Costa Rica
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Aerial view of a curved beach below wooded hills in Guanacaste.

Costa Rica · Guanacaste

Free or almost free

Public beaches, towns and waterfalls that cost little or nothing.

8 places

  1. Conchal Beach1

    BeachOpen

    Conchal Beach

    10–15 min walk along the sand from Brasilito11.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A beach made of crushed shells, with clear and usually calm water between two rocky points; you can snorkel straight from shore.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Conchal · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free entry to the public beach; attended parking in Brasilito costs about ₡3,000 (May 2026).

    Tip: There are no facilities: bring water and cash. Snorkelling is best at mid or low tide. Do not take shells: their numbers have dropped.

    Nearby: Conchal Wildlife Refuge (1.2 km) · Playa Brasilito (1.7 km) · Playa Flamingo (3.8 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Conchal · Vamos Rent-A-Car – Playa Conchal access guide

  2. 2

    BeachOpen

    Tamarindo

    Tamarindo town, Santa Cruz0.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not needed

    Town beach and Guanacaste’s main surf hub, with small waves for learning, schools and board rentals, and sunsets over the bay.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Tamarindo · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    Not required (public beach). Surf lessons and tours are booked separately.

    Tip: Avoid surfing near the estuary mouth and at dawn or dusk: crocodiles have been filmed (MINAE advice, January 2026).

    Nearby: Surf lessons in Tamarindo (0 km) · Tamarindo nightlife (0.2 km) · ATV tours (0.3 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Tamarindo · Wikipedia – Tamarindo, Costa Rica · Tico Times – Crocodiles share waves with surfers

  3. 3

    BeachOpen

    Playa Avellanas

    South of Tamarindo, on a partly gravel road7.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Surf beach with several breaks for all levels, the biggest known as Little Hawaii, and a quiet small-village feel.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Avellanas area · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Guarded parking ₡2,000 per day (September 2025).

    Tip: A high-clearance car is recommended; 4x4 is not required. There are no ATMs: bring cash.

    Nearby: Zipline canopy near Tamarindo (3.5 km) · Playa Negra (3.9 km) · Playa Langosta (5.9 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Avellanas area

  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Playa Ventanas

    North of Playa Grande, separated by a rock outcrop5.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A sandy arc of about 1 km north of Playa Grande, inside Las Baulas, with tide pools at both ends and no shops.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Ventanas · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: It is more sheltered than Playa Grande, but rip currents and strong waves can occur. Bring food, water and shade.

    Nearby: Playa Grande (0.7 km) · Leatherback turtle night tour at Las Baulas (2.2 km) · Tamarindo Estuary boat tour (3.8 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Ventanas · SINAC – Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas

  5. 5

    CultureOpen

    Liberia town centre, the White City

    Central Liberia, 215 km north-west of San José57 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Guanacaste’s capital, called the White City for its old white-gravel streets and whitewashed houses; it has the Guanacaste Museum, the Sabanero (cowboy) Museum and the cathedral on the central park.

    Source: Wikipedia – Liberia, Costa Rica · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Every 25 July the city celebrates the Annexation of Nicoya with parades, folk dancing, cattle fairs, local food and marimba music.

    Nearby: Rincon Thermals & Adventures (formerly Vandará) (10.5 km) · La Leona waterfall (10.8 km) · Horseback riding at Rincón de la Vieja (12.3 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Liberia, Costa Rica · Wikivoyage – Liberia (Costa Rica)

  6. 6

    CultureOpen

    Guaitil Chorotega pottery village

    Diriá, between Santa Cruz and Nicoya35.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Village where families make Chorotega-style pottery with local clays and mineral pigments, using techniques inherited from pre-Columbian times.

    Source: Wikipedia – Guaitil · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Guaitil and San Vicente pottery was declared intangible cultural heritage in 2013 and received a protected designation of origin in 2017. Visiting workshops is free; buying directly supports the families.

    Nearby: Tempisque river boat tour (Palo Verde) (13.5 km) · Diriá National Park (14 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Guaitil · Wikipedia – Cerámica nicoyana · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Palo Verde wildlife boat tour

  7. Llanos de Cortés Waterfall7

    Photo: Yricordel, CC BY-SA 3.0

    NatureOpen

    Llanos de Cortés Waterfall

    Bagaces, about 30 min south of Liberia on Route 164 km from the centre

    Entry
    $7
    Hours
    8:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A wide waterfall dropping into a sandy-bottomed pool you can swim in, just a 5-minute walk from the car park.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Foreigners: $7 adults, $4 children; free under 7 (October 2025).
    Hours
    Daily 8:00–16:00; last entry 15:30.

    Tip: Use the official entrance (toilets and showers at the car park). A rope limits the swimming area and there are lifeguards.

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

  8. 8

    NatureOpen

    Diriá National Park

    18 km south of Santa Cruz via Arado30.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $6
    Hours
    8:00–15:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A little-visited park in the hills south of Santa Cruz, with forest trails, viewpoints, pools on the En Medio river and a seasonal waterfall.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Diriá · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $6 for foreigners per day (SINAC); a 2025 guide says there is often no ranger to collect it.
    Hours
    8:00–15:00 according to a July 2025 guide.

    Tip: The last 6 km are gravel with a crossing of the Diriá river: SINAC suggests 4WD. The waterfall nearly dries up in the dry season.

    Nearby: Guaitil Chorotega pottery village (14 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Diriá · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Diria National Park

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