Playas del Coco in Costa Rica is a popular beach town for both locals and international visitors thanks to its close proximity to the Guanacaste Airport, other beaches and tons of fun ocean activities.
It’s also a family friendly destination in Costa Rica, offering plenty to do and see for a fantastic beach vacation and winter escape.
Use our guide to visit Playas del Coco and find out where to stay, where to eat, what to do and more to help plan your dream vacation to Costa Rica!
Playas del Coco is also known as Playa del Coco.
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Playas del Coco Beach and Town
The dark sand beach of Playas del Coco lies within the Gulf of Papagayo and stretches 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from point to point.
This small coastal village was known for excellent fishing for many decades and now it is a top tourist destination in Costa Rica once people discovered that it was a very suitable launch point for tons of other activities like surfing, scuba diving, spotting marine life and snorkeling.
Swimming and bathing are perfectly suitable with nearly year round gentle waves. On some days when there is a swell, waves are perfect for skim boarding. On those days, you’ll see lots of local kids skim boarding and having fun.
Sunsets at El Coco beach are amazing and when we lived there, we would walk out to watch them almost every day.
Three islands can be seen from the main beach of El Coco where many divers go to swim with sharks, octopus, turtles and stingrays. Many hills and cliffs surround the horseshoe shaped beach.
The Town
Coco town is very small with one main street (Route 151) going all the way to the main park and beach entrance.
There are many bars, restaurants and shops on the main street of downtown. The small neighborhoods are right outside the center of town.
Location
Playas del Coco is located on the North Pacific side of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste province.
How to get to Playas del Coco
What airport to fly into for Playas del Coco and the Coco area: The closest airport to Playas del Coco is the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport or Guanacaste Airport (LIR is the airport code).
Playas del Coco is 243 kilometers (151 miles) and a minimum ~4.5 hour drive from San Jose. Playas del Coco is 27 kilometers (17 miles) and a 30 minute drive from Guanacaste Airport (also known as the Liberia International Airport)
By bus: The Pulmitan de Liberia (public bus) runs from Liberia to Coco from 5 AM to 7 PM every hour costing ~550 colones one way (~$1 USD). You will need to walk onto the Highway 21 to flag down this bus as it doesn’t normally pass by the airport.
By shuttle: You can book a private shuttle which costs around $80 USD for 1-8 people. Private shuttle drivers will pick you up directly at the airport.
By taxis: Make sure to take the official taxis from the taxi stand.
By car: Many people rent a car and pick it up once they land at Liberia Airport. The drive to Coco from the airport is very straight forward and only about 25 minutes. If you’re planning on renting a car, take advantage of our Costa Rica car rental discount.
Uber: Don’t count on using Uber from the airport – police look for Uber drivers. This method is unreliable. It’s better to book a private shuttle instead.
From San Jose
If you’re coming from San Jose, it’s about a 5 hour drive to Coco beach. The cheapest transportation method is to take the bus, which costs around 4500 CRC per person and takes around 5.5 hours. Read our complete guide to taking the bus from San Jose to Coco.
You can also take a local flight to Guanacaste Airport and then shuttle/bus/taxi/drive to Playas del Coco. Shared shuttles from San Jose to Coco are available as well. Get 10% off your Interbus shared shuttle ride!
A private shuttle from San Jose to Coco costs around $300 USD total for 1-8 people. In case you’d like to book a private shuttle, please contact us for a quote.
How to Get Around Coco Beach
Coco is a very walk-able town. However, it is very hot so make sure you are prepared for the intense sun if you’re walking out between 10 AM to 3 PM.
There are golf carts, ebikes and escooters for rent.
You can also call Ubers in Coco.
Playas del Coco Weather
Playas del Coco experiences the typical tropical season weather: dry and rainy. However, it does tend to have a longer dry season than the rest of Costa Rica due to its location and surrounding mountains.
Dry Season
Dry season in Costa Rica is normally December through April with day time temperatures around high 80s° to low 90s° F (3°1-33° C), However, Coco can become drier earlier and stay drier longer than the rest of the country.
