Playa Ventanas
This beautiful white sand beach on the north of Playa Grande is a peaceful place where you can enjoy the ocean, wonderful walks and amazing sunsets.
It is part of the Marino Las Baulas National Park, so from October thru May you can enjoy the amazing nesting of the Leatherback turtle. At the end of the beach, if you follow a little trail behind a big tree, you will get to Carbon Beach, a black sand rocky beach perfect for doing snorkeling when the waves are small.
Tamarindo
It is one of the famous surf towns in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, where you can find everything you may need, from backpacker hostels, to luxury hotels and house rentals, all kinds of delicious food, surf shops, supermarkets, souvenirs stores and more. If you are looking for nightlife, Tamarindo is the perfect place for you.
Regarding the waves, it has many different spots for surfing and its really crowded most of the time.
Langosta
South of Tamarindo the small beachside town of Playa Langosta offering good surfing conditions and is much quieter and less crowded than its neighbor. Next to the river mouth, there is an excellent spot that offers short, hollow and fast waves, which is ideal for experienced surfers, the locals named it as K town.
Playa Avellanas
This little surf town is perfect for visiting because you will find many different beaches and reef breaks, where you can surf in different tides and you will find waves according to your ability.
In front of the main parking lot, a reef break named La Purruja, perfect for surfing when the waves are from 5 to 6 feet. 150 mts north, you will find Palo Seco, wich is a beach break and is always fun!.
Next to the river mouth, you can surf in Little Hawaii, the famous reef break.
If you are planning to go there, we recommend to go to Lola's Restaurant, beautiful beach front restaurant, where you can enjoy delicious food with your family and friends.
Playa Negra
It's a point break, dark-sand beach which is really good if you are regular, because it will be frontside for you! This beach requires a little experience because it has a rocky bottom. You can enjoy areas to swim and natural pools, made of the rocks.
National Park Marino las Baulas
Created on the July 9th, 1991, it covers approximately 43.243 acres (175 km²) of the Guanacaste Gold Coast including the beaches of Playa Grande, Carbon, Ventanas and Langosta, as well as the Tamarindo estuary and mangroves at the mouth of the Matapalo River and the San Francisco River Estuary. To the north, the Cerros Morro and Hermosa are also included. Is part of the Tempisque Conservation Area.
More than half the park is underwater and protected, but allows recreation such scuba diving and surfing. The park is home to approximately 174 species of birds and many other animals.
The park was also founded to protect the nesting of the Leatherback turtle. Playa Grande is known as one of the largest leatherback turtle nesting sites in the world. Every year between October and March, hundreds of leatherbacks come ashore to lay their eggs. Leatherback turtles are not only the world's largest turtle, but its largest reptile, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900kg).
YouAreCostaRica is a new Surf School and Tour Operator in Playa Grande Guanacaste,owned and operated by a Pura Vida Costa Rican staff. Contact us!