Best beaches in Costa Rica, 2026
Top-rated Costa Rica beaches by water quality, conditions and crowd
The top 25 beaches in Costa Rica ranked by the OnlyBeaches Index — a 1-10 score that blends Purity, Conditions, Crowd and Vibe.How we rank →
1OBI 7.5+
Barra de Parismina Beach
Parismina, Costa Rica
River-mouth beach area giving Parismina its distinctive isolated coastal character.
2OBI 7.5+
Laguna Jalova Beach
Jalova, Costa Rica
Quiet beach frontage near Jalova lagoon, valued for wilderness rather than resort facilities.
Playa Agua Dulce
Barra del Colorado, Costa Rica
Little-known northern coastal spot for boat-based exploration near Barra del Colorado.
4OBI 7.5+
Playa Arco
Punta Uva, Costa Rica
A small beach with a gentle curve and calm waters, perfect for those seeking solitude.
5OBI 7.5+
Playa Backwash
Cabo Matapalo, Costa Rica
Local surf beach near Cabo Matapalo with wild Osa jungle backdrop
6OBI 7.5+
Playa Bananito
Matama, Costa Rica
A quiet Caribbean beach near the Bananito area, useful for travelers seeking undeveloped coastline.
7OBI 7.5+
Playa Barra de Matina
Barra de Matina, Costa Rica
River-mouth village beach with a strong off-the-map Caribbean character.
Playa Barra del Colorado
Barra del Colorado, Costa Rica
Remote black-sand Caribbean beach at the river-mouth village near the Nicaragua border.
9OBI 7.5+
Playa Barra del Colorado Norte
Barra del Colorado Norte, Costa Rica
Northern village-side beach with a true off-grid Caribbean feel and river-mouth scenery.
10OBI 7.5+
Playa Barra del Colorado Sur
Barra del Colorado Sur, Costa Rica
Southern side of Barra del Colorado with lodges, fishing culture, and quiet natural beach frontage.
11OBI 7.5+
Playa Barra del Pacuare
Barra del Pacuare, Costa Rica
Isolated river-mouth beach settlement on the Pacuare canal route.
12OBI 7.5+
Playa Batán
Matina, Costa Rica
Lesser-known Matina district coastal beach useful for fuller local coverage.
Playa Blanca
Cahuita, Costa Rica
The iconic white-sand beach inside Cahuita National Park beside the protected reef.
14OBI 7.5+
Playa Blanca (Cahuita National Park)
Cahuita, Costa Rica
Signature Cahuita National Park beach with reef scenery and classic white Caribbean sand.
Playa Blanca (Manzanillo)
Manzanillo, Costa Rica
A quiet and peaceful beach, known for its white sand and crystal-clear water.
16OBI 7.5+
Playa Boca Pacuare
Pacuare, Costa Rica
Isolated river-mouth beach useful for wilderness and turtle-nesting context
17OBI 7.5+
Playa Bonifacio
Moín, Costa Rica
Small Moín-side beach known locally but often absent from broad travel lists.
Playa Bonita
Limón, Costa Rica
The best-known beach near Limón city with easy access, surf and local food scene
Playa Cahuita
Cahuita, Costa Rica
The main Cahuita town-side national park beach, valued for its easy access and classic Caribbean setting.
Playa Caño Blanco
Caño Blanco, Costa Rica
Remote coastal fringe near Caño Blanco access routes, useful for complete regional coverage.
Playa Caño Palma
Caño Palma, Costa Rica
Remote beach-linked conservation area near Caño Palma, useful for wildlife-focused itineraries.
Playa Carate
Carate, Costa Rica
Remote gateway beach to Corcovado with wild rainforest-meets-ocean scenery.
23OBI 7.5+
Playa Carbón
Cahuita, Costa Rica
A lesser-known dark-sand beach near Cahuita suited to quiet walks and local stays.
24OBI 7.5+
Playa Carbón Dos
Cahuita, Costa Rica
A small beach pocket around Cahuita’s northern coast that generic maps often under-represent.
25OBI 7.5+
Playa Carbonera
Cabo Matapalo, Costa Rica
Rugged lesser-known Matapalo shoreline with tidepool and surf appeal.