Playa Grande, Costa Rica
The quiet side of the Tamarindo estuary: 4.5 km of protected beach, consistent surf, mangroves and dry tropical forest where howler monkeys wake you up. A local’s guide to the beach, the area, and where to stay.
[ WHY PLAYA GRANDE ]Tamarindo’s restaurants are a boat ride away. Its crowds are not. Playa Grande sits across the estuary inside Las Baulas National Marine Park, so there are no high-rises on the sand, just a long, wide beach, a few small restaurants and surf shops in the trees, and sunsets straight over the Pacific.
Start here
Explore Playa Grande and beyond
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Protected beaches, mangrove estuaries and the wildlife that comes with them: monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas and hundreds of birds.
Tamarindo for the evening
5 minutes by boat, 25 by car. Restaurants, nightlife, surf schools and sunset sailing on the other side of the estuary.
Day trips & things to do
Volcanoes, waterfalls, wildlife river safaris and snorkelling beaches, 20 minutes to 2 hours away.
Costa Rica Trip Planner
Enter your dates and airports and get a suggested route with nights in each place and drive times.
Stay with us
Where we stay: Casa Perico Azul
Our brand-new three-bedroom villa with a private pool and mountain views, set on a quiet hillside five minutes or less from the beach. Rated 5.0 and an Airbnb Guest Favorite.
