# The 22 Best Beaches in Costa Rica

> From shell-strewn coves and turtle-nesting shores to surf-town breaks and quiet Caribbean coves backed by rainforest, this coastline swings between postcard-famous and barely-signposted. Where do you stand?

*By YPB Team · Published August 24, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-22-best-beaches-in-costa-rica*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Manuel Antonio Beach** — score 1000/1000
   Pacific coast beach beside Manuel Antonio National Park, prized for calm turquoise water and sloths and monkeys in the treeline.
2. **Playa Ballena** — score 942/1000
   Whale's Tail-shaped sandbar beach inside Marino Ballena National Park near Uvita.
3. **Ostional** — score 888/1000
   Pacific beach famous for mass olive ridley sea turtle nesting events called arribadas.
4. **Playa Negra Cahuita** — score 753/1000
   Caribbean black-sand beach shaped by volcanic sediment, with a well-known reef surf break.
5. **Playa Blanca Cahuita** — score 668/1000
   White-sand beach inside Cahuita National Park backed by coastal rainforest and coral reef.
6. **Playa Cocles** — score 667/1000
   Caribbean-side beach near Puerto Viejo known for consistent surf breaks and a reggae-tinged beach-town feel.
7. **Playa Zancudo** — score 565/1000
   Remote southern Pacific beach favored by long-term surfers and sportfishermen for its quiet pace.
8. **Playa Samara** — score 565/1000
   Crescent bay beach protected by an offshore reef, known for calm, family-friendly swimming water.
9. **Playa Carrillo** — score 565/1000
   Palm-lined crescent beach near Samara often cited as one of Costa Rica's most beautiful shorelines.
10. **Punta Uva** — score 565/1000
   Twin-cove Caribbean beach backed by rainforest, with calm water and frequent sloth sightings.
11. **Playa Flamingo** — score 565/1000
   Guanacaste beach with a wide white-sand crescent and a marina popular with the sportfishing crowd.
12. **Playa Avellanas** — score 565/1000
   Guanacaste surf beach fronted by mangrove estuary, home to the famous Lola's beach bar.
13. **Montezuma** — score 439/1000
   Bohemian Nicoya Peninsula village beach set near waterfalls and tide pools.
14. **Playa Hermosa Guanacaste** — score 439/1000
   Calm crescent bay near Playas del Coco known for steady winds that favor windsurfing and kitesurfing.
15. **Pavones** — score 439/1000
   Golfo Dulce beach famous for one of the longest rideable left-hand surf breaks in the world.
16. **Playas del Coco** — score 282/1000
   Gulf of Papagayo fishing-town beach that serves as a launch point for scuba diving and nightlife.
17. **Tamarindo Beach** — score 282/1000
   Guanacaste's most developed beach town, with a long forgiving surf break and a lively nightlife scene.
18. **Playa Conchal** — score 282/1000
   Guanacaste beach made of crushed shells instead of sand, framed by unusually clear turquoise water.
19. **Santa Teresa** — score 282/1000
   Nicoya Peninsula surf beach with a laid-back, boutique-hotel scene that draws long-boarders and digital nomads.
20. **Playa Guiones** — score 282/1000
   Long, consistent Nosara beach break that anchors Costa Rica's yoga-and-surf retreat scene.
21. **Jaco Beach** — score 282/1000
   The closest beach town to San Jose, popular for surf schools and an active nightlife strip.
22. **Playa Chiquita** — score 282/1000
   Quiet Caribbean beach south of Puerto Viejo favored by snorkelers for its calm, reef-sheltered coves.

Tags: nature, travel, beaches, costa rica, central america