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Aerial view of the Punta Uvita sandbar and its two bays.

Costa Rica · Uvita & Ballena

Free beaches and plans

Beaches outside the park, markets and villages with no entry fee.

9 places

  1. 1

    BeachOpen

    Playa Hermosa (Osa)

    About 5 km north of Uvita on the Costanera4.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A 2 km dark-sand beach north of Uvita, with consistent waves for beginner and intermediate surfers and is a popular spot for sunsets.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Hermosa, Uvita (updated May 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: There are showers and lockers for $1 and sometimes lifeguards. There are rip currents: stay near the shore. Break-ins to parked cars have been reported.

    Nearby: Envision Festival (1.2 km) · ATV tour in the hills (3.9 km) · Whale and Dolphin Festival (3.9 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Hermosa, Uvita (updated May 2026) · My Tan Feet – Uvita travel guide (2025)

  2. 2

    BeachOpen

    Dominicalito Beach

    About 3 km south of Dominical, off the Costanera14.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A small, sheltered beach 3 km from Dominical, with gentler waves used by surf schools for beginners; it has a local feel and good sunsets.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominicalito (updated Nov 2024) · 2024

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: The beach and parking are free, but there are no toilets, showers or lifeguards. With a low car, park at the entrance; there are large rocks offshore at low tide.

    Nearby: Surfing at Dominical Beach (2.5 km) · Dominical village (2.9 km) · Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary (3 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominicalito (updated Nov 2024)

  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Surfing at Dominical Beach

    Dominical, about 17 km north of Uvita16.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A beach of about 4 km with big, consistent waves all year, best for intermediate and advanced surfers; several schools teach beginners.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominical (updated Nov 2025) · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: When the sea is big, schools move lessons to Dominicalito. Currents are strong: Dominical’s lifeguard programme relies on donations.

    Nearby: Dominical village (0.4 km) · Dominical Eco Feria (0.6 km) · Dominicalito Beach (2.5 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominical (updated Nov 2025) · Wikivoyage – Dominical · My Tan Feet – Things to do in Uvita (updated Nov 2025)

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  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Playa Linda and Playa Matapalo

    About 11 km north of Dominical (15 min); 40 min from Manuel Antonio27.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A very long dark-sand, palm-lined stretch joining Playa Linda and Playa Matapalo, with almost no development; it has beginner waves and is a turtle-nesting beach.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Linda, Matapalo (updated Mar 2024) · 2024

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: There are no facilities or guarded parking; the access road is dirt. Watch for currents and do not touch nests or turtles.

    Nearby: Hacienda Barú Wildlife Refuge (7.8 km) · Night walk in Costa Ballena (7.8 km) · Zipline canopy in Costa Ballena (7.8 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Linda, Matapalo (updated Mar 2024)

  5. 5

    NatureOpen

    El Pavón Waterfall

    About 5 km inland from the Costanera, south of Ojochal15.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A small waterfall with a large boulder wedged at the top and a swimming pool, popular with local families.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Cascada El Pavón, Ojochal (updated Dec 2024) · 2024 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Free (2024).

    Tip: There is no formal parking or facilities: leave nothing visible in the car. The road is gravel; a high-clearance car helps in the rainy season. Don’t jump off the boulder: the pool is not deep.

    Nearby: Ojochal (3.1 km) · Ventanas Beach (sea caves) (6.4 km) · Piñuela Beach (Piñuela sector) (7.7 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Cascada El Pavón, Ojochal (updated Dec 2024) · Iguana Tours – Waterfall tour incl. El Pavón

  6. 6

    FoodOpen

    Uvita farmers’ market (Mercado Bahía Ballena)

    Central Uvita0.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    8:00–14:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A market in central Uvita with local produce, food, jewellery and clothing from local makers.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Uvita travel guide (2025) · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Wednesday and Saturday, 8:00–14:00.

    Nearby: Colonia Beach (Colonia sector) (0.8 km) · Uvita Beach (Uvita sector) (1.2 km) · Humpback whale watching (1.2 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Uvita travel guide (2025) · OpenStreetMap – Mercado Bahía Ballena

  7. 7

    FoodOpen

    Dominical Eco Feria

    Dominical17.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    8:00–13:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A weekly market of local producers with fruit and vegetables, food, jewellery and clothing.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Day trips from Dominical (updated Aug 2025) · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Fridays; a 2025 guide says 8:00–13:00 and OpenStreetMap 8:30–13:30.

    Nearby: Dominical village (0.2 km) · Surfing at Dominical Beach (0.6 km) · Hacienda Barú Wildlife Refuge (2.7 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Day trips from Dominical (updated Aug 2025) · OpenStreetMap – Eco Feria Dominical

  8. 8

    CultureOpen

    Dominical village

    Costanera Sur, between Quepos and Uvita17 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A small surf town between the Barú River and the beach, with a laid-back backpacker feel, restaurants, shops, ATMs and bars.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominical (updated Nov 2025) · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    Tracopa buses from San José (about 4 hours) at 6:30, 8:30, 11:00, 12:15 and 15:00 according to a 2025 guide.

    Nearby: Dominical Eco Feria (0.2 km) · Surfing at Dominical Beach (0.4 km) · Hacienda Barú Wildlife Refuge (2.9 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Dominical (updated Nov 2025) · Wikivoyage – Dominical

  9. 9

    CultureOpen

    Ojochal

    Costanera Sur, about 15 km south of Uvita13 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A quiet village at the southern end of Costa Ballena and a good base for Playa Ventanas, Playa Piñuela and El Pavón waterfall.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Playa Ventanas (updated Apr 2023) · 2023 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: You need a car: attractions are spread out and several roads are gravel.

    Nearby: El Pavón Waterfall (3.1 km) · Ventanas Beach (sea caves) (3.3 km) · Piñuela Beach (Piñuela sector) (4.6 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Playa Ventanas (updated Apr 2023) · My Tan Feet – Cascada El Pavón, Ojochal (updated Dec 2024) · My Tan Feet – Uvita travel guide (2025)

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