Due to its proximity to the Liberia International Airport and developed infrastructure, Playa del Coco is popular among expats and tourists alike.
From supermarkets with US brand products to lounge bars with live music and fine dining restaurants offering international cuisines, from good healthcare facilities to English medium international schools, you will find everything in Coco.
So, for many people, Coco is the perfect beach town with all the required amenities.
When it comes to beach vacations, we personally prefer unspoiled natural beauty and secluded beaches.
So, Playa del Coco used to seem a little too developed for our taste. But that is exactly the reason why this beach town in Guanacaste has been expats’ choice for decades now.
But, over the years, multiple visits and a 1.5 month long stay later, we have also grown to like Coco.
So, in this comprehensive travel guide, we bring to you all the details about the best things to do in Playa del Coco, the best places to stay and the cool restaurants to try. Of course, we will also tell you where to head if you feel like getting away from the town for a bit, in search of seclusion.
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Our Top Picks for Playa del Coco, Costa Rica
✓ Best Things to Do
- Best Beaches: 5 Beautiful Beaches near Playa del Coco
- Ocean Activities: Snorkeling and Sunset Sailing Catamaran Tour
- Waterfall Hike: Catarata La Leona (Get 5% discount with coupon code paradise)
- Nature Pass: Rincon de la Vieja – Secondary Volcanic Activities, Hot Springs, Waterfalls
✓ Best Hotels
- Best All-Inclusive Adult Only: Occidental Papagayo (20 minutes drive from Coco town)
- Best Affordable Family-Friendly Hotel: Hotel Villa del Sol (2 minutes walk from Coco beach)
✓ Best Way to Get Around: Self-drive. Check our Costa Rica Car Rental Deal.
✓ Packing List Essentials: Insect Repellent, Reef Safe Sunscreen, Microfiber Towel.
Unlike any other beach in Costa Rica, there is a sculpture by the Coco Beach. And the couple even got a makeover. They are golden in 2024 🙂
Top Things to Do in Playa del Coco
From exploring the town itself to combing nearby secluded beaches to taking day trips to other nearby attractions, there are plenty of things to do in Playa del Coco. However, you can spend days in Coco as busy or relaxed as you design them to be.
This is going to be a long list of things to do in Playa del Coco, with description of each activity. But if you do not have the time right now to read all the details, pin it for later.
Related Reading: Things to Do in Costa Rica
Beach Town Vibes
Playa del Coco is a vibrant beach town with a thriving expat community and constant influx of tourists. Take a walk around town to feel its vibes.
Hang out on the beach promenade, watch life go by or grab a snack from one of the many food vendors on the promenade. On either side of the road leading to the promenade, there are many souvenir shops. Buy what you like or just enjoy the colors.
The promenade even has a sculpture of a couple in a garden area. This is very unlike the wild beaches of Costa Rica. The sculpture used to white, but in 2024, it now has a bronze paint!
If you want to get a feel of what life is like in Playa del Coco, visit the supermarkets. From mini supers to big retail chains, there are many options. Coco even has a store of Auto Mercado, Costa Rica’s fanciest supermarket chain.
Coco Sunday Market
To get to know Coco and its community more closely, visit the Coco Sunday Market, also known as Pamela’s Coco Sunday Market.
As the name suggests, the market is open only on Sundays. The timings are 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Sellers, locals as well as expats, set up their stalls where you can buy a variety of things. From fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meat, to handmade clothes and artisanal jewelry, art pieces and decor items, you will find everything.
Even if you do not plan to buy anything, you can just walk around and take in the sights around you. And when hungry, stop by one of the stalls, and grab a bite of freshly prepared food.
Coco Sunday Market recently moved their location. Now it takes place at the parking lot of Hotel La Puerta del Sol.
Beach Hopping
If you want to visit secluded beaches, with no beach promenades or no established commercial practices by the beach, there are quite a few options within short driving distances from Playa del Coco.
From a quick drive to the beautiful black sand beach of Playa Ocotal, to walking down a rugged hill to reach the hidden Playa Bonita, you will find an assortment of charming beaches.
Check out this article about 5 beautiful beaches near Playa del Coco.
Insider Tip: You may want to read till the end of that post for an insider tip about where the locals flock to watch spectacular sunset over Coco Bay.
