“Coco Beach”, or Playa del Coco in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is a fun Costa Rica beach vacation destination. Dubbed the “Costa Rica Riviera” and “Gold Coast”, the north Pacific region boasts spectacularly beautiful beaches and coastline, nearly always sunny weather, and the highest concentration of luxury accommodations in Costa Rica.
There is a lot to do and see in Playa del Coco, besides hanging out on the beach and in the restaurants, bars, casinos, discos and shops of this beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay.
10 Best things to do in Playa del Coco Costa Rica
Canopy Zip Lines: The Congo Trail Canopy Zip Line Tour close to Playa del Coco features 11 easy and fun zip lines, hanging bridges, and a small area where you can hold and play with howler monkeys.
Scuba Diving: Playa del Coco is one of Northern Guanacaste’s most celebrated dive and snorkeling spots. In town, you can find many local dive shops and tours, along with PADI certification courses. Serious divers will be pleased with plentiful marine life like big schools of fish, stingrays, manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and several kinds of sharks.
Playa del Coco Catamaran Tour: Sailing tours depart from Playa del Coco. This is a fun activity to enjoy the ocean and coastline scenery, and to watch for dolphins, flying fish, sea turtles and even whales (depending on the season). The tour includes a meal and you can snorkel among coral reefs.
Surfing: Close to Playa del Coco is one of the best surf spots in Costa Rica, Playa Naranjo and “Witch’s Rock”, the name given by locals for a large rocky formation just off the beach. The iconic landmark was made famous in the epic surfing movie Endless Summer 2.
Horseback riding: In Playa del Coco, there are many horseback riding tours available.
Whitewater rafting: Enjoy 15 scenic miles of exhilarating whitewater rafting on the class 3-4 Tenorio River, including plunging down small waterfalls. Lunch is included.
Float trip on the Corobici River: This river journey by raft is a leisurely float trip ideal for spotting monkeys, iguanas and birds. The tour includes a picnic lunch.
Las Baulas National Marine Park: You can see Leatherback, Pacific Green, and Hawksbill sea turtles come ashore to nest on guided tours with the park service. “Las Baulas” means Leatherback sea turtles in Spanish. Leatherback turtles are the world’s largest turtle and also the largest reptile, weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900kg). The national park is located 46 km from Playa del Coco.
Rincon de la Vieja Volcano National Park: Rincon de la Vieja is the largest volcano in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province. The national park’s trails show off the active volcano’s power with bubbling mud pits, fumaroles, thermal springs, rivers and waterfalls, all surrounded by dry tropical forest on the Pacific slope. Rincon de la Vieja is 60km from Playa del Coco.
Santa Rosa National Park: Only an hour drive away (76 km) from Playa del Coco, the 122,350 acre Santa Rosa National Park in Costa Rica contains 10 unique habitats, ranging from mangrove swamp to dry tropical forest, that provide sanctuary for plentiful animal species. The park encompasses most of the Santa Elena Peninsula, including its immaculate white-sand beaches.
Where to stay in Playa del Coco, Costa Rica
Costa Rica condo rentals and Costa Rica vacation homes in Playa del Coco are the way to go, with more space, freedom, amenities and comfort than traditional hotel rooms, and often at lower prices.
All Costa Rica Rentals is your best source for Costa Rica beach rentals in Playa del Coco. Contact All Costa Rica Rentals today to see what Costa Rica vacation rentals in Playa del Coco are available for your vacation. Great discounts can be found this time of year in Costa Rica low season.
Article by Shannon Farley