The Playas del Coco area looks like a yellow desert because it becomes very dry and arid. March and April are the hottest months. It can get up to 38-40° C (100-104° F) during the day and 26°F (80° F) at night.
Rainy Season
As for rainy season in Costa Rica, which is May through November, day and night time temperatures do not vary greatly from the dry season. The temperatures go down a few degrees.
Playas del Coco usually doesn’t start raining consistently until around August. October is the peak rainy month for most of Costa Rica.
During rainy season, a typical day is cloudy and dry in the morning with off and on showers in late afternoon and nights. As soon as this area gets a few hard rains, the mountains turn very green.
May is considered a transition month so it may be super cloudy but not rain much at all. June may rain a bit more in the afternoons and nights but still with dry mornings. In July, it dries up for a few weeks and feels like summer so July has great weather.
By end of August or so, there will be more afternoon and night rains. It is not typical for Coco to rain all day, it is usually off and on showers in the late afternoons and nights.
Rain in Playas del Coco
Here’s a short clip of rain in Playas del Coco in May. This is a very good representation of a typical rain in the rainy season. It rained very hard like this for about 20 minutes.
When it stopped raining, the clouds cleared up and it became very sunny and humid. On and off rains are characteristic of tropical weather.
Something else to know about Playas del Coco is that due to the dryness, shorter rainy season and surrounding resorts, Coco constantly experiences water shortages and droughts.
Playas del Coco Restaurants
Here are some of our favorite places to eat in Coco.
- Soda La Teresita – local food, beachfront, reasonable prices.
- Villa Italia – Italian, decent prices, excellent pasta.
- Le Coq – Yummy wraps, hummus, falafel. In downtown across from Coconutz.
- Chorotacos – fresh burritos, bowls, tacos and wraps. Reasonable prices. At the entrance of the Las Palmas neighborhood.
- Soda Mediterranea: A local favorite for typical Costa Rican food
- Maple Connection – one of the best places for breakfast (American style)
- Johann Bistro – coffee, sandwiches, Costa Rican food, sushi, a bit of everything. Reasonable prices and close to the beach near the park.
- Heladeria Italiana 0039 – Amazing gelato. In downtown near Coco Beach Hotel
- Java Coffee: Chill place for coffee and food. Nice breakfast spot.
- Masala: Really good Indian restaurant.
- Tortuga Bar: Beachfront restaurant bar and grill. Will cook your catch for you. We had yummy cold drinks.
- Simbiosis Bistro: Great spot for breakfast/brunch.
- Soda Mar & Tierra Doña Flor: Little soda across the La Puerta del Sol hotel in a small back road. Good traditional food for reasonable prices.
- Cafe Corazon: Nice little cafe near the beach with coffee, breakfasts, waffles.
Playas del Coco Hotels
Coco doesn’t have a ton of hotels. The ones there are, they’re more modest and basic places.
- Toro Blanco: a modest hotel one minute walk to the park,beach and town. Mid range, comes with an equipped kitchenette, swim up bar and pool.
- Hotel Colono: Right in downtown, surrounded by restaurants and across from the Super Compro. 15 minute walk to the beach.
- Hotel La Puerta del Sol: another mid range option close to the beach with a pool. 5 minute walk to the beach. They have a restaurant nearby that is very good called The Garden Bar.
- Hotel Villa del Sol: Aclean hotel with lots of gardens and a pool. The property is big with outdoor seating and a barbecue area. 20 minute walk to town or short taxi ride
All Inclusive Resorts
If you’re looking for a resort or all inclusive in the area, there are several withint a 30 minute drive of Playas del Coco.
Some are Hotel Riu Guanacaste, Riu Palace, Four Seasons (not all inclusive), Secrets (all inclusive), Planet Hollywood (all inclusive), Occidental Papagayo (all inclusive) and Andaz (boutique resort).
Vacation Rentals
Vacation rentals are very popular in Playas del Coco as there are very few hotels.
There are a couple popular neighborhoods for these short term and long term rentals such as Las Palmas (not gated, 2 minute walk to the beach, standard prices, typical 1-2 bedrooms apartment in a 10-12 unit community) and Pacifico/Breeze Private Residence (luxury, 2-3 floors, gated, 20 minute walk to the beach).
