Regions of Costa Rica
Some Must See Beaches in Guanacaste
Guanacaste, Costa Rica's dry northwest, has dozens of beaches, and these 5 cover the range: windy Bahía Salinas for kitesurfing, Playa Negra for experienced surfers, and the calm, swimmable bays of Ocotal, Hermosa and Panamá near Liberia airport. It's a handy guide if you're adding beach days to a yoga trip in the north.
Guanacaste, in Costa Rica's dry northwest, has a long Pacific coastline of bays, coves and surf beaches. Its dry season, roughly December to April, brings months of sunshine, and Liberia's international airport is the closest gateway. Here are 5 beaches that show the range, from windy bays to calm swimming coves.
Bahía Salinas
Bahía Salinas is a wide bay in the far north, close to the Nicaraguan border, and a well-known spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The local kite school Costakite describes a windy season from late November to late April, with the most reliable wind from mid December to the end of March. Outside those months the wind is patchy. It's a quiet, rural corner of the country.
Playa Negra
Playa Negra, south of Tamarindo, is a surf beach rather than a swimming one. costaricasurf.org lists it as a reef and rock break for experienced surfers, with shallow reef and sharp rocks at low tide. Playa Avellanas, a short drive north, is another popular surf beach. If you'd like yoga between surf sessions, Playa Negra Yoga Center is close to the break, and our yoga and surf guide covers the rest of the coast.
Playa Ocotal
Ocotal is a small beach in a cove between hills, just south of Playas del Coco, with grayish sand and low waves. Costa Rica's tourism board lists it as good for swimming, sunbathing and water sports, and it holds the Ecological Blue Flag for clean beaches.
Playa Hermosa
This Playa Hermosa (Costa Rica has several) is just north of Playas del Coco, on the Gulf of Papagayo. The tourism board describes light gray sand, few stones and gentle waves for swimming, and notes it's quieter than El Coco next door. It's an easy beach for families.
Playa Panamá
Playa Panamá sits on Culebra Bay, a little north of Playa Hermosa. The tourism board describes a wide bay with fine sand, shade trees and a small mangrove, popular with families for swimming and camping. The large resorts of the Papagayo Peninsula are across the bay.
Yoga in Guanacaste
Guanacaste's yoga is concentrated further south, in Nosara and around Tamarindo. Nosara has more of the retreat centers we profile than anywhere else in the country; our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica compares it with the rest of the coast, and our Guanacaste province guide covers the region.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Guanacaste beaches?
The dry season, roughly December to April, has the most sunshine. The rainy months are usually May to October, wettest in September and October.
Which Guanacaste beaches are good for swimming?
Calm bays such as Playa Hermosa, Playa Ocotal and Playa Panamá, near Playas del Coco, have gentle waves according to Costa Rica's tourism board. Always check local conditions and flags.
Is Playa Negra good for beginner surfers?
No. It's a reef and rock break for experienced surfers. Tamarindo, further north, is a better place to learn.
When is kitesurfing season in Bahía Salinas?
Roughly late November to late April, with the steadiest wind from mid December to March, according to the local kite school Costakite.
[Updated on: 4 November 2026]
