Costa Rica Beaches

Costa Rica, meaning "Rich Coast", certainly lives up to its name. With its famous beaches, volcanoes, and wildlife, it's the perfect destination for travelers looking to relax in the sun, soak up the beautiful scenery, and enjoy great food.

The white sand beaches make Costa Rica an obvious attraction to any beach lover, but it's also home to rainforests, reefs, and swamps, making it a unique location for exploration. So whether you're a beach bum, surfer, or wildlife enthusiast, you're sure to find the perfect destination for your next vacation among some of the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's Natural Beauty

Home to five percent of the world's biodiversity, beaches in Costa Rica will blow you away with their natural beauty. From turtles and scarlet macaws, to the turquoise waters of the white sand beaches, it's a paradise.

National parks

With 27 national parks, there's no wonder why Costa Rica is such a popular destination.

One of the most beautiful is Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific coast, not far from the country's capital, San Jose. Manuel Antonio Park has four beaches including Manuel Antonio Beach and Playa Espadilla. These light beaches are popular destinations for surfing, snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing.

Monkeys and sloths are the most notable inhabitants, as well as iguanas, lizards, and a vast variety of birds, like toucans and parakeets. Taking a guided tour is a great way to introduce yourself to the wildlife.

Marino Ballena National Park is worth noting too, it's named after the humpback whales that migrate there each year. At the right time, you might find baby sea turtles making their way out to sea on the Costa Rica Playa.

Volcanos

There are currently 6 active and 61 inactive volcanoes, all of which offer unique adventures. Take a scenic hike, explore the local wildlife, go on a guided tour, and try waterfall rappelling, rafting, and mountain biking.

One of the most popular volcanoes is the Arenal volcano in the stunning Arenal National Park, also home to the Chato volcano with its emerald lagoon.

Wildlife

Costa Rica is home to over 500,000 species of animals unique to Central America. You can find howler monkeys and jaguars in the forests, sea turtles, dolphins, and migrating whales in the waters, and more than a hundred different bird species in the sky.

A paradise for birdwatchers, Costa Rica is the hummingbird capital of the world and is home to over 50 species of birds. A great way to see them is to visit the tranquil La Paz Waterfall Gardens, which features 5 magical waterfalls and the country's largest animal sanctuary. You can see 26 species of hummingbird there along with butterflies, monkeys, frogs, and snakes.