Costa Rica is known for its incredible coastline, stretching along both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Before arriving, we imagined calm, tropical beaches with somewhat crystal-clear water and perfect swimming conditions.

Finding the Best Beaches in Costa Rica

After nearly two months of exploring different parts of the country, we quickly realized something important:

Not all beaches in Costa Rica are the same.

Some are calm and swimmable, others are wild and powerful. Some are filled with people, while others feel completely untouched.

In this guide, we share our opinion on the best beaches we have personally visited in Costa Rica — including what surprised us, what we loved, and what you should realistically expect before going.

Pacific vs Caribbean Beaches – What to Expect

Before diving into specific beaches, it’s worth understanding the key differences between the two coasts and the beaches there.

The Pacific side generally offers warmer water, more sun, and a wider variety of beaches. However, it also tends to have stronger waves in many areas.

The Caribbean side, on the other hand, feels more tropical and lush, with jungle meeting the ocean. The water can be slightly cooler, and conditions vary a lot depending on the weather, with more humidity and rain overall — as well as higher chance of wildlife reaching all the way down to the beach.

Both coasts are worth exploring — but they offer very different experiences in our opinions.

If you want a more complete picture of what it’s actually like living here, read our full Costa Rica expectations vs reality after 2 months.

Best Beaches on the Pacific Coast

Biesanz Beach (Manuel Antonio)

Biesanz Beach was one of the more active and smaller beaches we visited in the Manuel Antonio area. Compared to many other beaches nearby, this one feels more sheltered, which makes the water noticeably calmer.

It’s one of the few places where we found the swimming conditions to be consistently comfortable. The water was warm, and we heard from others that snorkeling is possible there.

It’s also easy to spend a few hours here, as you can buy food and drinks directly at the beach.

What to expect:

• Warm water
• Calm swimming conditions
• Possibility of snorkeling
• Food and drinks available
• Can get busy

Playa Playitas (Manuel Antonio)

Playa Playitas offers a completely different experience. This is a large, open beach with plenty of space and a much more energetic atmosphere.

There’s a mix of both locals and tourists, and the beach feels more active compared to some of the smaller, hidden spots. The waves here were slightly bigger as the beach and ocean was more open, making it less ideal for relaxed swimming but great if you enjoy a more wild ocean and just want to take dips.

One of the highlights here was the wildlife — especially white faced monkeys and toucans, which we saw near the beach.

What to expect:

• Wide and spacious beach
• Bigger waves
• Lively atmosphere
• Monkeys and wildlife nearby

Playa Preciosa (Puerto Jiménez)

Playa Preciosa was easily one of the most impressive beaches we visited during our time in Costa Rica.

The beach is incredibly long and wide, and what makes it truly special is how untouched it feels. When we visited, there were almost no people (literally only about four others and on the far end from us). Also there are no restaurants or bars near by the beach nor any mini or supermarkets, so make sure to bring food and drinks from Puerto Jiménez before going out there. But all this is giving it a raw and remote atmosphere that’s hard to find.

Getting there is part of the experience. It’s about 6 km from Puerto Jiménez, accessed via a gravel road where we even spotted wildlife along the way as we walked out there. Seeing monkeys in the trees and various bird species, macaws, and pelicans flying over the palm trees and the ocean added to the feeling of being completely immersed in nature. That and us being completely alone on this stretch of the beach was amazing. Nice and fun beach to be at!

There is very little shade, and the sun can be intense, so it’s important to come prepared.

What to expect:

• Huge, untouched beach
• Very few people
• Wildlife along the way
• Macaws and tropical scenery
• Strong sun and little shade
• Larger waves

Playa Puerto Jiménez

This beach, located right in town, offers a completely different kind of experience.

It’s not the best beach for swimming due to the muddy and soft sand, but that’s not really the point here. Instead, this is where you experience local life. Oh yeah, and wildlife as both turtles and dolphins and even whales is possible to spot in the fjord.

Especially on weekends, the beach fills with locals bringing BBQs, chairs, music, and drinks. The atmosphere is social, relaxed, and very authentic. We truly loved it, and went at least every Sunday — as Sunday is Fun-day here in Costa Rica.

