The Nicoya Peninsula is the largest peninsula in Costa Rica at over 100km/62mi in length. Found at the northwest corner of the country, the peninsula juts southward into the Pacific Ocean. Roughly the last quarter of the peninsula is part of the Puntarenas province, while the upper section falls within the borders of Guanacaste.
In the 1940s, roughly half of the peninsula was covered with rainforest, but by the 1960s it was mostly cleared.
The beaches of the peninsula are the main attractions of the area, featuring large resorts and excellent water sports opportunities.
Small islands in and around the Gulf of Nicoya make for interesting boating excursions. There are also several wildlife refuges found on the peninsula. Tourism and cattle ranching are the main industries of this region.
Characterized by gentle waves and clean water, the curving Hermosa Beach is quieter and less crowded than others on the Nicoya Peninsula. The beach is 1.6km/1mi long and the sand appears to be a silvery color.
Popular activities at Hermosa include scuba diving, sailing, sportfishing, swimming and snorkelling. Beach camping is free, and there are several options for accommodation and dining at this beach.
Facilities: On-site accomodations, Restaurant or food service
The village of Brasilito offers a few small shops, dining options and the cheapest accommodations in the area. Brasilito Beach is 1.6km/1mi long and characterized by silvery grey sand and medium strength waves. It is a good spot for swimming.
Cabuya is a tiny village found at almost the southernmost tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. Just to the southeast is Cabuya Island, an uninhabited islet where Cabuya's local cemetery is found. Interestingly, the island can only be reached during low tide, otherwise it is cut off from the mainland. Only a few accommodations are available in Cabuya, and popular activities include water sports, horseback riding, and touring nearby beaches and natural attractions.
Carillo Beach has the reputation of being a "postcard-perfect" tropical beach, characterized by a curving shape, clean sand, palm trees and rocky headlands. It is great for swimming and sunbathing and is popular with Costa Ricans during the holiday season.
Facilities: On-site accomodations, Restaurant or food service
Conchal Beach is named for the many shells (conchas) that pile on this bay, leaving a "sand" of shell deposit. The water here is very clear, making Conchal Beach an ideal place for snorkelling. Boat trips and other water sports are also available, and horseback riding along the bay is another popular activity.
This remote beach is wild and mostly undeveloped. There are no villages nearby, so the area is much less crowded than other beaches. The 2km/1.2mi beach features tide-pools and is pleasant for walking.
Many Costa Ricans come to this beach to fish and surf. The surf is high and rip currents are strong, so this is not the most popular beach for swimming. Ridley sea turtles nest here in December and January.
This tiny village is on the west coast of the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula. Nearby is the attractive and rocky Santa Teresa Beach, extremely popular with surfers.
A small beach is found here along with pre-Columbian Indian ruins. While there isn't that much to see here, arriving via a boat trip makes for a relaxing excursion.
Both these beaches are extremely popular with surfers. Avellana is a long, white-sand strand, while the darker Negra beach features rocky outcrops creating exciting surfing conditions. A few restaurants and accommodations are found near these less-crowded beaches.
While this beach is smaller than others found on the Nicoya Peninsula, it is one of the most attractive. Clean and quiet, Ocotal Beach offers good swimming and snorkelling opportunities. Dive outfitters offer trips to nearby dive sites. There are several options for accommodations, however they are more expensive here than in other beach areas.
Some of the best swimming in the area is found at the protected, dark-sand Panamá Beach. The half-moon shaped, 2.4km/1.5mi long beach is nestled in the protected Culebra Bay. This beach was once quiet and undeveloped, however the Papagayo Project aims to build several hotels and condos in the area. The project continues despite controversy and lawsuits.
These two long beaches are less developed and crowded than others. Bahía Ballena (Whale Bay) protects the beaches, which is the Nicoya Peninsula's largest bay on the southern coastline. Both beaches are calm and good for swimming and whales have been spotted in the bay. The Pánica River estuary divides the beaches.
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Sugar Bread Beach
