Costa Rica Sun-Kissed By The Seashore

No matter how you define beachside bliss, Costa Rica’s shores can probably provide it. Postcard-perfect dreams come to life on this isthmus, where it’s possible (with a short drive) to witness a Caribbean sunrise in the morning and a Pacific sunset in the evening. It seems as though every activity imaginable is available along Costa Rica’s vista-blessed beaches—from surfing to sunbathing, camping to scuba diving. Depending on your mood, you can snorkel with the fish or catch one for dinner; most restaurants are happy to cook up your catch for discounted prices. Playa Tamarindo offers the perfect combination of gorgeous surfing days and wild tropical nights, while Jacó promises to be a beach bum’s paradise. For a change of pace, visit the isolated beaches of Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, famous for surfing and turtle-watching, or the algae-carpeted tide pools of Playa Avellana. Surfing is at its best on the endless waves of Pavones, while at Brasilito and Conchal, vast broken-shell beaches make for quieter sunset strolls. Avid surfers and sunbathers flock to Playa Hermosa—not to be confused with the upscale beach of the same name on Península Nicoya—for its relaxed atmosphere, hot black sand, and exhilarating waves. Serious and casual divers alike head to Bahía Drake for the chance to frolic with marlins, rainbow fish, and dolphins in some of the country’s clearest waters, while the bravest surfers tackle the famous Salsa Brava swell in Puerto Viejo. Zancudo is a weekend vacation destination for many tico families, offering unparalleled sportfishing and five kilometers of black-sand shorelines. White-faced monkeys scamper through the coconut palms and smooth sands of Cahuita, where horseback-riding tours are popular. On the nearby shores of Manzanillo, the pristine waters of the Caribbean are hemmed in by rainforest and coral reefs. No trip to Costa Rica is complete without following the beaches of Montezuma to magnificent waterfalls, wildlife, and waves.