The Nicoya Peninsula has two kinds of beach. On the open Pacific (Santa Teresa, Malpaís, Nosara) you get surf, sunsets and strong currents. On the Gulf of Nicoya, and in reef-protected Sámara and Carrillo, the water is calm.
Here's the coast from south to north. Start in Malpaís, then Playa Carmen at the main crossroads, then Santa Teresa, the liveliest stretch, with the most hotels, restaurants and shops. Playa Hermosa comes next, wide and quiet (hermosa means "beautiful"), and Manzanillo is the last stop on the road, known for tide pools and sunsets. Montezuma sits round the cape, facing the Gulf, and from there the list heads up the peninsula to Nosara. Want to see them on a map? Use the Nicoya Peninsula map.
Quick picks
Calm water for kids
- Malpaís tide pools: Snorkel-deep pools at low tide; bring water shoes for the urchins.
- Playa Hermosa (south end): A sandy bottom and milder waves; currents build toward the north end.
- Playa Tambor: A wide cove with very calm water, about 45 minutes away.
- Curú: Gentle waves in a refuge bay, with monkeys in the trees.
- Playa Muertos (Pochote): Calm water and snorkeling, a short boat hop from Pochote.
- Isla Tortuga: Clear, usually calm water on a full-day boat trip.
- Playa Sámara: An offshore reef keeps the bay calm; a walkable town behind it.
- Playa Carrillo: Headlands protect a calm, palm-lined crescent.
- Playa Garza: A reef-protected bay near Nosara.
For couples
- Santa Teresa: Sunsets, cafés and boutique hotels on the sand.
- Playa Los Suecos: A hidden cove at the Cabo Blanco border for snorkeling in clear conditions.
- Manzanillo: The quiet end of the road, made for sunset walks.
- Montezuma: A bohemian village, waterfalls and quiet coves either side.
- Playa Grande (Montezuma): A long beach you walk to along the shore.
- Punta Islita: A secluded horseshoe bay below a resort of villas.
- Playa Pelada: A rocky Nosara cove with tide pools, quieter than Guiones.
Santa Teresa & Malpaís beaches
The open Pacific at the southern tip: surf, sunsets and one low-rise strip of hotels and cafés.
Malpaís
Quiet couples, and families at the Mar Azul tide pools at low tide.
From Santa Teresa: About 15 minutes south
Beach guide
Playa Carmen
Staying central, by the banks, shops and cafés of the main crossroads.
From Santa Teresa: In town, at the crossroads
Beach guide
Santa Teresa
Couples and teens: sunsets, cafés and yoga; swim in the El Peñón tide pool.
From Santa Teresa: In town
Beach guide
Playa Hermosa
Families and quiet couples; the area's beginner surf-lesson beach.
From Santa Teresa: 10–15 minutes north
Beach guide
Manzanillo
Sunset walks and low-tide tide pools; swim at mid to high tide.
From Santa Teresa: About 20 minutes north
Beach guide
Cabo Blanco & Montezuma beaches
Round the cape: Costa Rica's first nature reserve, Cabuya's island and Montezuma's waterfalls.
Montezuma
Couples: a walkable bohemian village, the waterfalls and the Isla Tortuga boats.
From Santa Teresa: 35–40 minutes via Cóbano
Beach guide
Playa Grande de Montezuma
Couples who like a walk; families with older kids who can manage 45 minutes each way.
From Santa Teresa: 35–40 minutes' drive to Montezuma, then about 45 minutes on foot north (3–5 km)
Beach guide
Gulf side beaches
Calm bays on the Gulf of Nicoya: Tambor, Pochote, Curú and the boats to Isla Tortuga.
Coyote to Islita beaches
The remote middle coast, reached by a dry-season 4x4 track or the long paved loop.
Sámara & Carrillo beaches
Reef-protected bays and a walkable Tico beach town: the peninsula's family beach.
Nosara & Ostional beaches
Surf-and-yoga Nosara, calm Garza and the turtle beach at Ostional.
Is it safe to swim?
Most beaches in Costa Rica have no lifeguards, and rip currents cause most drownings. On the open Pacific beaches, swim only in small surf, close to other people, and if a current pulls you out, swim parallel to the shore until you're free. Look for the warning flags that now mark many beaches, and ask at your hotel about the day's conditions.
Insider tip: plan your beach days around the tide. Low tide opens up the tide pools at Malpaís and the reef lagoon at Manzanillo; mid to high tide is better for a swim on the sandy beaches.
Where should you stay?
Most hotels around Santa Teresa are a short walk from the sand, whether you pick lively Santa Teresa or quieter Malpaís. Compare the areas in where to stay in Santa Teresa, or see the Malpaís hotels. For the rest of the peninsula, start with our Nicoya Peninsula guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at the beaches in Santa Teresa and Malpaís?
With care. These are open Pacific surf beaches with strong currents, and you shouldn't count on a lifeguard. Swim at mid to high tide on calm days, close to others, and use the tide pools at Malpaís and El Peñón at low tide. The south end of Playa Hermosa is the gentlest stretch of sand.
Which beach near Santa Teresa is calmest for kids?
On the Santa Teresa side, the tide pools at Malpaís at low tide and the south end of Playa Hermosa. For truly calm water, drive 45 minutes to an hour to the Gulf side: Playa Tambor, the Curú refuge or a boat trip to Isla Tortuga. Read Santa Teresa with kids.
What is the best beach on the Nicoya Peninsula for families?
Sámara and Playa Carrillo, where reefs and headlands keep the water calm and the drive from Liberia airport (LIR) is about 2 hours on paved roads. In the south, Tambor and Curú on the Gulf side are the calm choices.
Where are the tide pools near Santa Teresa?
At Malpaís, around Mar Azul at the south end of the strip, where some pools are deep enough to snorkel; at El Peñón in Santa Teresa; and on the reef at Manzanillo. Go at low tide and wear water shoes: there are sea urchins on the rocks.
Which beach is best for a first surf lesson?
Playa Hermosa, just north of Santa Teresa, where the beach break is gentle; it's the area's usual lesson beach. On the rest of the peninsula, Sámara and Playa Guiones in Nosara are the beginner beaches. More about surf lessons.
Are all beaches in Costa Rica public?
Yes. By law the first 50 meters above the high-tide line are public, so you can walk onto any beach, including those in front of hotels.