However, there are many other condos and neighborhoods for rentals on VRBO and Airbnb.
If you stay at the Pacifico Residencies, you have access to their exclusive beach club with restaurants, bars, a poolside bar, jacuzzis and cabanas.
Here is a review of one of the more local Airbnbs in Coco.
Things to do in Coco Beach
There are a ton of fun things to do in Playas del Coco and the Playas del Coco area. Thanks to its excellent location on the coast, there is a plethora of ocean and land activities to enjoy for day trips.
Scuba diving
Playas del Coco is one of the best spots in Costa Rica for scuba diving since you’re close to several excellent islands like Monkey Head, Bat Islands and Catalinas Islands.
There are many scuba diving shops in town such as Rich Coast Diving, Deep Blue Diving and Summer Salt.
If you’re visiting between May/June – November, you can take an overnight diving trip to Bat Islands to see bull sharks, white tipped reef sharks, manta rays, turtles and much more.
Surfing
Although you can’t surf at Coco beach, you can take a 50 minute boat ride to Witch’s Rock in Santa Rosa National Park, one of Costa Rica’s premiere surf spots.
This is for intermediate and expert surfers. If you are a beginner or first timer, it is best to go to Tamarindo beach for lessons.
Sport Fishing/ Inshore Fishing
Since Coco was a former fishing village and for the most part, still is, the fishing is one of the best in Costa Rica. You can go in shore or off shore fishing to catch red snapper, mahi mahi, tuna, sailfish and more.
Go inshore fishing in the Gulf of Papagayo or go offshore sport fishing out in the Pacific Ocean.
Other Activities
Other activities to do in the Coco area are kayaking, sunset sailing, watching the sunset on the beach, happy hour and hanging out at the local park.
If you are here on a Sunday, check out the local market on Sundays from 9 AM – 2 PM near Hotel Puerta del Sol (called Pamela’s Coco Sunday Market).
You can also visit other popular beaches in the area (accessible by car) such as Playa Ocotal, Playa Hermosa Guanacaste and Playa Panama. You can get to Playa Ocotal by bike, golf cart or car.
Our favorite activity – beach hopping and snorkeling in Gulf of Papagayo
Our favorite activity? Boating around the Gulf of Papagayo. This is the best way to experience all the wonders of this part of Costa Rica such as hidden white sand beaches, caves, amazing snorkel spots and marine wildlife like sea turtles and dolphins.
Coco beach is not that pretty but right around the corner are some beautiful beaches with clear waters.
Likewise, you can’t snorkel at Coco beach but you can at boat access only snorkel spots just a short ride away!
We always go with our local friend who owns a boating company and takes us on private tours.
This is the best way to explore nearby beaches, see the coastlines, spot dolphins, rays, whales and sea turtles and go snorkeling!
Day Trips
When tourists come to Coco, they usually enjoy the beach/town for a couple days and the rest of the time, go on tours.
Coco’s location makes it an excellent home base to explore national parks like Rincon de la Vieja, learn about Costa Rican culture and see wildlife at Hacienda El Viejo (get 7% off), zipline at Diamante Eco adventure Park (get our 10% promo code), go ziplining/horseback riding/hot springs/mud baths at Vandara or Guachipelin, or walk the rainforest hanging bridges and see sloths on a Bijagua rainforest tour, visit the boiling mud pots in Rincon de la Vieja National Park or hike the blue Rio Celeste river.
Find out what the best day trips from Coco are here. You can also contact us in case you are interested in booking any day tours like Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Rio Celeste, white water rafting, horseback riding and more!
Sample Playas del Coco Itineraries
As we lived in El Coco for 4 years, we’ve had many friends and family visit us. Here are some ideas of itineraries.
4 days (car not necessary)
- Day 1: land at Liberia Airport, rest, watch sunset on beach, have dinner at Zi Lounge.
- Day 2: Full day beach hop, snorkel and fishing in Gulf of Papagayo. Do a 10 AM to 6 PM tour to see the sunset from the boat.