For less secluded and more popular, yet beautiful beach options, gather with the crowd at Playa Hermosa to watch the sun go down in the evening. It is only a 15 minute drive.
Fun fact: Costa Rica has many beaches of same name! In this case, we are referring to the Playa Hermosa by the Hermosa Bay in Guanacaste, and not the Playa Hermosa in Santa Teresa, neither the Playa Hermosa in Uvita.
Tip: Most convenient way of getting around to visit all the nearby beaches from Coco is by self-drive.
We have a Costa Rica Car Rental Deal for you: 10% discount on base rate (varies by dates and demand) + other freebies.
Click here to make your reservation, with the discount automatically applied. For details, read this.
Our Car Rental Partner: Adobe Rent A Car, 100% Costa Rican company with transparent pricing.
Nightlife
You may not find a happening nightlife in most parts of Costa Rica. In the Central Valley, in and around San Jose, there are pubs and bars that operate until the wee hours of the morning on weekends.
But in most touristic places, daytime is when all the action is. Evenings are usually quiet. Nice restaurants would be open, but that is all about it. Unless you are in Tamarindo, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca or Coco where you can actually party!
So, when you are in Playa del Coco, hit the pubs and enjoy its nightlife.
From sports bars to lounges to boat parties, there are many options. You may also do a pub crawl, hitting one pub after another through the night. Some of the popular bars in Coco are Coconutz Brewhouse (also a brewery), Zi Lounge and Bar El Ancla.
Surfing Trips
The beach itself at Playa del Coco is not for surfing. Yet, Coco is the base for venturing to some of the best surf spots in Costa Rica.
You can take a boat ride from the coast of Playa del Coco to surf at Witch’s Rock (Roca Bruja) or at Ollie’s Point. Both offer excellent surf breaks for experienced surfers. So, if you are one, get your surfboard ready.
For beginner and intermediate surfing options, you can also take a day trip to Tamarindo.
Check out our travel guides about other popular surfing destinations/beaches in Costa Rica:
Destination Guides: Santa Teresa | Malpais
- Guanacaste: Playa Pelada (Nosara) | Playa Avellanas
- Santa Teresa: Playa Carmen | Playa Hermosa
- South Pacific: Playa Uvita | Playa Dominicalito
Scuba Diving
If you want to take your water sports skills to another level, sign up for a diving course in Playa del Coco.
If you have never dived before, you can start with a Discover Scuba Diving course. For this one, you need to plan for two days. On the first day, you will get lessons in pool or shallow water, before going out for ocean dives on the second day.
If you have dived before or if you wish to enhance your diving expertise, go for the Open Water Diver certification and other advanced level certifications.
Diving from Coco will let you see underwater caves and tunnels, occasional wrecks and of course marine life like sharks, whales, rays and turtles.
Dive sites around the islands off the shore, in the Gulf of Papagayo, are good for beginner or intermediate level divers. The waters are calmer here. But if you an advanced diver, take a dive trip to the Catalinas Islands or the Bat Islands (Islas Murcielagos).
December to April are the best months for diving around Coco. But for Bat Islands, due to the weather and wind conditions, you can dive here only between May and November. So, plan accordingly.
There are many dive shops in Playa del Coco. Some of the PADI certified 5-star dive schools in Playa del Coco are:
Snorkeling
If you do not wish to pursue diving, you can still explore the underwater life by going on a snorkeling trip.
The dive spots mentioned above, like the local sites in Gulf of Papagayo, the Catalinas Islands and the Bat Islands, are all good for snorkeling too. So, you can book a snorkeling trip with any of the dive schools.
The other option is to hire a boat locally from Coco for a beach excursion and snorkeling trip. The boat will take you to some of the otherwise unreachable islands, and in between beach halts, you will also jump in the waters of Papagayo to observe the beautiful marine life. Turtles and rays are pretty common sightings while snorkeling from Coco.
If you wish to snorkel independently near the beach, these are some of the nearby spots you can check out – Playa Ocotal, Playa Boruca (perched between Playa Penca and Playa Calzón de Pobre) and Playa Hermosa.
For snorkeling independently, remember to bring your own snorkeling gear.
