Bahía Junquillal Wildlife Refuge (Playa Junquillal, La Cruz)
Beach · Guanacaste
A sheltered 2 km white-sand bay in a small protected refuge near Cuajiniquil, with calm water inside marked swim limits, Blue Flag status and shady picnic and camping areas. Short flat trails through dry forest and mangrove are good for birds, monkeys, coatis and iguanas.
Closed Tuesdays; open Wed-Mon 8 am-6 pm. Run by Aso Junquillal (WhatsApp +506 6231 5191) for camping and day reservations.
- Cost
- about $14
- Time there
- 4 h
- Best time
- weekday morning, dry season
- Kids
- 9 / 10
- View
- 8 / 10
- Crowds
- 4 / 10
- Swimming
- 8 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 10.96983, -85.68804 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Entry
- $13.56 for visitors · ₡2,260 for residents · 2-12 years: $5.65 / 1,130 colones · camping extra: adults 4,520 colones ($18.08), kids 3,390 colones; kayak 5,000 (single) / 8,000 (double) colones per 30 min
- Payment
- cash, card
- Tickets
- Pay at the entrance
- Road
- Gravel — a regular car is fine
- Swimming
- Yes
- Facilities
- restrooms, showers, shade, drinking water
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Bring
- insect repellent, food, charcoal or gas for the grills, swimsuit
- Fewer people
- Popular with Costa Rican families on weekends and holidays; weekdays are calm.
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Rent a kayak for half an hour inside the calm bay; to snorkel the coral around Isla Muñecos, hire a boat in Cuajiniquil.
Be careful
Swim inside the marked limits. Bring strong insect repellent: mosquitoes come out at dusk, and the wind can be strong at night if you camp.
Getting there
From the Interamericana, take the Cuajiniquil turnoff, drive about 8 km to Cuajiniquil, then 4 km north on a dirt road to the entrance.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/469234973 · Wikidata Q15229866 · https://reservaciones.acguanacaste.ac.cr/en/junquillal · https://visitcostarica.com/blog/take-plunge-and-discover-bahia-junquillal-national-refuge · https://www.lonelyplanet.com/points-of-interest/refugio-nacional-de-vida-silvestre-bahia-junquillal/1201245