- Day 3: Rest, sleep in, do some shopping, walk around town. Food recommendations: El Coq, Soda Teresita or Papagayo Seafood.
- Day 4: 1 day adventure tour at Hacienda Guachipelin for ziplining, horseback riding, hot springs, mud baths and white water tubing. Or Diamante Eco Adventure Park for ziplining, animal sanctuary and cultural experience.
1 week: using Coco as a homebase and renting a car. Lots of adventure!
- Day 1: Land at airport, rest, etc.
- Day 2: Full day beach hop, snorkel and fishing. Rest, shower, get dinner at one of the bars in town.
- Day 3: Rio Celeste hike. This is a full day activity with around 4.5 hours driving total. Alternative option is the easy hike at Rincon de la Vieja around the boiling mud pots, hot springs and mud baths.
- Day 4: Diamante ziplining. Go in the morning for best weather. Relax and rest the rest of the afternoon.
- Day 5: Visit Tamarindo beach town. 1 hour and 15 minute drive one way. Take a surf lesson.
- Day 6: Rest, shop. You can drive around to explore some more beaches if you like. Check out Playa Hermosa, Ocotal or Panama. If you want to explore, head down south to Playa Conchal (1 hour one way) to see a unique white shell beach.
- Day 7: Fly out
Playas del Coco Nightlife
Even though Coco may look like a small quiet town during the day, it all changes at night. The biggest bars are El Ancla, Bambu, Coconutz and Zi Lounge. Coconutz is a sports bar with multiple TV’s everywhere and they always have some big game on. Zi Lounge has live music on the weekends and is a more chill atmosphere.
All the bars are open with counter seating along the perimeter so you can have a drink, eat, and people watch to your heart’s content.
During weekends and holidays, music blasts from all the bars and there’s always a party going on. Sometimes they’ll have live music and you can dance the night away.
If you’re in Coco during Christmas and New Years, you’ll get to experience one of the biggest parties in Costa Rica!
Additionally, there is a small park called Parque Amor de Temporada with a nice boardwalk where one can sit and watch the sunset, listen to live music or people watch. You can also enjoy a nice fresh coconut water (pipa fria) or a shaved ice treat (copo).
Health
Playas del Coco has a public clinic run by the government called Ebais. There are also private clinics like Coco Medical Center and Costa Doc.
Shopping
There are several souvenir stores in Playas del Coco. The souvenir shops line the main street of Coco with lots of wood-carved sculptures, jewelry, handbags, clothes, hammocks and trinkets.
Though the souvenir shops have lots of items, I like Sussy Souvenirs which is near the park at the main entrance of the beach. The Pacifico Village Shops also has some cute stores with nicer trinkets, jewelry and gifts.
As for supermarkets, there are several options in town. The Auto Mercado is the more high end market with more international products, and then there is also the Maxi Pali, Mega Super and Super Compro.
There is also a Coco Sunday Market for organic produce, food, trinkets and treats (Sundays, 10 AM to 2 PM, small).
Living in Playas del Coco
Playas del Coco is a popular place for Canadian, American and European expatriates, immigrants and retirees as it offers a relaxed and easy pura vida lifestyle with highly agreeable weather year round.
This is what many people are looking for when searching for their new home in Costa Rica and they find it in Coco.
These are just some reasons why so many people move to Playas del Coco as a retiree as it is perfect for someone looking for a relaxed and slower pace of life. It’s an attractive place to get away from the cold or for someone who needs to leave their stresses of life behind.
We lived there for 4 years and have many family and friends who are still there. Although we don’t live there anymore, we enjoyed our time in Coco and love visiting!
Read more beach town guides below!
Samara, Costa Rica: Family friendly beach town in South Guanacaste with surfing and a chill atmosphere
Flamingo, Costa Rica: Small upscale beach community in North Guanacaste with a white sand beach and marina
Jaco, Costa Rica: The most developed beach town and the surfing mecca of Costa Rica in the Central Pacific
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica: Small party beach town on the South Caribbean coast
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
Meg says
Thank you so much for all the info!!!
We’re staying in Ocotal and Playa Hermosa, but plan to go to El Coco often for restaurants, the kids playground, excursions etc. Is it generally easy to find public/street parking? Is it usually paid parking? We have two littles coming so the car is necessary.
