Playa El Coco

Southwestern Nicaragua


This wide stretch of white sand is hemmed in by headlands at both ends and the water is calm and good for swimming. There's a restaurant and several good places to stay.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southwestern Nicaragua attractions

1. Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor

1.16 MILES

One of the principal laying grounds for endangered olive ridley and leatherback turtles, this wildlife refuge (locally called by its shorter name, 'La…

3. Casa de Cultura

7.97 MILES

Check this arts center for salsa, merengue and bacchata (romantic Dominican dance music) dance lessons, arts exhibits and more. It's also the home of APC…

4. Petroglyph

8.17 MILES

There's a spectacular petroglyph not far from town, depicting an enormous and elaborate hunting scene carved perhaps 1500 years ago. To find it, walk…

5. Cristo de la Misericordia

8.92 MILES

This 25m statue of Jesus – one of the tallest in the world – overlooks the town from its perch 2km to the north. Take the one-hour hike up from the north…

6. El Mirador Centro Turistico

12.74 MILES

Don’t cruise through La Cruz without stopping at this oddly shaped ‘tourist and cultural center’ on the western edge of town. You might stumble across an…

8. Parque Nacional Guanacaste

16.49 MILES

With the addition of Parque Nacional Guanacaste (345 sq km) in 1989, the Area de Conservación Guanacaste became part of a protected nature corridor…