At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- About 2 hours in the dry season (coast road, 4x4); about 3 hours in the rainy season on the paved route
- From the airports
- Liberia airport (LIR): about 3 hours. San José airport (SJO): charter flights only, to the nearby Islita airstrip
- Swimming
- The bay is sheltered and good for a swim on calm days; there are rips and rocks when the swell is up
- Best for
- Couples and honeymooners who want seclusion; families staying at the resort, which welcomes children of any age
- Facilities
- The resort (restaurants, spa, beach club) and a small village with local art. Little else nearby
- Getting there
- 15 km of bumpy dirt road from the paved Hojancha–Sámara road; you need a 4x4, and it's best driven in daylight. See the Coyote coast
- Surf
- A reliable beach break for experienced surfers
What is Punta Islita like?
A small, near-perfect horseshoe of a bay, tipped at one end by the rocky cliff of Punta Islita and ringed by green hills. Hotel Punta Islita's villas are spread across the slope above, with a beach club on the sand below. Behind the bay, the village of Islita has become a little art village, with work by local artisans and a community museum. Beyond that, it's quiet: no town, no nightlife, just the bay, the hills and the sky.
Can you swim at Punta Islita?
On calm days, yes: the inlet is sheltered and good for bathing. When a big swell is running, rips and rocks come into play, so ask at the beach club before you go in, and keep children close.
Why do couples choose Punta Islita?
For seclusion that's hard to find elsewhere on the peninsula. The resort has a holistic spa, a beach club and art workshops with local artisans, and very little around it to pull you away. A honeymoon that pairs a few nights here with a few in Santa Teresa gives you both silence and a dinner scene; see our itineraries.
Insider tip: If you're coming from Santa Teresa between May and December, don't let a map app talk you onto the coast road: the Río Bongo can't be forded in the rainy season. Allow about 3 hours on the paved route instead.
How do you get there?
- From Santa Teresa: about 2 hours in the dry season on the coast road in a 4x4, fording the Río Bongo; about 3 hours in the rainy season on the paved route.
- From Liberia airport (LIR): about 3 hours, the last 15 km on dirt.
- From San José: charter flights land at the small Islita airstrip, about 15 minutes from the hotel. There are no scheduled flights.
There's no gas on the coast between Santa Teresa and Sámara, so fill up in Cóbano.
When is the best time to go?
December to April for sunshine and the coast road from Santa Teresa. The green season is quieter and greener, and the resort stays reachable year-round on the paved route; September and October are the wettest months. See the best time to visit.
What's nearby?
- Playa Camaronal, a turtle refuge beach just north.
- Playa Carrillo and Playa Sámara, the calm family beaches farther north.
- Playa San Miguel and Playa Coyote to the south.
- The Nicoya Blue Zone towns inland; see visiting the Nicoya Blue Zone.
Where should you stay?
At Hotel Punta Islita, the only resort here, whether you're a couple or a family. For more choice, stay in Sámara or Carrillo and come for the day.
Nearby beaches
- Playa Camaronal
- Playa Carrillo
- Playa San Miguel
- Playa Coyote
- The Coyote Coast: Playa Coyote to Punta Islita
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Punta Islita from Santa Teresa?
About 2 hours in the dry season on the coast road, in a 4x4, fording the Río Bongo; about 3 hours in the rainy season on the longer paved route. The final stretch is dirt either way.
Can you fly to Punta Islita?
Only by charter. The Islita airstrip, about 15 minutes from the hotel, has no scheduled flights. The nearest scheduled flights land at Nosara, about 1½ hours away, or Liberia airport (LIR), about 3 hours by road.
Is Punta Islita good for families?
Hotel Punta Islita welcomes children of any age (cribs on request), and the bay is sheltered on calm days. It's quiet, with little to do outside the resort, so it suits families who want pool-and-beach downtime more than activities.
Can you swim at Punta Islita?
Yes, on calm days: the bay is sheltered. When the swell is up, there can be rips near the rocks, so check conditions at the beach club first.
Is Punta Islita good for a honeymoon?
Yes, if seclusion is what you want: a hillside resort above a quiet bay, a spa and very little else around. It pairs well with a few livelier nights in Santa Teresa or Nosara.