie feel.
  • Nicoya Municipal MarketLocal shop · FreeNicoya's traditional market with farm-fresh produce, household goods and some of the cheapest local lunches in town.
  • Parque Marino del PacificoParkA public park near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Agujas NorteBeachA beach near San Juanillo, Guanacaste province.
  • Playa AlbinaBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Bajo NegroBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa BalsitasBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Barco QuebradoBeach · Free · hidden gem'Broken Boat Beach' – a small, quiet beach between Sámara and Garza with soft tan sand, blue water and rocky reef shelves.
  • Playa BarrigonaBeach · Free · hidden gemA secluded white-sand beach between Sámara and Nosara, backed by jungle hills and empty most days.
  • Playa Bejuco & Pilas de Bejuco tide poolsBeach · Free · hidden gemA 3.5 km beach between mangrove estuaries, with a lagoon at the mouth of the Río Bejuco that shelters the local fishing boats - buy fish straight from the fishermen and watch pelicans and wood storks.
  • Playa Blanca (Bahía Gigante)Beach · FreeA pale-sand gulf beach in the Gigante area north of Paquera, with almost no waves and green, glassy water.
  • Playa BlanquitaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Cabo BlancoBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CabuyaBeach · Free · hidden gemThe village beach of Cabuya, near the tip of the peninsula, looking out at the little island just offshore where local fishermen are buried.
  • Playa CaleraBeachA beach near Chira, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa CamaritaBeachA beach near Manzanillo, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa CamarónBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa CañablancalBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa ChancheraBeachA beach near Playa Manzano, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa ChinoBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa ColoradaBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CoquimbaBeachA beach near Lepanto, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa CotoBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CoyolBeachA beach near Playa Manzano, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa CuajiniquilBeachA beach near Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste province.
  • Playa CuchilloBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa El InglésBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa EspañolaBeachA beach on the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa GarzaBeach · Free · hidden gemA calm, reef-sheltered bay between Sámara and Nosara with a fishing village in the middle, tide pools at the rocky ends and shade from trees along the sand.
  • Playa GuaitilarBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Hacienda ViejaBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Las ViuditasBeachA beach near Playa Las Viuditas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LeñaBeachA beach near Chira, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LeonaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LimónBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LisaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LolaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LombriceraBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa LorenzaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Mango (Río Grande de Paquera)Beach · FreeA small, calm gulf beach north of Paquera with smooth dark sand, hardly any waves and a pretty view across the bay - reviewers call it a slice of heaven and great for kids.
  • Playa ManzailloBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Manzanillo (Santa Teresa)Beach · Free · hidden gemA quiet mix of white sand, black rock and palms past Playa Hermosa, with clear rock pools between mid and low tide and a wide-open sunset horizon.
  • Playa ManzanoBeachA beach near Playa Manzano, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa MargaritaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa MoraBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa MuertoBeachA beach near Nancite, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Nosara (Boca Nosara)Beach · FreeA long, peaceful stretch north of Playa Pelada, inside the Ostional refuge, where fishermen still haul their boats up the sand and the Nosara River reaches the sea.
  • Playa Órganos (Paquera)Beach · Free · hidden gemA quiet dark-sand beach on the Gulf of Nicoya side near Paquera, with green hills across the water and lots of room - a calmer alternative to the Pacific surf beaches.
  • Playa OrienteBeachA beach near Lepanto, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Pájaros (Paquera)Beach · FreeA small, sheltered gulf beach north of Paquera with very calm water and hardly any waves - reviewers call it safe for kids.
  • Playa PalomoBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa PilitasBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa PleitoBeachA beach near Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste province.
  • Playa PochoteBeach · FreeA long, clean gulf-side beach at the northern end of Bahía Ballena, next to the small town of Pochote, with a campground just behind it.
  • Playa PraderaBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa Punta BlancaBeachA beach near Playa Punta Blanca, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa QuizalesBeachA beach near Cóbano, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa RobleBeachA beach near Chira, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa RosarioBeachA beach near Cuajiniquil, Guanacaste province.
  • Playa San MiguelBeach · Free · hidden gemMiles of fine grey sand with hardly anyone on them - just scattered vacation homes, a granite headland to poke around and huge skies at sunset.
  • Playa SontolarBeachA beach near Paquera, Puntarenas province.
  • Playa SueñosBeach · Free · hidden gemA wide, clean stretch of white sand between Playa Carmen and central Santa Teresa with shade trees along the back.
  • Playa TamborBeach · FreeA wide, calm crescent of gulf-side sand beside the small town of Tambor, with room for long walks and thin crowds outside the resort stretch.
