Many people confuse Hermosa Beach in Puntarenas with the Hermosa Beach that is located in Northern Guanacaste next to Playa del Coco. Hermosa Beach in Puntarenas is located next to the world famous Jaco beach. Jaco Beach is famous for its festive nightlife, as well as its year round waves. Some local surfers however, actually consider the waves at Hermosa Beach to be better than the ones in Jaco.

Just this year the world surf competition was held in the region, and thousands of people congregated to the sandy shores of Costa Rica. What I like most about Hermosa beach is that it has yet to be invaded by the almighty dollar the way Jaco Beach has. The accommodations are still affordable, food is cheap, and the people there are real. Jaco beach has basically become a beach for the foreigners, and Hermosa beach for the locals.

To get to Hermosa Beach next to Jaco, a short 8 minute drive is required. You can easily hope on a cab from Jaco, and that should run you no more than $4 USD. If you decide to stay at Hermosa Beach, be sure to bring some food and drinks with you as restaurant options are limited. I suggest staying in Jaco to enjoy the nightlife, and getting to be safely, rather than having to venture all the way back to Hermosa Beach at the wee hours of the night.

To get to Montezuma, you have two options. The easiest way to get there is to board a domestic flight with either Nature Air or with Sansa Air. Flights only go to Tambor at the present, but you can hope on a short shuttle bus to get you all the way to Montezuma. The other way to get to Montezuma is to drive down to Puntarenas and take the Ferry across to Tambor, and continue towards Montezuma from there.

Some of the highlights in the area are surfing, fishing and scuba diving. Another great side trip while staying in Montezuma is visiting Mal Pais, which offers a pure tropical vibe. Our favorite hotel in the area is Beija Flor. This southern Nicoya Peninsula beach has been described as a magical place, that is basically the last of its kind. As tourism continues to grow, it is harder and harder to find rustic, charming little beach towns that a free of large hotel chains and massive crowds of tourists. In Montezuma, the locals still outnumber the outsiders, ensuring you get to experience a real Costa Rican vibe. Montezuma is also a top choice for European visitors. For information about traveling to Montezuma you can contact us directly.

Ballena means whale in English. The beach is called Ballena beach because if you are lucky, you will actually be able to spot whales in the distance. This is one of the only places in Costa Rica where whales can be spotted from shore. I have not personally seen any whales while I was there, but I was extremely lucky to see some whales from the hotel lobby area. After seeing them, I can now say, that there are very few things on earth that are as majestic and jaw dropping.

If you want to check Ballena beach out, make sure to bring some drinks and food, as it is quite isolated, and it would be too late to get drinks and food once you got there. You’ll also want to bring a wet bag as there is nowhere to protect yourself from the rain. The easiest way to get to Ballena beach is to drive to San Isidro de General. The drive is about 4 hours from San Jose. Dominical is your best option for finding affordable accommodation, as it is located just 30 minutes away. The coastal drive from Ballena to Dominical is one of the most beautiful drives you will ever embark on, as the Pacific Ocean can be seen for the entire drive.

Pros of Tamarindo Beach

There are very few places in Costa Rica that can offer year round quality surfing. Tamarindo Beach also offers people countless surf shops, and has one of the coolest surfer vibes in the country. Tamarindo is what I pictured in my head Costa Rica would be. The development means that there is a lot of security and the new condos offer people who want to live in Costa Rica lots of options.

Another pro is the fact that locals still have an impact on the city. Costa Ricans still visit Tamarindo Beach, especially during Samana Santa. The other big pro about Tamarindo is the awesome nightlife. They just recently opened up a new club that matches the urban quality of the Central Valley and actually are starting to receive some top notch acts.

Cons of Tamarindo Beach

OK, I will admit, I am a bit of a Tamarindo hater. I did just bring my best friend and his wedding group there, so I must not hate it that much, but there are a few things that I am not too crazy about. The first of which is the my disgust of the rampant prostitution that can be seen at time once 9pm passes. It’s obvious Tamarindo has been making an effort to tone down on the prostitution, but it is still a little too obvious for my liking.

The other big con, is the fact that staying here now that I know what the real Costa Rica is all about, is always a disappointment for me. Had I gone there first, I would have loved it, but it just can’t compare to Costa Rica’s other magnificent beaches.

The weather is Jaco is good year round, although there is more rain from May until November. Jaco is well known for it´s surf and many surfers from around the world come to try it out. Jaco is also well known for it´s open prostitution. Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, however very few places make it as obvious as Jaco. Drugs are also becoming problematic in the area bringing higher crime rates along with it.

Taking people to Jaco has been hit or miss for me, with half of them loving the experience, and the other half hating it. It is best to ask people who have gone to decide whether or not you should travel to Jaco.

The waves in Samara are small in comparison with most beaches on the Pacific coast, nonetheless it has become a popular surfing destination. Expert surfers will usually skip this beach however for those learning to surf it can be the ideal location.

Samara is also home to a popular Spanish school named Intercultura. Many students from Europe and North America decide to learn English in this exotic region. English classes are also taught to the local population.

Ocotal beach is located about 4 kilometers from Coco beach, the most popular beach in the area. There is not much nocturnal life due to the fact that only hotels inhabit the area. The road is paved and offers fairly easy access to those that have cars. As with most of the roads in Costa Rica, a 4X4 is the ideal choice for navigating the roads of Ocotal beach.