Check this travel size snorkeling gear for adults. It is a complete kit of anti-fog mask, dry-top snorkel and adjustable trek fins. We like that the gear comes with a quick-dry mesh bag that holds all the 3 pieces of the kit.
Spectacular Sunsets
Enjoying beach sunsets should be a must on any beach vacation itinerary. Don’t you agree?
Somehow, on all our previous trips to Coco, Hermosa and around, we ended up picking different places in the vicinity of Coco to watch sunsets. All of those spots are wonderful.
However, the sunset at Coco beach itself is no less gorgeous.
We are thankful that during our long stay in Playa del Coco in 2024, we got to experience the Coco beach sunsets on several days. And each day, the sunset seemed different, beautiful in its own right.
On some days days, clouds concealed the sun and the sky wore some shades of orange and grey or dark blue. While on others, a perfectly round orange ball of fire dropped below the ocean line in the distance horizon.
On weekends and holidays, watching the sunset at Coco beach also feels like a communal activity. The whole town gathers at the beach to quietly appreciate a simple yet spectacular phenomenon, the sunset.
So, when you are in town, at least one of the days, enjoy the sunset gathering vibes at the Coco beach.
Snorkeling and Sunset Sailing Catamaran Tour
While creating your list of things to do in Playa del Coco, you can combine some of the best elements of the place in one single tour. Beautiful beaches, wonderful wildlife, superior snorkeling and stunning sunset, all in just one catamaran sailing tour.
Tour Inclusions
The snorkeling and sunset sailing tour price includes:
- An open bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Light lunch of rice, beans, chicken, pico de gallo, chips, fresh fruits and cookies
- Snorkeling equipment
- Pool noodles
Book your catamaran sailing tour here.
What to Expect from the Sailing Tour
As the catamaran leaves the harbor from Coco and sets sail along the famous gold coast of Guanacaste, picturesque frames of lush tropical vegetation, white sand beaches and blue tropical open waters mesmerize you.
But, however blissful the feeling may be, do not forget to keep an eye out to spot wildlife, down in the ocean as well as up in the sky. Sea birds like pelicans and frigate birds fly around. While in the ocean, you can spot a diverse range of marine life, like flying fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and depending on the season, even whales!
At one point during the sailing tour, the catamaran is anchored in a beautiful bay. This is where you have the chance to get off the catamaran and snorkel in the crystal clear waters. Weather permitting, you can also dip your toes in the sands of a secluded beach.
During the sail back to the shore of Playa del Coco, prepare to witness one of the most memorable sunsets of your Costa Rica trip. The sky wears a riot of colors, and just after the sun retires for the day, it is time for you to disembark from the catamaran.
Book this unforgettable Snorkeling and Sunset Sailing tour here –>Things to Note about the Catamaran Tour:
- Company: Marlin del Rey, a catamaran sailing company, based in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
- Tour Start Time: 1:30 pm from Coco beach.
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Meeting Point: Reach the tour starting point directly on your own, in front of Bar El Ancla, or meet the tour group at a designated spot in Coco town.
- Optional Pickup: At the time of booking the tour, you can also select the option of pickup from your hotel for an extra fee.
La Leona Waterfall Hike
If your Costa Rica trip itinerary brings you near Liberia, and if you like the combination of nature and adventure, you must put this on your list of things to do. An adventurous hike to Catarata La Leona, a gorgeous waterfall hidden inside cave.
Having visited dozens of waterfalls in this country, we can tell you that La Leona is one of the best waterfall hikes in Costa Rica.
It involves walking in the jungle, crossing river on foot, climbing some ladders and rocks, swimming in brilliant blue river covered by canyon walls before arriving at the wonderful waterfall.
Because of the adventures the hike involves, you can only visit La Leona with a certified guide.
Book your La Leona tour here. Apply Paradise Catchers exclusive coupon code ‘paradise‘ to avail 5% discount.
They are a Costa Rica company, offer a good and safe experience, and have good reviews, both online and offline. We did the tour with them and had a great experience with our guide Francisco.
Related Reading: For everything you need to know to prepare for this waterfall hike adventure, like how to get to the tour starting point, hike difficulty level, step by step experience, what to wear and what to carry, read our La Leona visit guide.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
Rio Celeste is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Costa Rica, but for good reasons. It is definitely one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country.
