Playa Minas (Zapotillal)
Beach · Guanacaste · hidden gem
A white-sand, forest-backed beach with no buildings at the end of a rough dirt road — one of the last truly wild beaches between Tamarindo and Flamingo.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2.5 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 4 / 10
- View
- 9 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 6 / 10
- Effort
- 5 / 10
- Location
- 10.39609, -85.83083 — Google Maps
Tip
Bring everything — water, food, shade. There's no shop, bathroom or cell signal.
Be careful
Waves can get big with rip currents. It's a turtle nesting beach — never drive on the sand. Leave nothing visible in the car.
Getting there
Rough dirt road with deep potholes; a 4×4 or high-clearance car is recommended, especially after rain.
Places nearby
- Papaya Restaurant (Conchal Hotel)Food & CoffeeGarden restaurant inside the small Conchal Hotel in Brasilito.
- Soda BrasilitoSodas & Local FoodBeachfront soda in Brasilito with cheap, filling plates such as arroz con pollo, arroz con mariscos and casados.
- Patagonia del MarFood & CoffeePopular beachfront restaurant in Brasilito with Pacific views - come around sunset.
- Blue Valley Chocolate (Beach Chocolate Factory)Food & CoffeeSmall bean-to-bar chocolate maker with a shop and workshop in Brasilito, where you can taste, make your own bar or visit its organic cacao farm.
- Restaurante Coco LocoFood & CoffeeBeach bar and seafood restaurant on Flamingo beach, known for its coco loco cocktail served in a coconut and for sunsets.
- a'lo NicoFood & CoffeeSmall Flamingo restaurant run by a French chef and his Costa Rican wife, mixing both kitchens; breakfasts (crepes, fruit drinks) are the favorite.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/929406153 · https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-beach-information/playa-mina-guanacaste/ · https://ioverlander.com/places/19973-playa-mina-playa-zapotillal · https://wanderlog.com/place/details/763266/playa-zapotillal