Things to do
5-
Park
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Leatherback turtles nest on Playa Grande across the estuary between October and February, and the beach closes to unguided access at night through the season. Ranger led groups wait on a call from the beach patrols, so sightings are never guaranteed. Numbers have fallen sharply since the nineteen eighties, which makes the park a conservation story as much as a spectacle.
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Playa Conchal
Crushed shell in place of sand gives this bay a pale grain and unusually clear water, good for snorkelling in the calm months. Access runs on foot from Brasilito at the northern end or through the resort gate. Shade is scarce by midday and no services sit on the sand itself.
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Playa Flamingo
A headland of pale sand curves between rocky points, with villas along the ridge above and calm water at both ends. Sportfishing and sunset catamaran boats work out of the bay below. Sunsets face west across open water, which draws a small crowd to the northern end each evening. Little shade sits behind the sand.
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Playa Tamarindo
Beach breaks run the length of a wide bay with a sandbar at the river mouth, forgiving enough that half the surf schools in Guanacaste teach here. Waves suit beginners at the southern end and sharpen towards the estuary. Crocodiles live in the river channel, so crossings are made by boat and swimming stops short of the mouth.
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Rincón de la Vieja National Park
An active volcano inland from the coast vents mud pots, fumaroles and a sulphur stream through dry forest, with waterfall trails on the Las Pailas side and a long summit route often closed for activity. Two hours by road from the coast makes it a full day out. Wind is strong, the ground is loose, and boardwalks keep walkers clear of thin crust.