Sammi says
Yes there is lots of street parking. It’s not paid in the sense that there are meters, but there will be local “parking guards” wearing a yellow or orange vest who will come up to you and tell you that you must pay them X amount of money to park there but they are not real parking guards. You can give them a small tip when you get back but it is not mandatory to give them exactly what they’re demanding because they’re not real parking security guards. You can give them like a thousand when you get back to the car. Just please make sure not to leave anything in your car, double check your doors are locked and all windows are up.
Sara McCauley says
Sammi – I stumbled upon your website, and such a resource. Thanks! I’m headed to Guanacaste with my husband and two boys (6 and 8) in late March. I’ve booked a spot in Playa Hermosa for proximity to the airport, beach, etc., but have been second-guessing and thinking of switching to El Coco because it looks like the restaurant scene, etc., is pretty slim in Playa Hermosa, and I really don’t want to cook. I’m hesitant because I keep reading about it being too touristy, with lots of litter and pressure from street vendors. I also consider Playa Flamingo – again, trying to be on or walkable to the beach and places to eat. I don’t do dairy or much meat (fish ok) and want to be sure I have plenty of options. Any thoughts? I appreciate it in advance.
Sammi says
Coco and Flamingo are both good options for an actual beach town with things in walking distance. Playa Hermosa GTE is nice but it’s pretty bare on the beach, just a couple restaurants and then you’d need a car to get anywhere else, even the supermarket. Flamingo beach is pretty in my opinion.
Arwen Kataoka says
Hi Sammy! Do you have any contacts for rides to the airport? Everyone’s been saying $60 but we find that kind of absurd for a 35-40 min ride.
Sammi says
That’s actually a good price, that was like the rate from before covid.
Jerry Rudloff says
Love the information. Will be traveling there soon.
Angela says
What are the mosquitoes like there?
Thank you for the wonderful article.
Sammi says
All year round and worse in rainy season. More info here: Mosquitoes in Costa Rica
Stephen Cox says
Do you know if they still do beach bonfires on full moon evenings?
Sammi says
Yes they do!
Kevin says
Hello. Do you have a list of tour companies that are in the area? Looking for one that will have a few different activities for everyone in the family.
Sammi says
Hello Kevin, we don’t have a list but we work with a large tour operator in Guanacaste that can pick up and drop off from Coco and they offer a variety of tours: Guanacaste tours discount (These are shared tours and we offer a small discount with them)
Dori Livingston says
I’m looking to retire somewhere in CR. We went to Nosaro Estates, but a little too remote for us. I felt Nosaro was not a town where I could walk or run around on a day to day basis. I’ve been reading the comments about Playas Del Coco, Costa Rica. I do not know much about this part of CR, but looking for a safe place to retire and enjoy life to it’s fullest. I’m a ultra runner and love to bike and hike (very active). I’m curious about what it offers…..
Sammi says
Coco is a very popular place for Canadian/American retirees, you will probably like it but you should visit it and stay a while first before settling down somewhere. They actually did the Ironman in Coco several years ago so it has better infrastructure for running/biking (no bike lanes but longer connecting paved roads).
Jill says
Is it easy to arrange a shared shuttle from Coco Beach or Liberia to Monteverde? Do you have any recommendations? We , two people, are travelling at the beginning of March.
Thanks!
Sammi says
You can check shared shuttle companies like Interbus or Ride CR, or Easy Ride.
Sia says
Hi, we won’t be in Coco for long maybe 1-2 nights as we’d like to stay close to Liberia airport. Are there any surf spots closer than Tamarindo for first time surfers? BTW, your website is THE BEST!
Sammi says
Tamarindo is the best for first timers.