Unlike many other waterfalls of Costa Rica, you cannot swim in the waterfall pool. Even then, with the striking sky blue color of the natural pool where the waterfall plunges, Rio Celeste waterfall is a marvelous sight to behold.
You do need to go down a few hundreds steps of a spiraling staircase to get a closer look of the waterfall, and of course then climb back up. But if you want to skip this part, you can still get an excellent view of the white waterfall, sky blue pool surrounded by lush tropical forest.
After visiting the waterfall, remember to also hike the other trail for exploring secondary volcanic activities of Tenorio Volcano National Park.
Related Reading: Our Complete Guide to Visiting Rio Celeste Waterfall
How to Visit Rio Celeste from Playa del Coco
With only a couple of hours drive from Playa del Coco, Rio Celeste makes for a great day trip.
From Coco, you can visit Rio Celeste independently, or as part of a guided tour where they include transportation and lunch, and also take you to other places as part of the same day tour.
If you prefer the guided tour option, consider booking this highly rated tour by Native’s Way Costa Rica, a reputed company.
On this Rio Celeste Hiking, Sloth Sanctuary & Llanos de Cortes Waterfall Tour, you get to spend some time at Llanos del Cortes waterfall, visit Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park, watch wildlife at a sloth sanctuary, and enjoy a hearty Costa Rican meal at a restaurant in Bijagua.
Book Full-Day Tour of Celeste Hiking, Sloth Sanctuary, Llanos del Cortes Waterfall here –>For doing the Rio Celeste day trip from Playa del Coco independently, the best way to commute is self-drive. Check our Costa Rica rental car deal from Adobe Rent A Car, a 100% Costa Rican company and a trusted name in rental cars.
Even if you do drive up yourself, if you prefer, you can still join the guided tour described above. You can either meet them up at Llanos del Cortes, or directly at Rio Celeste. Just follow the defined schedule.
Llanos del Cortes Waterfall
During your visit to Playa del Coco, what if you are looking for a waterfall where you can swim in the natural pool? Particularly, after visiting Rio Celeste where you felt so tempted to jump into the pool but could not. We have got you covered!
Llanos del Cortes waterfall is only 60 km (39 miles) from Playa del Coco. It is an easy drive requiring no 4X4 and an easy 5-minutes walk from the parking area to the waterfall, without much of a hike.
Although this waterfall is not among our personal top favorites in Costa Rica, we did enjoy the swim in the cool pool on a sunny afternoon. If you do plan to swim in the natural pool, do not forget water shoes as the riverbed is quite rocky at places.
You can consider getting these Speedo water shoes – for men, for women, and this unisex variant for children.
I feel, the most beautiful part of Llanos del Cortes is when you wade across the river to your left. A fallen tree branch creates a pretty frame of the waterfall curtain dropping against a rocky wall.
From Coco, Llanos del Cortes can be a nice and relaxing half a day trip. You can also bring a picnic basket and spend much longer.
Related Reading: Our Complete Guide to Visiting Llanos del Cortes Waterfall
From Left to Right: (1) Indranil, admiring the view of the Llanos del Cortes waterfall, (2) Pubali, taking a dip in the natural pool of the Llanos del Cortes waterfall.
Oropendola Waterfall
Even in the driest region of Costa Rica, Guanacaste, there are no dearth of waterfalls to visit.
Catarata Oropendola is another impressive waterfall that you can visit from Playa del Coco.
From the entrance, it is a short walk to the waterfall, crossing a rusty hanging bridge. Once you arrive, a spectacular sight will greet you where tall narrow stream of white waterfall plunges into a clear water turquoise pool below.
Located in the Rincon de la Vieja region, Oropendola Waterfall is about 60 km (37 miles) from Coco. The drive takes less than 2 hours. There is no public transport option as such, but if you choose to rent a car in Costa Rica, it is fairly easy to plan a visit.
If you do not have a private transport to get around in and near Coco, there are tour options that include Catarata Oropendola as part of the day tour itinerary. We will get to those details in a bit.
Related Reading: Our Complete Guide to Visiting Oropendola Waterfall
Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls
When you visit Oropendola Waterfall, you are very close to Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls.
