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Caribbean Beaches

You'll know you're on the Caribbean coast when you feel the humidity, see the dense rain forest framing all the beaches and hear the friendly noises of the animals that inhabit these jungles. Plus, the beaches of this region are internationally famous for the nesting sites of the leatherback, loggerhead and green sea turtles.

North Caribbean Beaches

(Nicaraguan border south to Limon)

With no easy access to Tortuguero or other north Caribbean beaches except by boat on the countless freshwater canals, the beaches from Nicaragua southward are completely undeveloped, mostly deserted and are more often visited by nesting turtles than humans. (Green turtle season is from July to October). Feel free to contact us for the best way to get there.

• Barra del Colorado
• Tortuguero - 22 miles of protected black sanded beach that is part of the Tortuguero National Park. Four species of marine turtle come ashore to nest here. The locals surf the waves here, but it is not recommended to swim in the ocean due to currents, barracudas and sharks.

South Caribbean Beaches

(Limon south to the Panamanian border)

Easy access and more developed communities help make these beaches people-friendly and somewhat more populated. As you go from cove to cove the sand changes colors from white to the blackest of black. Almost all of the beaches are winners of the ecological blue flag.

Some beaches, especially around Puerto Viejo, are great for surfing, while others are great for snorkeling and diving. With over 600 acres of living coral from Cahuita to Manzanillo, your underwater experience will be full of color and life. The best time to snorkel or dive is March - May and again September - November.

• Playa Negra (Cahuita)
• Playa Blanca (Cahuita) - The white sanded beach here is part of Cahuita National Park
• Puerto Vargas - The southern entrance to Cahuita National Park
• Playa Negra (Puerto Viejo) - The sand is so black here, it looks purple. Great swimming and snorkeling right off shore. Star fish as big as your hand dot the ocean floor.
• Playa Cocles - A surfers beach. The currents are often too strong for swimmers and life guards will prohibit anyone to enter the water who does not have a surf board.
• Playa Chiquita - Remote and quiet
• Playa Uva - Said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. The small town of Punta Uva is mostly residential with a few restaurants.
• Playa Gandoca - calm waters and coral reefs close to shore, this beach is part of the Gandoca - Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge

We know this area very well, please feel free to contact us to help you plan your trip.

Key to Symbols

• = Ecological Blue Flag recipient
• = Ecological Blue Flag recipient and diving beach

More Beaches:

• North Pacific Beaches (Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula)
• Central Pacific Beaches (Puntarenas - Manuel Antonio)
• South Pacific Beaches (Osa Peninsula)

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