What to expect:

• Not ideal for swimming
• Warm water
• Local gatherings and social vibe
• Especially lively on weekends
• Dolphins, turtles and if you’re lucky, whales.

Best Beaches on the Caribbean Coast

Playa Cocles

Playa Cocles is one of the more popular beaches on the Caribbean side and offers a mix of beautiful scenery and powerful ocean conditions.

The beach itself is wide and scenic, but the water can be quite rough, with strong currents and large waves. There are designated areas with lifeguards, which is important if you plan to swim. There’s usually red flags along the entire coastline apart from where the lifeguards are seated.

There are also several restaurants and bars nearby, even on the beach as well, thus making it an easy and convenient place to spend the entire day.

What to expect:

• Strong currents and waves
• Lifeguard areas
• Restaurants nearby
• Popular, especially on weekends

Playa Chiquita (Our Favorite)

Playa Chiquita was our personal favorite beach in Costa Rica.

Unlike many other beaches, this one felt quiet and almost untouched. There were very few tourists, and only a handful of locals, which created a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.

What made it truly special for us was the wildlife. We saw great green macaws nearby (truly magical as there are only 1000 left on the entire planet. 300 of them are located here in Costa Rica — but only right in this area. Oh, and bonus info, this is the only place in the world where they live in the wild too). We also saw monkeys and other animals, which made the experience feel unique. If you feel hungry or thirsty you have a few restaurants close by.

The beach itself is partly rocky and not ideal for swimming, but that’s not why you come here. You come for the feeling of being surrounded by nature and calmness. But, if you feel like taking a dip to cool down, that is still possible.

What to expect:

• Very quiet and peaceful
• Almost no tourists
• Incredible wildlife
• Rocky areas
• Not ideal for swimming, but dipping is possible

Playa Grande (Punta Uva)

Playa Grande offers a beautiful balance between accessibility and tranquility.

It’s a large, open beach with fewer people than some of the more popular spots. It’s perfect for long walks and relaxing by the water.

On calmer days, snorkeling can be possible, and the scenery here is simply stunning. Here you can find the picturesque Caribbean beach many people seem to chase — with completely white sand, palm trees and turquoise water. Extremely beautiful.

What to expect:

• Large and spacious
• Fewer tourists
• Good for long walks
• Possible snorkeling in calm conditions
• Slightly cooler water

Our Favorite Beaches in Costa Rica

After visiting several beaches across both coasts, a few stood out more than others:

• Playa Preciosa – for its wild and untouched beauty
• Playa Chiquita – for its peaceful atmosphere and wildlife
• Biesanz Beach – for the best overall beach

Each of these beaches offers something completely different, which is exactly what makes Costa Rica such a unique destination.

Things to Know Before Visiting Beaches in Costa Rica

Based on our experience, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Not all beaches are ideal for swimming
• Waves and currents can be strong
• Some beaches have very little shade
• Wildlife is often present – even on the beach (So watch your snacks!)
• Conditions vary significantly depending on location

Final Thoughts – Are Costa Rica’s Beaches Worth It?

Costa Rica’s beaches might not always match the typical image of calm, turquoise waters – but they offer something different.

They are raw, diverse, and full of life.

From powerful Pacific waves to quiet Caribbean hideaways, every beach feels unique. And that’s exactly what makes exploring them so rewarding.

If you come with an open mind and realistic expectations, you’ll find that Costa Rica’s beaches are not just beautiful – they’re an experience in themselves and very much worth a visit.

What is your favorite beach you have ever been to? Drop a comment below and we’ll check it out. Maybe it goes straight to our bucket list?

If you want a more complete picture of what it’s actually like living here, read our full Costa Rica expectations vs reality after 2 months.

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Hi there! We are Ditte & Benjamin, a couple going for our dream. We have said goodbye to our known life in Denmark, and hello to an unknown life abroad.

Tag along on our adventure as we explore the wide world, tell stories, embrace the journey and create a life where every horizon is just the beginning. Sharing raw, authentic, and breathtaking moments from a life without limits.