Although La Fortuna is best known for hot springs, we loved the jungle-wrapped setting of Rio Negro Hot Springs. The pools are carved right next to the river. So, you get the feel of being in the wild while enjoying the warm thermal waters.
The best part is, before getting into the hot spring pools, you can get yourself a volcanic mud bath. Apply a paste of volcanic clay on your face and body, and then wash yourself in the outdoor shower or take a dip in the cold river water.
Just a few steps away from the Rio Negro Hot Springs, you can walk through the jungle to see a set of four different waterfalls, together known as Rio Negro Waterfalls.
If you have your rental car, you can plan to visit Oropendola Waterfall and Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls on the same day.
If you choose this way, you need to book this with Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. They also include lunch in the price.
The Guachipelin package you need to book is: Combo Lunch + Oropendola Waterfall + Hot Springs
Please note, this is a self-guided tour and does not include transportation. If you are looking for guided tour with transportation included, we are going to recommend a good combo day tour for Rincon de la Vieja. Keep reading.
Related Reading: Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls
Rincon de la Vieja National Park
If you are looking for some non-water activities during your beach vacation in Playa del Coco, take a trip to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.
This national park is home to an active volcano by the same name, Rincon de la Vieja (hiking not permitted), several secondary volcanic activities, couple of wonderful waterfalls and of course, wildlife.
So, while you hike on the designated trails, admiring the natural formations, also keep an eye out for monkeys and birds.
Check out our guides for exploring the different sectors of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park:
Side Trip Recommendation – Hacienda Guachipelin
Rincon de la Vieja being ~2 hour drive away from Playa del Coco, you can visit the attractions of the region as a day trip.
However, we say, consider spending at least couple of nights in this region. This way, you will be able to split your activities of hiking in the national park, visiting the waterfalls and soaking in the hot springs, over two days, without feeling rushed.
If you make this side trip, we recommend you to stay at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. The nightly stay tariff includes access to the nearby waterfalls like Oropendola and Las Chorreras, and also to Rio Negro Hot Springs and Waterfalls.
They also offer shuttle transfer to and from Rincon de la Vieja National Park entrance.
Book Your Stay at Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin –>Rincon de la Vieja Combo Tour – Full Day Experience
Wish to explore all the major highlights of the Rincon de la Vieja region, but do not have time to stay there overnight? Neither do you plan to drive yourself and make multiple day trips from Coco?
Then check out this popular tour offered by Native’s Way Costa Rica:
Volcano Hike, Waterfall Swim & Hot Springs Combo on Rincon de la Vieja
Tour Description
The tour starts early in the morning and includes pick up from your hotel in Playa del Coco.
First, you head to Rincon de la Vieja National Park and hike in Las Pailas sector. There, you not only get to spot wildlife, but also marvel at interesting secondary volcanic activities like fumaroles and boiling mud pots.
The second stop on the tour is Oropendola Waterfall. Here, you do not just stare at the splendid beauty, but also get the time to swim in the turquoise pool.
After hiking in the national park and swimming at the waterfall, you must be hungry by now. A delicious typical Costa Rican lunch awaits you.
For the afternoon, relish some relaxation by soaking the thermal waters of Rio Negro Hot Springs. Do not miss the volcanic mud bath!
Book Rincon de la Vieja Combo Tour here –>Tour Inclusions
The price for Rincon de la Vieja Combo Tour includes:
- Roundtrip transportation in AC vehicle
- Typical Costa Rican lunch
- Bottled water
- Services of guide and driver
- All entrance fees
Vandara Full Day Excursion
If you like the idea of spending a whole day in nature, with hanging bridges, volcanic hot springs, waterfalls and wildlife, here is an another full day tour option from Playa del Coco.
Located 58 km (36 miles) from Coco, Vandara is an easy drive from Coco and takes less than 90 minutes.
It is a nice day excursion as in just one day and in one place, you can experience a lot of what Costa Rica has to offer – nature, adventure, cultural experience and traditional food.
Depending on your preferred level of activity vs. relaxation, you can choose from two different passes for Vandara Experience.
