Beach questions

Unless you are going to the beach on Easter Weekend, 90% of Costa Rica's beaches are desolate 90% of the time. Manual Antonio on the other hand, is always busy, as its small, and next one of the most popular National Parks.

Otherwise, there are no crowds at beaches, especially weekdays, few people. The only beaches that can be a tad busy, are Jaco (Best avoided like Manual Antonio too) and possibly Tamarindo on Easter.

Beaches in the Osa, and southern zone, don't even have tourist on them, and locals unless they surf would only be there on weekends.

As for beaches on the caribe side, they are gorgeous, small and rustic, and very desolate overall, as there is limited lodging and not a locals either.

The more important factor is, what beaches can you swim safely at, as this list os very short. Most the Pacific beaches are rough and better for surf. Besides Tamarindo, Samara and Montezuma, and MA, you need to be very careful swimming on the Pacific side.

On the caribe side, most the beaches below Pt Viejo are fine, depending on the month.

The other factor you need to worry about, is Dengue and Zika and Chiga, what month you going, as each coast, and areas, had different tropical micro climates and weather, and all 3 diseases can be a factor, in rainy months.

Hi Rockyduderino,

1. Do you have any tips for more remote / desolate beaches that still compete with Corcovado / Manuel Antonio in scenic beauty? Preferably south of San Jose.

My choice on the Pacific side would be Playa Carrillo (right next door to Sámara, which is alright, too), Playa Conchal (stay at the tiny beach village Brasilito) and Playa Grande (which is next to Tamarindo, which also is a great beach but rather crowded).

On the Caribbean, I would recommend Cahuita (gret National PArk, nice little beach town) and Playa Manzanillo (walk a bit into the park, nd you'll be all by yourself).

1. How different are the beaches of the south pacific side and the south carribean? Both visually and vibewise. And also regarding possibility to find spots that are not too crowded.

Well, on the Caribbean side, you've got the Afro-Costa Rican culture, with its Caribbean style: Reggae, rice & beans, laid back style.

The beaches I have mentioned above are far more devolped and therefore draw more tourists.

1. If going to lodges that are only reachable by boat, what do we do with our car? Is it safe to leave it in say Golfito or similar overnight?

When going to Drake Bay, most people leave their cars at a 24/7supervised parking lot and then go by boat to their lodge.

Kind greetings,

alemantico

In regards to Drake Bay, it is better to head to Sierrpe, leave the car there, and get a boat down Rio Sierrpe to Pacific ocean and down the coast to DB.

If you are going to Pt Jimenez, you could leave car in Golfito I guess, and take the water taxi to Pt Jimenez, but why not just drive there. PJ is best as a base if hiking the loop. There is not access to Corcovado from the town.

Golfito you can boat to Playa Zancudo, which is a surf beach, maybe swimming, depends on surf. Playa Pavones, you need to hire a boat to, otherwise, drive there, AWD is best down in the Osa in rainy season.

Thanks so much for your input, really appreciate it.

Maybe I should have told you that I am shooting video at dawn and dusk. So I'm not looking to swim first hand, it's more important to have a nice scenic setting without people.

What I've seen so far that looks the most as what I'm after is Playa San Josecito but it seems a bit complicated to get there for dawn and dusk. Do you know of anything that looks similar to this place?

All the beaches south of Dominical to Ojochal, Beaches around Drake Bay, and around the ranger stations at San Pedrillo and Sirena, and La Leona (Carate).

The caribe side is does not have mountains spilling down onto a beach, compared to the Dominical area, and parts of Corcovado is very hilly.

I know of many beaches that has jungle right up to the beach, but its not that hilly behind it...

Mal Pais/Santa Teresa, Montezuma, and on caribe side, look at Ganduca Marine Refuge south of Manzanillo, though this area is actually almost facing north, not east, the way the coast bows out as you go south...

http://nicoyapeninsula.com/nicoyasouth.php

http://www.puertoviejosatellite.com

First beach is while hiking to Sirena in Corcovado Park, second and third are beaches on the beach hiking trail in Drake Bay, number 4 and 5 are in the Cahuita National Park and the rest is Manzanillo. All amazing.

https://soniaandrayadventures.shutterfly.com/pictures/6649

Thank you all so much, my picture of where I need to go is so much clearer. Appreciate it so much!

Great pictures sonia, looks amazing.

Hi, I plan to travel to Panama in early September and end my trip with Costa Rica. Thanks to you I bought a return flight to Florida (in order to avoid some airport issues) which I won't use since i will cross the border by bus. Do you think I should worry about the tropical viruses? I will bring mosquito repellent, long sleeves shirt and long pants. Thanks again.

Yes Eliyakim, you are there during the peak of rainy season, and Dengue is always a issue in those months, Zika & Chiga are not as prelevant as of now, but who knows. So, cover up, and use repellant, I like the Wholefoods all natural cream. But mozzies don't bother me much unless you can see them everywhere, my wife on the other hand, will attract a mozzie a mile away I think...

Bring some neosporin too, cuts, abrasions and bites will have a hard time healing in the humidity and damp climate, and can get infected quickly, they need more time to heal, so bring something, locals swear by Off, you can buy it in all the grocers and even some sodas (roadside tiendas selling basics, but mainly soda, chips and candy for the nearby kids.)

Bring a small collapsable umbrella too, it can rain buckets there, like a 6 inches in a hour. Also bring a portable LED flashlight, as electric outages are more common with landslides and trees falling down. Its is also handy when you need to see where your walking at night, and also check out the various bugs and animals lurking about in the brush, or, on your ceiling haha

Keep electronic gizmos in a ziplock....rice optional.

Take a copy of your Passport when you go out, and leave everything in the room safe. Take enough money for the day or evening out and maybe a ATM card...

Make sure you have a Tetanus Booster, and Hep A is not a bad idea, get the Heb B in a dual Jab that is 3 courses, over 6 months. If your sexually active, Hep B is a must, the world over.