John says
I find it very expensive here the craft beer is as expensive as Dublin tourist area. Some of the local restaurants don’t even offer local beer. Only imported beer. Food is expensive hidden costs tax and a 10% service charge. Tipping should be voluntary and tax! Should be included in the price. So you know exactly what you have to pay. Tips for a meal fare enough if it was good service and good food. But to hike up allready overpriced beer is not on tipping in a bar is not normal. In the uk and Ireland and all related taxes are included in price. prices must be displayed. In Ireland by law. Yes this is an expensive over priced town.
ita says
Hello, I love your blog , I learnd alot about costa rita. we are going to costa rica on august with friends and 4 kids. I really want to do the beach hopping , snorking privte boat tour like what you mentioned. but your friends boat only can take 6 people total.( we have 5 adults, and 1 four years old, 2 seven years old and 1 ten years old kids). Do you or your friends know any company have a similar beach hopping/ snorking/ fishing private one day tour in the area? thanks
Sammi says
Hi Ita, our partner in Coco cannot take more than 6 people but our partner in Flamingo can hold up to 8, it’s about a 50 minute drive from Playas del Coco, you can read more about it here and request to book: https://mytanfeet.com/activities/playa-flamingo-snorkeling-tours/
Anastasia says
Hello! Thank you for all the great info! We will be traveling to the area for New Year’s and I was wondering if you had any suggestions on the best place to party and or events happening.
Also, does your friend who has the boat offer charters for others? 🙂
Thanks again!
Sammi says
Bars and restaurants will usually have something going on like live music and people are always gathering in the streets regardless of the COVID regulations.
Dean says
A note should also be made about all the locals trying to sell you trinkets and cocaine. Some are quite relentless, one even jumped onto our golf cart that come into the restaurants and approach you on the beach. You can expect to be interrupted about every 5 minutes with someone sell whistles, bracelets, cigars, drinks or drugs. I understand this is how local people make money, but it is very annoying learn to say no Gracias before you come.
Eric S says
Hi! Is there a bus that runs hourly or so from Playas de Coco to Ocatal?
Sammi says
No I don’t believe so
Venessa Dameron says
Hi,
What are your thoughts on renting a golf cart, if staying and exploring local? Is there a company you can recommend?
Thanks,
Venessa
Sammi says
It is very common in Coco to rent golf carts, a lot of foreigners do that for staying in town
Saleem Najarali says
what is the name of the place shown in your picture with the pool and view?
Sammi says
That is our friends house actually
Scott G says
Love your site/blog. We’re heading to Coco in November and staying at an Airbnb. Is there somewhere to rent a beach chair / umbrella maybe even an ice chest/cooler to take with us down to the beach? I thought I read that somewhere but not sure.
Sammi says
I am not sure either and I don’t really see beach chairs and umbrellas on Coco beach, maybe you can check with Cafe la Playa, I know that they have beach chairs for their guests and same with the Pacifico Beach Club but I can’t remember if you have to be a member or if they offer day passes. You can also ask your AIrbnb host if they can provide or rent any beach stuff to you.
Chris says
Supposed to be staying in Playas Del Coco early October of this year for my honeymoon but worried there won’t be enough to do. Haven’t been to this part of the world before so I am really unsure on what to expect. The airbnb we booked is beautiful and has an excellent view overlooking Playas Del Coco.
Any advice?
Sammi says
Hi Chris, there’s a lot to do in Coco but you’ll have to travel a bit if you want to do like hiking, national parks, zipline, etc. Here is our post: day trips from Playas del Coco
Right in Coco, you can swim at the beach, go on a fishing/snorkeling boat trip, visit the neighboring beaches, souvenir shop, rent a kayak
Jim says
I am thinking of buying a place in Playa Del Coco. Living three months at a time between the US and there. I am 59 and my partner is 71. Looking for peaceful laid back life with some excitement if we choose.
Kent Schroeder says
My wife and I bought Green Life 10 in Las Palmas Playa del Coco There have been problems from time to time with the property. But I would buy again. I can tell you problems if you have already ourchased
Alex Goldenshtein says
Guys
What about parking regulations in Playa Coco? I will be driving a rental and want to make sure I don’t get into any sort of trouble.
Sammi says
There aren’t really any in Coco, it’s street parking everywhere but not regulated by meters or anything. You will find “parking guards” who are just guys wearing orange vests coming up to you and tell you they’ll watch your car for a fee. Unfortunately they’re everywhere and not much you can do about them, you can give them maybe 500 colones or something.
