Playa Sueños
Beach · Nicoya Peninsula · hidden gem
A wide, clean stretch of white sand between Playa Carmen and central Santa Teresa with shade trees along the back. A relaxed spot to spread a towel, watch the surfers and stay for the sunset.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2 h
- Best time
- sunset
- Kids
- 3 / 10
- View
- 8 / 10
- Crowds
- 2 / 10
- Swimming
- 5 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 9.63244, -85.15926 — Google Maps
- Ratings
- 4.6 on Google (14)
Before you go
- Entry
- Free
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Road
- Paved all the way
- Swimming
- Only when the water is calm
- Facilities
- shade
- Bring
- tide chart
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Check the tide table first - the beach changes a lot between high and low tide, and low tide gives you the most room to walk.
Be careful
Surf beach with breaking waves - swim only in calm conditions. The break is crowded with local surfers, so beginners should learn elsewhere.
Getting there
Walk in from any beach access on the Santa Teresa-Playa Carmen stretch; the point is a short walk north of the Banana Beach area.
Places nearby
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- La CevicheriaSodas & Local FoodPeruvian-style ceviche house using locally caught seafood; reviewers single out the Mexichina and shrimp ceviches.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/1525949255 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1525949255 · https://www.google.com/maps/search/Playa+Sueños+Santa+Teresa+Costa+Rica