Playas del Coco is one of the oldest beach community settlements in Costa Rica with good infrastructure and amenities. But, all the infrastructure and amenities also come with a lot of development by the beachside, which brings crowds of people to Coco beach. But, what if you like to have access to the amenities but want to visit secluded beaches too? We have got you covered! While you stay in town, you can still visit some beautiful secluded beaches near Playas del Coco in Guanacaste.
These beaches are within 15-30 minutes of driving distance from Playas del Coco, and also from Playa Hermosa. Some of them may require a bit of walking on unpaved terrain while for others, you can park just next to the beach. In this article, we are going to share why we loved these 5 beaches, and the little details you need to know to plan your visit.
As Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for supporting Paradise Catchers.
Related Reading: Top Things to Do in Playa del Coco
Playa Bonita
Of all the beaches near Playas del Coco, Playa Bonita is hands down our favorite! Driving till the end of the road followed by a short walk down a rugged hill will take you to this secret cove where white sand and azure water wait. The day we visited, we were the only 2 people on the beach for the most part. So, Playa Bonita seemed like an ideal romantic spot to station ourselves on the beach, and absorb the sights of ocean waves splashing on rocks and the sounds of rustling leaves.
Note that, there is a hilltop condominium construction project going on by the Bonita beach. After the project is completed, although there will still be public access to the beach (required by Costa Rica law), the raw and rugged charm of an isolated secret beach may not remain. So, pro tip, visit Playa Bonita now!
Quick Facts:
- Distance from Coco: 13 km / 8 miles
- Parking: On the road. Unguarded.
- 4X4 required: No.
- Walking: About 10 minutes. On unpaved rough terrain.
- Entrance fees: No.
- Restaurants: No.
- Restrooms: No.
This is the Google Maps location of Playa Bonita.
Related Reading: Packing List for Costa Rica
Playa Buena
Playa Buena is next to the adults-only all-inclusive resort Occidental Papagayo. So, you will need to drive up to the resort and then take the paved public access path to the beach. It is a short 3 minutes walk ending at a beautiful beach with calm waters. As the day progresses, more resort guests come out on the beach to lounge on their beach chairs or to get massages under the shades of the trees.
But the mood at Playa Buena in general is very calm. Hermit crabs and snails hide in the sand, howler monkeys hangout at the trees and iguanas graze the grasses. The ocean water is warm, and is so clear and transparent that we could see fish from above! Indranil merrily stood still in the water as the fish fed on the skin on his feet.
Quick Facts:
- Distance from Coco: 13 km / 8 miles.
- Parking: On the road. Unguarded.
- Walking: Less than 5 minutes.
- 4X4 required: No.
- Entrance fees: No.
- Restaurants: No.
- Restrooms: No.
This is the Google Maps location of Playa Buena.
Related reading: Things to Do in Costa Rica
Playa Calzón de Pobre
A sharp turn from the main road on to a dirt rugged path through a private property – that is exactly how you can reach Playa Calzón de Pobre. Even before you reach the beach, the views along the way are alluring enough to pull up the car, get down and take in the breathtaking views of the bays. As you drive, on the left, you will see views of Coco Bay and on the right, Hermosa Bay, until you reach a parking lot. After a certain point, the road condition gets worse and is mostly downhill to the parking lot. People with low ground clearance vehicles usually park here on the roadside. From the parking lot, you need to walk for another 10-15 minutes on a downhill road to get to the Calzón de Pobre beach. But if you park before on the roadside, the walk takes a little longer.
The beach is beautiful and what looks like could have been a little secret. But it is not. Many tour boats stop by this beach. There are also large groups of locals who come and set up den for the day for beach picnic. So, you may find many people at this beach, particularly on weekends and holidays. Yet you can find a spot for yourself on the beach and enjoy the beauty of Playa Calzón de Pobre.
Quick Facts
- Distance from Coco: 10 km / 7 miles.
- Parking: Yes. Guarded.
- Walking: 10-15 minutes. On unpaved road.
- 4X4 required: High car recommended. Else, can park on the roadside, a bit before designated parking.
- Entrance fees: No.
- Restaurants: No.
- Restrooms: No.
This is the Google Maps location of Calzón de Pobre.
