Karen’s guidebook to Playa Hermosa
Food scene
Beachfront restaurant at the center of Playa Hermosa, International and Tico-style menu. Live music, great sunsets & and seating along the beach. Best spot on the beach in Playa Hermosa. You'll love our huge outdoor "living room", beach volleyball net, beachfront chez lounge and Adirondack chairs. And our friendly, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) servers are eager to help you with our seafood, vegetarian and burger menu!
55 locals recommend
Aquasport Bar & Restaurant
Beachfront restaurant at the center of Playa Hermosa, International and Tico-style menu. Live music, great sunsets & and seating along the beach. Best spot on the beach in Playa Hermosa. You'll love our huge outdoor "living room", beach volleyball net, beachfront chez lounge and Adirondack chairs. And our friendly, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) servers are eager to help you with our seafood, vegetarian and burger menu!
Roberto’s Restaurant is located on the Beach on the first floor of La Gaviota Tropical Guest House/Bed and Breakfast. It is open to the public from 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily. The menu contains fish, pork, seafood and chicken. There are many traditional Costa Rican dishes from which to choose and some international favorites. There is something for the vegetarian and the gluten free.
La Gaviota Tropical
Roberto’s Restaurant is located on the Beach on the first floor of La Gaviota Tropical Guest House/Bed and Breakfast. It is open to the public from 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily. The menu contains fish, pork, seafood and chicken. There are many traditional Costa Rican dishes from which to choose and some international favorites. There is something for the vegetarian and the gluten free.
FAVORITE – Asian-Inspired Tapa in a Modern Tree House Setting = consistently rated the #1 best restaurant and cocktail bar in Playa Hermosa – featuring small plates of fresh local topical ingredients blending spices of Southeast Asia and India.
64 locals recommend
Ginger Restaurant Bar
FAVORITE – Asian-Inspired Tapa in a Modern Tree House Setting = consistently rated the #1 best restaurant and cocktail bar in Playa Hermosa – featuring small plates of fresh local topical ingredients blending spices of Southeast Asia and India.
La Casita Del Marisco
Beachfront Bar – Good local food for lunch
More upscale restaurant in neighboring playa panama – 3 course meals – on the beach, live music, and brunch options
8 locals recommend
Hacienda Blu Beach Lounge & Grill
More upscale restaurant in neighboring playa panama – 3 course meals – on the beach, live music, and brunch options
We strive to deliver fresh, healthy, simple, local food and beverage in a majestic beachfront setting. We work to create a fun, casual and comfortable environment for our crew and new guests. – Both evening we ate here, we were visited by monkeys.
97 locals recommend
Father Rooster's
We strive to deliver fresh, healthy, simple, local food and beverage in a majestic beachfront setting. We work to create a fun, casual and comfortable environment for our crew and new guests. – Both evening we ate here, we were visited by monkeys.
Paw House Roasters Coffee Shop
2Coffee Shop
Grocery
Super Luperon, La Chorrera, El Coco Guanacaste province
La ChorreraSuper Dayi
Small market walking distance from Villa
Walmart - Liberia near the airport: https://www.walmart.co.cr/
6 locals recommend
Parqueo Walmart Liberia
Parqueo Walmart LiberiaWalmart - Liberia near the airport: https://www.walmart.co.cr/
Playa Prieta
Small beautiful beach very close to more popular beaches of Conchal, Flamingo and Las Catalinas so if you want to get away from the tourists, head over to Prieta. It’s an excellent beach to mingle with locals so we highly recommend it for a chill beach day.
Playa Hermosa is one of the more popular beaches in the North of Guanacaste. This is the type of beach to escape to if all you want to do is get some much-needed R&R. Hermosa means ‘beautiful’ in Spanish, which is a no-brainer to describe the beauty of this aquatic gem. Although located between Playa del Coco and Playa Panama, Hermosa doesn’t see as many crowds as its close neighbors. Stretching 2 km (1.25 miles) wide, Hermosa boasts plenty of trees for optimal shade. There is lots to do on Playa Hermosa – including swimming, snorkeling and diving safaris, kayaking, jet skiing and more – but the main activity to do on this beautiful beach is relaxing. Lined with several local restaurants.
120 locals recommend
Playa Hermosa
4 158Playa Hermosa is one of the more popular beaches in the North of Guanacaste. This is the type of beach to escape to if all you want to do is get some much-needed R&R. Hermosa means ‘beautiful’ in Spanish, which is a no-brainer to describe the beauty of this aquatic gem. Although located between Playa del Coco and Playa Panama, Hermosa doesn’t see as many crowds as its close neighbors. Stretching 2 km (1.25 miles) wide, Hermosa boasts plenty of trees for optimal shade. There is lots to do on Playa Hermosa – including swimming, snorkeling and diving safaris, kayaking, jet skiing and more – but the main activity to do on this beautiful beach is relaxing. Lined with several local restaurants.
(My favorite) Beautiful beach with rocks on either side and tide pools, turquoise clear water, white sand, and trees for shade. It’s about a five minute, somewhat steep, dusty walk from the last parking lot (further if you have to park up the road.) Go early, less people. Road down is no joke — 4 wheel drive is a must, especially to get back up. Bring drinks and snacks and snorkels and stay the whole morning.