  • Playa TumbaboteBeachA beach near Puntarenas, Puntarenas province.
  • Pozas La Florida (La Florida falls and pools)Swimming spot · about $4 · hidden gemA string of small waterfalls and swimming pools on a river in the farm country of La Florida, inland from Montezuma.
  • Puntarenas Estuary & MangrovesNature spot · hidden gemBehind the town, on the calm side of the sand spit, a protected mangrove estuary stretches for miles along the coast.
  • Puntarenas History Museum & Casa de la Cultura (old barracks)Landmark · hidden gemThe port's old barracks - a sand-coloured building with crenellated walls - now hold the city's history museum: art exhibitions, displays on the first Indigenous settlements, the story of the port and the gulf's wildlife.
  • Reserva Biológica Isla PájarosNature spotA small island biological reserve created in 1976, in the Central Pacific Conservation Area.
  • Reserva Biológica Islas NegritosNature spotTwo islands in the Gulf of Nicoya, protected as a reserve for seasonal migratory birds.
  • Reserva Biológica Nosara (river mouth and tide flats)Nature spot · hidden gemWhere the Nosara River meets the Pacific: rocky tide flats and tide pools, a sandbar river mouth and plenty of pelicans, terns and shorebirds.
  • Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo BlancoNature spotCabo Blanco, at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, protects about 12.7 km² of land and 17.9 km² of sea.
  • Reserva Natural Monte Alto (Hojancha)Trail · about $5 · hidden gemA community-run forest reserve in the hills south of Hojancha, started in 1994 when locals bought land to bring back the springs of the Nosara River.
  • Tambor coast path to the 'Jesus Tree' (Arbolito Solitario)Trail · Free · hidden gemFrom Tambor's fishing pier a footpath wraps south around the rocky shore - past a little neighbourhood of fishermen and artisans, under big old trees where monkeys hang out - to a lone red mangrove growing out of the rocks in the sea.
  • Cangrejal Tide Pools (west of Sámara)Nature spot · Free · hidden gemRocky shoreline at the west end of Sámara bay where low tide uncovers pools with crabs, puffer fish, wading birds and, reportedly, moray eels.
  • Islita overlook (Corozalito-Islita road)Viewpoint · Free · hidden gemOn the steep, hairpin road between Corozalito and Islita the jungle opens over Islita bay, and from the hilltops here the coastline runs south as far as Mal País.
  • Mirador NacaomeViewpoint · hidden gemA viewpoint near Mansión, Guanacaste province.
  • Playa AngosturaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa AríoBeach · Free · hidden gemA long, wild beach north of Manzanillo inside the Caletas-Arío wildlife refuge, where sea turtles come ashore to nest and conservation volunteers work nearby.
  • Playa BarrigonaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa BellavistaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa BlancaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa BonitaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Buena VistaBeach · Free · hidden gemA long, wild beach just west of Sámara with river mouths and mangroves at both ends — great for empty walks, birding and wide sunsets.
  • Playa Caletas (Caletas-Arío refuge)Beach · Free · hidden gemA remote beach on the open Pacific between Manzanillo and Coyote, protected as part of the Caletas-Arío national wildlife refuge - a place for a long, quiet walk rather than a swim.
  • Playa CamaronalBeach · Free · hidden gemA long, wild beach south of Sámara inside the Camaronal wildlife refuge, where sea turtles nest in the wetter months.
  • Playa ChacaritaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CocoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CoronadoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa CorozalitoBeach · Free · hidden gemA quiet turtle-nesting beach south of Sámara, near the little village of Corozalito, far from the tour routes.
  • Playa CoyoteBeach · Free · hidden gemA huge, almost deserted beach on the remote south coast of the peninsula, split by a mangrove river and backed by farms and forest.
  • Playa El CocoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa El CocoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Gigante (Bahía Gigante)Beach · Free · hidden gemThe beach of Gigante, an old fishing village on the Gulf of Nicoya surrounded by forested hills, with the remains of an old pier.
  • Playa JícaroBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa LagarteritoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa LagarteroBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa LangostaBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Las PlayitasBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa Los Muertos (Pochote)Beach · Free · hidden gemA small gulf-side beach just east of Pochote, beside the Los Vivos beachfront hotel.
  • Playa NaranjoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa NegraBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PanamáBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PavonesBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PencalBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PencalBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PochoteBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa PochoteBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa TamarindoBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa TorresBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Playa VentanasBeachA beach in the Nicoya Peninsula.
  • Río Lajas mouth & lagoon (Cabuya)Swimming spot · Free · hidden gemNorth of Cabuya village the Río Lajas meets the sea and backs up into a calm lagoon - a cool dip away from the waves.