Related Reading: Best Time to Visit Costa Rica
Playa Penca
From Playa Calzón de Pobre, you need to return to the parking lot and continue driving on the same road until you reach the next parking lot near Playa Penca. It is a short 10 minutes walk from this parking area. The road is unpaved, rough in stretches and has uphill and downhill. If you had parked the vehicle prior to the designated parking spot of Playa Calzón de Pobre, you may walk all the way to Playa Penca. But in that case, it would be a 20-30 minutes walk.
Similar to Calzón de Pobre beach, Playa Penca also seems to be a beach that should have been kept a secret but in reality is known to a lot of people. However, since the beach here is much bigger than Calzón de Pobre, the crowd also seems spread out. This one is our second favorite from all the beaches near Playas del Coco. The trees form pretty frames of this white sand azure water beach. The ocean water at Penca is also very inviting, we had a great time playing in the warm waters.
Quick Facts:
- Distance from Coco: 11 km / 7 miles
- Parking: On the road. Unguarded.
- Walking: Less than 10 minutes. On unpaved road.
- 4X4 required: High car recommended. Else, can park on the roadside, before the designated parking of Calzón de Pobre. In that case, the walk would be for 20-30 minutes.
- Entrance fees: No.
- Restaurants: No.
- Restrooms: No.
This is the Google Maps location of Playa Penca.
Related Reading: Costa Rica Itinerary from Liberia
Playa Ocotal
Only a short 10-12 minutes drive away from the bustling beach town of Coco, lies this black sand beauty, Playa Ocotal. Although it is very close to Playas del Coco, Playa Ocotal has a very different character. It is a black sand beach with a calm and quiet vibe. After you are done chilling at the beach, you can grab a drink and have a bite at the Father Rooster restaurant, part of one of the last remaining beachfront hacienda homes in the region.
Our local friends tell us that the snorkeling at Playa Ocotal is good. In and around the Coco area, you will find many snorkeling excursions and tours where they will take you on a boat to visit different reefs for snorkeling and some islands. But if you are looking for some independent snorkeling without a tour, remember to bring your gear when you visit Ocotal beach.
Quick Facts:
- Distance from Coco: 4 km / 2.5 miles
- Parking: On the road. Tip the guy watching the cars on the road.
- Walking: Less than a minute.
- 4X4 required: No.
- Entrance fees: No.
- Restaurants: Yes.
- Restrooms: At restaurants.
This is the Google Maps location of Playa Ocotal.
Bonus Tip: Vantage Sunset Point
While writing about beaches around Playas del Coco, we have to tell you about a cool spot from where you can enjoy a lovely sunset. Of course, there are many in the area, could be from the beach or could be from a sunset view lounge bar. But this one stands out because it gives you an aerial view of the Coco Bay in the golden hour light and to access this place costs zero bucks!
From the main road, you need to take the same turn on the dirt road as you would to go to Playa Calzón de Pobre or Playa Penca. But instead of going all the way, you will notice several cars parked and people gathered at one place. That is your cue. Park the vehicle, walk near the edge, take a few steps up to find a vantage spot with your choice of view overlooking the Coco Bay, sit down, grab a drink (and your camera!) and enjoy the dramatic colors as the sun sets.
Explore more of Guanacaste province of Costa Rica:
National park, volcano, hot springs, waterfalls
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park – Las Pailas Trail
- Rincon de la Vieja National Park – La Cangreja Waterfall
- Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls
- Oropendola waterfall
Beaches in Guanacaste
Like the post? Pin it!
Travel Planning Logistics
- Accommodation: For several years now, Booking.com has been our platform of choice for booking accommodation while traveling. You can apply all the desired filters and shortlist the ones that meet your criteria. On continued use, you will keep unlocking their Genius benefits. For long term stays, we use Airbnb. Of late, we have also started browsing Hostelworld for finding hostels.
- Tours: When traveling to new destinations, you can plan ahead and book your activities. Check for highly rated tours on Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Packing: From swimwear to sunscreen, hiking pants to insect repellents, buy your vacation packing essentials on Amazon.
- Flights: We always start our flight searches with Skyscanner and Momondo. They are aggregators that display flight options, compiling information across airlines and combinations. What we like the best about these flight aggregators is that you can put “Anywhere” as your destination, so that you find the best flight deals from your city of departure.
If you enjoy reading our free travel guides, tips and stories, please consider supporting our work. Thank you.
Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
