Playa Grande

General Information:

Location: 4 miles north of Tamarindo, on the North Pacific Coast

Weather: Hot and dry during the day, cooler in the evenings. Rainy season runs from May-November.

Temperature: 75-92° F year round

Altitude: Sea level

Learn more about the North Pacific Tourism Region

Explore Playa Grande on our travel blog

About:

A few miles north of Tamarindo lies Playa Grande, one of Guanacaste’s most secluded beaches. Flanked by the Tamarindo Estuary, Grande is renowned among surfers for its warm waters and consistent breaks. A small community of environmentally conscious expats bring a welcoming, harmonious vibe to the area, along with tantalizing culinary options ranging from organic salads to delicious sushi. Grande's nightlife is quiet in comparison to Tamarindo, but there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the town’s laid-back social scene. Travelers will find a handful of comfortable hotels, some of which offer Internet, in-room massage, yoga and horseback riding excursions. Inexpensive accommodations (most without air conditioning) are offered at most of the local surf camps.

The area’s most popular activities include surfing, sunbathing, and – after dark – turtle watching. Grande’s three-mile stretch of shoreline is part of Las Baulas National Marine Park, an important nesting site for leatherback sea turtles. From October-March, visitors can join a guided turtle tour to observe the 1500-pound giants nesting on the beach. Wildlife enthusiasts can learn more about leatherbacks (the planet's largest sea turtle) at the World of the Turtle museum, which is open during nesting season. Las Baulas also protects other important animal and plant life – including egrets, caimans, otters and six species of mangroves.

Sea turtles aren't the only ones that ride Grande's spectacular waves. The beach is one of the most celebrated surfing spots in Costa Rica. Steady beach breaks churn out beautifully formed barrels for both long and short boarders – and with such a long shoreline, surfers can always find a private wave to ride. The beach's sandy base is perfect for trying new tricks since there's virtually no chance of colliding with rocks or reefs and wipe-outs are totally bearable. Boarders can surf the beach breaks at high tide or try the Tamarindo rivermouth when it’s low. The swell in Playa Grande is generally better than in Tamarindo, and always less crowded – making it one of the best surfing destinations in Guanacaste province.

Learn about more of Guanacaste's Gold Coast beaches.

Getting Around:

Local taxi fares to nearby destinations:

Playa Grande to Tamarindo: $25
Playa Grande to Huacas: $10