The 5 most beautiful beaches on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast

Playa Cocles is a beach located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, in the Puerto Viejo de Talamanca region. This beach is very popular with surfers because of its quality waves. It is also popular with families and bathers for its golden sands and crystal-clear waters. The beach extends over more than a kilometre of sand bordered by dense tropical forest. The setting is peaceful, natural and intoxicating. For tourists, the beach paradise is also surrounded by a wide variety of bars, restaurants and accommodation, ranging from rustic huts to luxury resorts.

As well as surfing, bathers can enjoy a variety of activities on Playa Cocles. As well as taking a dip in the turquoise waters, you can try your hand at snorkelling or sport fishing, for example. Nature lovers will be delighted to know that there are several nature reserves close to Playa Cocles. The Gandoca-Manzanillo reserve abounds with hiking trails for all levels. Puerto Viejo has a slow, relaxed pace. Its streets lined with restaurants, bars, artisanal shops and fresh seafood stalls are peaceful and welcoming. Puerto Viejo is popular with young travellers looking to relax and connect with nature while discovering Costa Rica's vibrant culture.

🚌 How do I get there?

From the capital, San José, you can take a taxi or bus to Puerto Viejo. The journey takes around 4 - 5 hours and departures are from the bus station. You can also hire a car and drive from San José or Limón. Finally, there are private shuttle buses that offer transfers from San José or Limón to Puerto Viejo. This can be more expensive, but depending on your budget, it's a comfortable and practical option. Another option is to fly to Limón airport, around 60km from Puerto Viejo. From there, you can take a taxi or bus to the beach, which is about a 30-minute drive away.

Where to sleep?

Punta Uva is located south of Playa Cocles, on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. In an idyllic setting, this beach is bordered on one side by crystal-clear waters and on the other by lush vegetation. The calm waters of Punta Uva are perfect for swimming, snorkelling or scuba diving, for example. If you're good at snorkelling, you can swim among schools of multicoloured fish and dazzling coral. Once out of the water, the fine sand invites you to relax and enjoy the sun and the music of the waves.

Like most of Costa Rica's beaches, Punta Uva is surrounded by lush rainforest, teeming with wildlife. From the beach, you can spot howler monkeys swinging through the trees, iguanas basking on the rocks and colourful toucans soaring through the air. If you enjoy a bit of sport, why not take a nature walk to explore the wooded paths that line the beach, or hire a kayak to explore the nearby mangroves.

Where to sleep?

Not far from here, Manzanillo beach lies within the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Park. This magnificent stretch of white sand is an ideal place to observe the local flora and fauna and enjoy a relaxing swim in the Caribbean Sea.

🚌 How do I get there?

Just like playa de Cocles, you can take a bus from San José, hire a car or take a shuttle bus to Punta Uva beach or Manzanillo beach.

Where to sleep?

Puerto Vargas is a wild beach of magnificent black sand bordered by majestic palm trees. This black sand is of volcanic origin, produced by the erosion of the volcanic rocks found in the region. A true paradise for nature lovers, its flora and fauna are incredibly rich. As the sun begins to decline over the horizon, the beach at Puerto Vargas is transformed into a veritable spectacle of colour, with shades of pink, orange and red painting the sky.

Cahuita, the neighbouring beach, is also a magnificent black sand beach. It lies within the Cahuita National Park.

🚌 How do I get there?

Puerto Vargas and Playa Cahuita are slightly further north than Punta Uva. To get there, head to Puerto Limon from San José and take a bus to Cahuita or Comadre, the two villages surrounding the beach. You can also rent a car or hire a driver.

Where to sleep?