Playa Junquillal

Introducing Playa Junquillal

Junquillal is a 2km-wide grey-sand wilderness beach that’s absolutely stunning and always deserted – probably because the surf is high and the rips are fierce. It’s best to leave your swimming trunks at home, though there are clean lefts and rights when the waves drop a bit in size. Ridley turtles nest here from July to November, with a peak from August to October, though in smaller numbers than at the refuges. The nearest village is 4km inland at Paraíso, which has a few local sodas and bars. Accommodations are spread out along the beach.

Sleeping & Eating

The following places are listed in order as you drive in from Paraíso and most are well signed.

Hotel Iguanazul (658 8124; www.iguanazul.com; s/d/tr US$60/70/80, s/d/tr with ocean view US$80/90/100, s/d/tr with air-con US$90/100/110; ) This funky, well-established resort hotel is by far the nicest place to stay in the area. There are 24 brightly painted and cool tiled rooms with garden or ocean views, and some have air-con. Amenities include a pool (check out the palm island), games room, volleyball and a restaurant-bar with killer views. All rates include breakfast.

Camping Los Malinches (658 8429; per person US$5) Just south of the Iguanazul, this pretty campground has toilets, showers, electricity until 9pm and ocean views.

Hotel El Castillo Divertido (658 8428; www.costarica-adventureholidays.com; d without/with ocean view US$30/35; ) On a hilltop about 500m down the road, you’ll find the entrance to this quirky inn owned by an affable German/Tica couple and son. The hotel’s rooftop bar has panoramic views – a breezy place to laze in a hammock. Paulo, one of the owners, plays his guitar for guests during sunsets. Tiled rooms are clean and have private hot showers, and it’s worth splurging for the ones with ocean views. The restaurant (dishes US$3 to US$10) has good breakfasts and dinners with plenty of German favorites.

Guacamaya Lodge (658 8431; www.guacamayalodge.com; s/d US$50/55, apt s/d/tr/q US$70/75/80/85, villas US$120; ) Next door to El Castillo, this quiet Swiss-run place has six quaint bungalows, a two-bedroom villa with a kitchen and an apartment with balcony views. There’s also a pool and a restaurant-bar with ocean views and a smattering of Swiss delicacies. The warm and wonderful brother and sister owners speak a remarkable seven languages. Credit cards accepted.

El Lugarcito (658 8436; ellugarcito@racsa.co.cr; d incl breakfast US$50; ) This hospitable Dutch-run, two-room B&B is intimate, quaint and full of personality. The rooms are fairly simple, though the house itself is decorated with indigenous pottery and has beautiful stone floors and vaulted ceilings.

Hotel Tatanka (658 8426; www.crica.com/tatanka; s/d/tr US$25/36; ) Ten rancho-style rooms with private hot-water bathrooms are pretty in pink, and have rustic wooden furnishings. There’s an inviting pool as well as an open-air pizzeria (pizzas US$4 to US$7) that serves wood-fired pizza pies in the evenings. Credit cards accepted.

Hotel Hibiscus (658 8437; d incl breakfast US$40) This charming Tica/German-run hotel has five spotless rooms with private bathrooms and hammock-strung patios overlooking the palm-fringed garden. There’s a small restaurant that has a good variety of international cuisine.

Aside from the hotel restaurants, your best option for cheap eats is to head to nearby Paraíso, though there a few small spots on the beach, including the locally popular Bar y Restaurant Junquillal (dishes US$3-6).

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009