Playas del Coco

Highlights

Perfect family beach

If you walk along the beach, you will see most of the visitors are families or friends just looking for a relaxing time. Compared to some of the other popular destinations in Guanacaste offering thrill and adventure, Coco has found its voice as a laid-back beach town. The calm waves may not accommodate surfers, but rather welcome children or even pets who want to enjoy the waters. If you want to add some extra fun to the mix, why not ride a banana boat or rent an ATV!

Costa Rica Nightlife 

The days may be slow and quiet, but the nights are not! The nightlife in Playas del Coco is some of the best in the whole of Guanacaste. With several bars lined up next to each other in the town and on the beach, you can choose from a great variety of sports – or dance bars. Happy hour actually lasts all night and bars like Coconutz and Zi Lounge offer some amazing live performances. Sports fanatics can enjoy the many bars equipped with big screens always airing a football game while those fond of dancing can make their way to the beach bars. If you are fortunate enough to celebrate New Year in Costa Rica, you don’t want to miss out on the largest party in the country right here at Coco beach!

Scuba diving

The tranquil waters make Coco the ideal place to explore the marine paradise that is Costa Rica. The close proximity of islands like Monkey Head and Catalinas, make Coco a great place to go scuba diving. If you wish, you can even get your PADI certificate. What a souvenir that would be!  If it is your first time out there, Coco is a great place to start. But whether you are a beginner or a veteran of the deep, you are bound to be mesmerized by Costa Rica’s underwater landscapes.

Fly like Superman

Costa Rica has no shortage of ziplining tours, but Playas de Coco boasts the longest Superman Zip Line in the country! Offering the most spectacular ocean views, this zip line is one of the most unique ones in the area. You won’t just enjoy the thrill of speed and height, but you will be doing so while rocketing towards the coasts and jungles as if you were a bird (or indeed Superman!) in flight. Located at the Diamante Eco Adventure Park, you can combine this Zip Line with some other magnificent tours exploring Coco’s waters or wildlife. Just free your arms and enjoy the flight!

Fishing

The town’s tradition as a fishing town is still very much alive to this day. Every morning locals set out to catch some fresh produce to enjoy or sell at local restaurants or markets. You can join in this tradition and take a fishing tour! Fish for mahi mahis and marlins guided by local captains with a profound knowledge of the waters.

Private boating tour

Coco beach might seem like a rather small one at first sight but it would be a mistake to think that this stretch of sand is all there is to it. When in Costa Rica, you will definitely want to see some perfect white sandy beaches and water so blue you thought it could only exist in highly Photoshopped pictures. Take a boat hopping tour and visit the lesser known gems like Playa Huevo, Playa Palmares and Playa Junquillal. You can combine these tours with snorkeling, fishing or surfing at the rougher beaches.

Explore the Gulf of Papagayo

Playa Ocotal, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, … Playas del Coco is far from the only beauty in the area. With each beach having its own unique qualities, you can add some spice and variety to your trip by exploring the Gulf of Papagayo’s greatest hits! The name says it all, Playa Hermosa is a simply gorgeous place to visit with Playa Panama coming in on a close second. And even though only 3 km from Coco, Playa Ocotal truly feels like another world. This golden sand treasure is famous for the white mists filling the fresh sea air. The therapeutic fogs are believed to contain healing properties and release positive energy within anyone who visits it.

Choose a day trip

There are some amazing day trips from Playas del Coco and one of the highlights is definitely the Playas del Coco Catamaran Tour. Spend the day sailing, sipping cocktails, exploring the reefs and end your tour with a beautiful sunset. If you are up for some more adventure, you can also plan a day trip to Nicaragua!

Tips

Visit between January and May: This is Costa Rica’s dry season and so the best time to visit the beaches.

Sail towards the sunset: At Playas del Coco you can view some amazing sunsets and you will no doubt enjoy it even more while sailing.

Explore other beaches in the area: No one beach is the same and it would be a shame to focus on one beach only. Hermosa, Ocotal, Panama, … Visit as many as you can!

Rent a car: If you want to get the most out of your trip and explore other beaches as well, you should definitely consider renting a car to make it easier on yourself.

Experience tranquility and solitude: Other beaches don’t have to include other tourists! Take a private boating tour and see some of the Pacific Coast’s hidden gems.

Getting there

Closest International Airport: Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR)

Playas del Coco is by far the easiest beach to reach. Located at a modest 25 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, your best option is to fly in from your country of origin or indeed from San Jose if you start your trip there. Once there, you can take a shuttle or rent a car to head to Coco. With Liberia laying at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 21, you can easily rent a car from San Jose as well. If you prefer to take a private shuttle from the capital you can do so, but keep in mind that these could cost around $200 where shared shuttles will cost you between $50 and $100.

Dining

Playas del Coco is a town made up from restaurants and bars and all of them offer a varied menu with local as well as international dishes. When at the beach, try some locally caught food! For the best seafood, you simply have to pop by Soda Mediterranea and Pescaderia Mar Azul. The best local food you can sample at Soda La Terisita or Nya restaurant.

Where to stay

If you are looking to complete your trip by booking a hotel offering everything from a magnificent pool to delicious food, look no further than Coco Beach Hotel. Located at only 75 meters from the beach, you are close to all the fun and can have even more so at the hotel casino. You can also use this hotel to book all of your tours and get all the info you need! If you favor the class and style of beachfront boutique hotels, you will definitely want to check-in to Cafe de Playa.