Discover Pacific North
The Pacific coast of the province of Guanacaste hosts stunning beaches and bays. The most well known north Pacific resort is Tamarindo and neighbouring this bay you’ll also find Playa Hermosa, Playa Flamingo, Playa Conchal, Playa Brasilito – and many more. Further south from popular Tamarindo you’ll find more tranquil resorts – Nosara and Samara.
Tamarindo Bay hosts the golden sweep of Playa Tamarindo, and the town of Tamarindo itself. The beach is lovely and it was discovered by surfers from the 1970s onward. Now developed into a resort town, it’s popularity for surfing remains – as well as a place for swimming (as always, beware currents and riptides) and to relax in the sunshine. This means that Tamarindo is bustling with many hotels, several of these with direct beach access. Their beachside restaurants are all open to day visitors. The beach is only one attraction for this area – close by, there are kayak and boat nature tours in the Tamarindo estuary; sailing and snorkelling trips; sport fishing trips; horse riding; you can also take long days out to the interior, where there’s white water rafting, hiking, waterfall visits and more. Or, for the beach lover, Tamarindo’s not the only one in the area. Within an hour’s drive you’ll find Playa Brasilito, Playa Conchal, Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero, Playa Prenca, Playa Prieta, and many more. There are turtle watching tours as well and the peak season for this in Tamarindo is November to April.
Nosara is a calm, relaxed town with dark sands, dusty roads and down to earth beach bars. Three stunning beaches are stitched together by a network of earth roads that meander over coastal hills and meet the coast just west of Nosara. Inland are pockets of luxuriant vegetation that attract birds and other wildlife. The area has seen little logging, partly because of the nearby wildlife refuge “Reserva Biológica”. Boat tours are available on the Rio Nosara and Rio Montaña to watch for wildlife from the water.
Further south still, Samara is a small town with a safe and huge beach, ideal for family getaways or just to relax after a tour of the country. Many plants and animals can be found along the five kilometre beach, and there’s a coral reef just offshore for snorkelling. Take a boat trip to gorgeous and remote Isla Chora. Smaller and quieter than Tamarindo, there’s still plenty to do, from horse rides to water sports – stand up paddle boarding, surfing, kayaking – to canopy tours and yoga. If you’re here for longer and have a 4×4 hire vehicle you can also explore the hidden beaches north of Sámara, such as Playas Barrigona and Buenavista.
Climate: the northern Pacific coast has a hot tropical climate with only a small annual variation in temperature. Expect around 30°C. The driest months are December to March; the wetter months are May to October.