Vandara Nature Pass is perfect if you are looking for a relaxing day amidst natural activities. It includes volcanic mud bath, thermal water springs, hiking on trails, hanging bridges, access to a (seasonal) waterfall, orchards and gardens, opportunity of birdwatching in the tropical forest, cultural experience about Costa Rican traditions, and a farm-to-table lunch of typical Costa Rican fare, with coffee, juice and desert.
Book Vandara Nature Pass here –>Vandara Explorer Pass includes everything that the Nature Pass offers, plus you can also do zip-lining and go horseback riding. You also get a jungle water slide in this one. So, buy the Explorer Pass if you wish to add some little adventures to an otherwise relaxing day.
Book Vandara Explorer Pass here –>Related Reading: Hanging Bridges of Monteverde
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
Are you like us who prefer more activities and adventures than opportunities of relaxation? If yes, consider this for a full day adventure excursion from Playa del Coco: Diamante Eco Adventure Park Day Pass with Lunch.
Diamante Eco Adventure Park is less than 30 minutes drive away from Coco. So, it can be a nice and easy trip filled with activities that kids and adults both enjoy.
Diamante offer various activities and attractions, including a wild life sanctuary for rescued animals.
But their specialty is the super cool Superman-style zip-line with ocean views for almost a mile! That is also a dual line, so you get to glide along with your travel partner, enjoying the thrill side by side.
If you want to experience everything that this adventure park offers, in just one day, then get the Diamante Adventure Pass.
When you book this excursion, you not only get to experience the Superman zip-line, but also get access to several other attractions.
Here is a highlight summary of the Adventure Pass inclusions:
- Ocean view dual zip-line
- Tarzan Swing
- Hanging bridges
- Nature Trails
- Access to Wildlife Sanctuary, Butterfly Garden, Botanical Garden
- Stand-up Paddle boarding and Kayaking at Hammock Beach
- Buffet Lunch with coffee and beverages at ocean view restaurant
Related Reading: Zip-lining in Monteverde
Day Trip to Another Country! – Nicaragua
The Penas Blanca border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua is located 112 km (70 miles) from Playa del Coco. The drive takes about 2 hours on a straight road, Ruta 1 (Pan America Highway), with beautiful scenery all along.
So, why not add visiting another country to your list of things to do in Playa del Coco?
Nicaragua is a beautiful country with an impressive combination of nature and history. You could easily end up spending a few weeks in this Central American country. But if you are short on time, consider a day trip from Costa Rica to Nicaragua.
Since this activity includes international border crossings twice in one day, we recommend you NOT to do this on your own.
Nicaragua Full Day Tour from Costa Rica
Book this full-day guided tour to visit Nicaragua from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, offered by Native’s Way. This way, professionals can take care of the overland international border crossing requirements.
It is a very long and tiring day tour but packs in all the major highlights of Nicaragua, from active volcanos to colonial towns.
Some of the highlights of the tour: Nicaragua Lake, Catarina Volcano Viewpoint, Masaya Town, Masaya Volcano, Granada, Boat Cruise on Nicaragua Lake, Typical Nicaraguan cuisine for breakfast and lunch.
Book Nicaragua Full Day Tour here –>Tour Inclusions
The price for Full-Day Nicaragua Tour includes:
- Pick and drop from hotel, house or condo
- Transportation in AC vehicle
- Bottled water
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Services of guide and drivers
- Taxes, Fees, Charges*
* Our personal experience: If you need visa to visit Niacaragua, that cost is NOT included in the tour price.
Related Reading: Our Nicaragua day trip experience, including a story of Visa confusion – ah, traveling on Indian passports!.
Sea Turtle Nesting at Ostional
First things first. With a distance of over 100 km, this is a very long and tiring trip from Playa del Coco.
There is no convenient public transport option. The drive is no fun either, as the road to Ostional is not in great condition.
Yet, we are adding Ostional trip to the list of things to do in Playa del Coco. Why?
Because, a remarkable phenomenon happens at Ostional, when thousands of Olive Ridley sea turtles arrive at the Ostional Beach for nesting. This is locally known as “arribada”, meaning “arrival”.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, it is one of those unique spectacular sights in the world that can leave you spellbound.
On the day of our visit to Ostional, guess how many Olive Ridleys arrived at the beach? The official count said, 92,968!
