A woman with a severe peanut allergy says she endured humiliating treatment from an airline on a journey from London to Costa Rica.
21.07.2023 - 07:43 / roughguides.com
With five per cent of the world’s total biodiversity, Costa Rica is a fascinating destination. It's packed with abundant natural charms, from ethereal cloud forests to the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime destination. And the best way to process all the colourful memories? A quiet day or two at one of the best beaches in Costa Rica.
Even the beaches are widely varied in this beguiling country. You’ll find everything from rugged surf spots to white sand Caribbean charmers. Although this list could have been twice as long (easily!) here we offer a few places to start when it comes to exploring Costa Rica's best beaches.
Keen on exploring Costa Rica's beaches? Perhaps our Beaches and Volcanoes trip is something for you.
Playa Manuel Antonio off of Costa Rica's Pacific Coast © Christian Hartmann / Shutterstock
With white sand beaches backed by verdant forests packed with wildlife, Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Costa Rica. It is also one of its most popular tourist destinations. The coastline is dominated by the rocky outcrop of Punta Catedral which juts out into the sea creating endless photo opportunities.
The park is home to three beaches (with a fourth just outside the entrance), the most picturesque of which is Playa Manuel Antonio, also called Playa Tres. It's the safest beach in the area for swimming and offers good snorkelling too. Head to the rocks at the end of the beach to see an array of marine life. Being one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, this spot is popular with locals come the weekend – so visit during the week if you can.
RoughGuides Tip: be even more prepared for your trip and check out our tips for travelling to Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio National Park is located a short drive south of the city of Quepos. Buses depart for the park daily from Quepos and San José. There’s also paid car parking on the road to the park if you’re coming by car.
Islas Tortuga, home to some of the best beaches in Costa Rica © Tami Freed / Shutterstock
Uninhabited and (as yet) unspoiled, Islas Tortuga is the epitome of an island hideaway. Made up of Isla Tolinga and Isla Alcatraz, the islands are densely forested with picture-perfect golden sand beaches and bright turquoise water. This is easily one of the best beaches in Costa Rica and will bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded traveller.
Isla Tolinga’s two enchanting beaches are ideal for swimming, snorkelling or simply soaking up the atmosphere. There’s no accommodation on the island so visitors come for the day by boat. During the week the islands are relatively peaceful, but at weekends boatloads of visitors arrive, spoiling the tranquillity somewhat. Plan to
A woman with a severe peanut allergy says she endured humiliating treatment from an airline on a journey from London to Costa Rica.
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