Acceso a Playa Penca
Acceso a Playa Penca(My favorite) Beautiful beach with rocks on either side and tide pools, turquoise clear water, white sand, and trees for shade. It’s about a five minute, somewhat steep, dusty walk from the last parking lot (further if you have to park up the road.) Go early, less people. Road down is no joke — 4 wheel drive is a must, especially to get back up. Bring drinks and snacks and snorkels and stay the whole morning.
As one of the oldest of Guanacaste beaches, Playa del Coco is known for drawing in visitors – foreign and local – to seek some fun in the sun. The region in which the beach was built has become a popular tourist locale, so Playa del Coco is usually packed most weekends. Playa del Coco is easily accessible to many amenities. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, markets and shops are close by.
26 locals recommend
Coco
As one of the oldest of Guanacaste beaches, Playa del Coco is known for drawing in visitors – foreign and local – to seek some fun in the sun. The region in which the beach was built has become a popular tourist locale, so Playa del Coco is usually packed most weekends. Playa del Coco is easily accessible to many amenities. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, markets and shops are close by.
Environmental enthusiasts will love exploring Playa Grande – a key area of the Marino Las Baulas National Park. Playa Grande is only accessible in the daytime to help preserve the natural habitats of leatherback turtles that come ashore to build nesting sites and lay their eggs here between May and October. he locals take pride in preserving this beach to its most natural state and it is shown with its pristine sand and crystal clear waters. It creates a safe haven for the turtles to lay their eggs properly.
41 locals recommend
Playa Grande
Environmental enthusiasts will love exploring Playa Grande – a key area of the Marino Las Baulas National Park. Playa Grande is only accessible in the daytime to help preserve the natural habitats of leatherback turtles that come ashore to build nesting sites and lay their eggs here between May and October. he locals take pride in preserving this beach to its most natural state and it is shown with its pristine sand and crystal clear waters. It creates a safe haven for the turtles to lay their eggs properly.
Newly developed “Italian resort’ style community – beautiful sunsets and great place to paddleboard or family swimming beach with restaurants and accommodations lining Playa Dante
78 locals recommend
Las Catalinas
Camino Las CatalinasNewly developed “Italian resort’ style community – beautiful sunsets and great place to paddleboard or family swimming beach with restaurants and accommodations lining Playa Dante
Between Playa Hermosa & Tamarindo - Playa Penca has beautiful light sand (almost white) and clear turquoise water. Usually the waves are small and great for swimming, but that can change depending on conditions. It doesn’t have much for shade so keep that in mind. On the other side of Playa Penca is Playa Prieta. This is a lesser-known beach because it is slightly harder to get to. You can either walk the beach trail from Playa Penca or drive via an unmarked side road.
27 locals recommend
Potrero
Between Playa Hermosa & Tamarindo - Playa Penca has beautiful light sand (almost white) and clear turquoise water. Usually the waves are small and great for swimming, but that can change depending on conditions. It doesn’t have much for shade so keep that in mind. On the other side of Playa Penca is Playa Prieta. This is a lesser-known beach because it is slightly harder to get to. You can either walk the beach trail from Playa Penca or drive via an unmarked side road.
Adventure
Rincon De La Vieja Waterfall – National Park - https://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/ac/acg/pnrv/Paginas/default.aspx
102 locals recommend
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano
Rincon De La Vieja Waterfall – National Park - https://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/ac/acg/pnrv/Paginas/default.aspx
Diving Tour/Snorkeling of Catalina Islands - https://ticotimes.net/2021/10/17/visiting-the-catalina-islands-of-costa-rica
Islas Santa Catalina
Diving Tour/Snorkeling of Catalina Islands - https://ticotimes.net/2021/10/17/visiting-the-catalina-islands-of-costa-rica
Adventure & Animal Sanctuary - https://diamanteecoadventurepark.com/
150 locals recommend
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
350 east RIU HotelAdventure & Animal Sanctuary - https://diamanteecoadventurepark.com/
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Carretera a Reserva de Monteverde https://cloudforestmonteverde.com/
Rio Celeste Rainforest Hike - https://costaricaexperts.com/rio-celeste-waterfall-tenorio-volcano-national-park-guide/#:~:text=Located%20in%20the%20northern%20lowlands,most%20notably%2C%20Rio%20Celeste%20Waterfall.
9 locals recommend
Río Celeste
Río CelesteRio Celeste Rainforest Hike - https://costaricaexperts.com/rio-celeste-waterfall-tenorio-volcano-national-park-guide/#:~:text=Located%20in%20the%20northern%20lowlands,most%20notably%2C%20Rio%20Celeste%20Waterfall.
This is our favorite waterfall hike that isn't like the others! Requires swimming.
15 locals recommend
Catarata La Leona
This is our favorite waterfall hike that isn't like the others! Requires swimming.
Llanos del Cortez
Easily accessible waterfall right off the highway. No hiking required.
Hot Springs
Rio Negro Hot Springs
Vandara Hot Springs & Adventures