As with any wildlife, you cannot really predict the exact date of the arribada. But the best way of keeping track is to follow the updates of the Facebook page of AGLO. They regularly post about when an arribada is starting, what is the average estimated turtle count, and how long it is expected to last (usually 5-7 days in one cycle).
So, if the date of an arribada happens to coincide with your Playa del Coco trip, and if you enjoy watching wildlife in their natural habitat, do not miss this. It will be a difficult and long trip from Playa del Coco, but one of that will reward with an extraordinary wildlife watching experience in Costa Rica.
Related:
- Reading: Our Complete Guide to Turtle Nesting Tour in Ostional
- Watch: Our YouTube Video of Turtle Nesting in Ostional
Best Time to Visit Playa del Coco
Costa Rica has two major seasons. Dry season, locally known as summer, runs from December to April and rainy season or green season, locally known as winter, starts from late April/ May.
However, Playa del Coco is located in Guanacaste province, one of the driest parts of Costa Rica. So, rain does not arrive until May in this part of the country. But when it does, the rain sweeps the entire dry region of tropical dry Guanacaste and washes it green.
Personally, we like the greener version of Guanacaste better. However, if you are looking for sun-kissed days for your beach vacation, plan your Playa del Coco trip between December and April.
Insider Tip
During first three weeks of July, Costa Rica sees a “mini summer”. You get continuous sunny days in the middle of the rainy season.
So, if you want to see green Guanacaste but still want to have better chances of sunny days, you may visit Playa del Coco in July. The prices are lower too during this time, compared to the dry season.
The month of July also falls within the short window when you can actually go diving at the Bat Islands (Islas Murciélagos).
Related Reading: Best Time to Visit Costa Rica.
The article also has couple of neat infographics to help you plan.
Where to Stay in Playa del Coco
For exploring Playa del Coco, you can choose to stay right in town of Coco or in nearby areas of Playa Ocotal or Playa Hermosa. However, if you are feeling fancy, book yourself a stay at one of the many all-inclusive resorts in the region.
To help you plan where to stay in Playa del Coco, we are sharing some accommodation options by different categories mentioned before.
Coco Town Accommodations
These accommodations are located in town, rated well, have free car parking and includes free WiFi. Click on the names to view prices, availability or to make your reservations.
Playa Ocotal Accommodations
Click on the names to check prices and availability for these stay options in Ocotal. Playa Ocotal is located about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Coco, and the drive takes 10 minutes.
Playa Hermosa Accommodations
Here are some options for staying in Playa Hermosa, a 15-minute drive from Playa del Coco.
All-Inclusive Resorts near Playa del Coco
Most of the all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica are clustered around the Guanacaste region. Some are located up north, almost near the Nicaragua border, while others are near the Culebra Bay, not too far away from Playa del Coco.
Here are some stay options if you wish to stay in an all-inclusive but still have the chance to explore Coco. Click on the names below to find the best deals and make your reservation.
- Occidental Papagayo All Inclusive – Adults Only (20 minutes drive from Coco)
- Casa Conde Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive (22 minutes drive from Coco)
- RIU Palace Costa Rica All Inclusive (35 minutes drive from Coco)
- Villas Sol Beach Resort (18 minutes drive from Coco)
Where to Eat in Playa del Coco
When it comes to dine-in options in Playa del Coco, you will find all kinds of cuisines.
The restaurant scene is so diverse here that you can start your day at a Venezuelan coffee shop, have lunch at a Greek restaurant and end your day by hanging out at a local bar with craft beer and live music.
These are some of the several restaurant options in Playa del Coco, and why you should go here:
Breakfast
- Guayoyo Craft Coffee House – for quiet breakfast and coffee in a nicely decorated cafe.
- Bar Jali – for filling breakfast plates served with potatoes, breads and coffee.
Lunch
- Santorini Greek Restaurant – for yummy Greek food. Try the Baklava for dessert.
- Verde Salvia Ristorante Italiano E Pizzeria – for Italian menu, including delicious pizzas.
- Father Rooster’s (Playa Ocotal) – for beachfront dining at an old family-run restaurant
Happy Hour/ Sunset Drink
- Zi Lounge – for happy hours and variety of wood fire pizzas.
- The Lookout – for sunset hour cocktails.
Dinner
- Coconutz Brewhouse – for live music, chill atmosphere, craft beers and delicious bar food. Try their nachos – loaded and lipsmacking!
- Namu Taproom and Bistro by Chef Nicholas Devenelle – for chef’s special menu, beer on tap and the Best lamb stew in Costa Rica!
Indian Restaurants
We have not personally eaten at either of these branches, but we are aware how much visitors love trying Indian food while traveling. So, we cannot NOT tell you about the Indian restaurants in Playa del Coco 🙂
- Naans & Curries Coco – a fine dining restaurant with luxe ethnic interiors and delicious traditional Indian food. They are the largest and fanciest Indian restaurant chain in Costa Rica. Having dined at several of their restaurants (just not in Coco), we concur with our fellow Indian expats here, that despite their premium prices, Naans & Curries restaurant chain serves the best Indian fare in Costa Rica.
- Masala Indian Restaurant – From appetizers to main course, they serve the popular Indian dishes, but without the price tag of Naans & Curries. Our Costa Rican friends loved the food here.
How to Get to Playa del Coco
From Liberia Airport
If you plan to reach Playa del Coco directly from the airport, or if your Costa Rica vacation is focused on exploring the Guanacaste province, you should fly in to Liberia International Airport.
From Liberia airport, Coco is only 26 km (16 miles). It can take between 25-45 minutes to reach, depending on traffic.
For transport options, you can rent a car and select Liberia airport as pickup location.
Otherwise, book a taxi or take a bus from Liberia. You can also coordinate with your hotel for an airport transfer service.
Related Reading: Costa Rica 10-day itinerary from Liberia
From San Jose Airport
If you plan to fly in to San Jose International Airport, the commute time to Playa del Coco will be longer.
San Jose Airport to Playa del Coco: By Self-Drive
Depending on time of the day and day of the week, this 235 km (146 miles) drive can take between 3.5 to 5.5 hours.
You can take Ruta 27 and then Ruta 1 before you take the left from Liberia and get on Ruta 21. Please note, Ruta 27 has a lot of tolls and often sees too much traffic, particularly during holiday weekends.
Alternatively, you can avoid Ruta 27 altogether and continue driving on Ruta 1 until you hit Liberia. However, a long stretch of this part is curvy with single lane. So drive cautiously.
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San Jose Airport to Playa del Coco: By Public Transport
Pulmitan de Liberia runs direct buses from San Jose to Playa del Coco 3 times a day, at 8:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm. You can book tickets online in advance from this site.
Note that, Pulmitan de Liberia bus terminal is located in San Jose. And San Jose Airport is actually in Alajuela. So, it will take a half an hour taxi ride to get to the bus terminal from the airport.
Related Reading: Costa Rica 2-week itinerary from San Jose airport
What to Pack for Playa del Coco
The attire style in Costa Rica is pretty casual, particularly along the coast. So, you can very well spend your days in Playa del Coco in summer dresses, shorts and tops, and flip-flops.
If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, check beforehand if any of their restaurants require you to dress up for dinner.
Remember to carry your swimwear. You will get plenty of opportunities to get into the water, whether it is the ocean or the waterfalls or the swimming pools or the hot springs.
Pack hiking shorts and waterproof hiking sandals if you are going on waterfall hikes.
With all the water activities you are going to do in and around Playa del Coco, you will constantly need to bring towel on your outings. Your friend in this case is a quick-dry microfiber towel, available in nice colors and comes in a mesh bag.
Two essentials to pack for your Costa Rica vacation are insect repellent and sunscreen.
In Playa del Coco, since you will be participating in ocean activities like swimming, snorkeling or diving, please consider reef safe sunscreen to protect the precious coral life of our planet.
Related Reading: What to Pack for Costa Rica. This article also contains a FREE checklist!
Final Thoughts
Playa del Coco is an old beach town that is always bustling with energy. If you prefer beach vacations, but without compromising on the development infrastructure level, then this town is for you.
Coco also makes for a perfect base for exploring other attractions of the Guanacaste province, not just beautiful beaches, but also volcanos, hot springs, waterfalls and national parks.
So, Playa del Coco does have the potential to offer you an all-round Costa Rica vacation experience.
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