Doug says
What kind of wildlife do you see in area?
Sammi says
Coco doesn’t have a ton of wildlife compared to other areas in Costa Rica. There are howler monkeys and birds like kiskadees, jays, motmots.
Melody says
Thank for the awesome Information. What area of Costa Rica do you live in now, and do you like it better?
Sammi says
We’re more towards South Guanacaste and we love it. To be honest we would never live in Coco again. Good times there but that’s all.
courtney says
Hi!
How late do all the stores stay open?
Sammi says
Supermarkets are I believe 8-9 PM.
Erin says
Hello,
We are currently at Playas del Coco. What can you tell me about Johnny D. tours?
Sammi says
Hi Erin, honestly I have never heard of them so nothing, sorry!
Jhoa says
Hello,
Your website is of great help. I am traveling to CR next month. I am staying in Playas Del Coco but would love to go to Playa Penca nd Calzon Del Pobre. U was wondering what was the best way to get to these. Local guide, boat, or just making friends and going as a group.
Sammi says
Hi Jhoa, you can get to both of those beaches by car, foot or boat. The easiest is by car or if you don’t have one, you can walk or take a taxi. The entrance is between Coco and Hermosa and there is an entrance on the left hand side (from Coco to Hermosa) with a guard station. The taxi might not take you all the way down depending on the car since the road isn’t very good so you may need to walk the rest of the way. Just follow the path down the hill and you can get to Calzon del Pobre by the green tarp on your right hand side or keep going all the way down to Penca.
Jhoa says
Thank you so much!!
Jamillah says
Hello Sammi, Thank you for all this information. We are traveling next in May 8-13 and will most be relaxing. Can you recommend another nearby beaches besides Playa del Coco that have more clear with a blue green hue. Also, we are traveling from San Jose. Do you have information on a shuttle service and any information for a local bus from San Jose. Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Jamillah, you can read our beach guides to see which one you like. From San Jose, you could go to the Caribbean which has some gorgeous beaches. Here are our guides: Costa Rica beaches
Kayla says
We are heading to Coco in 2 weeks with family, including our 2 year old and 7 month old. Are there any short easy hikes/walks we could do with them and see a waterfall? I’ve been looking at your llanos de Cortez post and wasn’t sure if we could do it with little ones. Thanks! Love your site, great information.
Sammi says
Hi Kayla, since they’re currently renovating Llanos, you will have to walk an extra kilometer to get to the waterfall so it may be a bit long with little ones (it’ll be about a 20-30 minute walk) otherwise it’s a super short walk down to the waterfall from the parking lot. The Guachipelin property at the base of Rincon de la Vieja has some waterfalls that you can drive to and the walking distance is not too far. It is on the Hacienda Guachipelin property.
Kerry says
Hi. We are going to Playa del Coco at the end of February- flying into Liberia and staying at Hotel Coco Beach. There is just two of us but will have a couple big bags. I don’t think we should take the bus. What would you say is an acceptable amount to pay for a taxi? And the reds ones are the ones you should take, correct?
Sammi says
A taxi can charge around $55. A private shuttle for 1-4 is $50 so if a taxi charges more than $55, find a different one. You will see red and orange taxis (orange are airport taxis) but mostly red ones. You’ll see a ton of guys with signs coming up to you to ask if you need a taxi, negotiate a set price ($50 if you can, $55 is the standard for taxis for LIR to Coco).
Sammi says
Hi Traci! The best snorkeling in that area is actually out in the Gulf of Papagayo. Coco beach has dark water and no good snorkel spots so snorkeling there is very bad. But if you go on a boat, right around the corner are beaches that have clear water and reefs. I do recommend booking a private boating tour because all the best spots are boat access only.
If you book a tour, they will provide snorkel gear for you.
Traci says
Thank you for your info! We will be visiting Coco for a first time in February 2018 and can’t wait! My question for you is where is the best snorkeling? Can we just swim out from the main beach? Or do we have to book a tour? Also can we rent the gear in town or should we pack our own?
Thanks again!
Traci
Robert Cianci says
My name is Robert Cianci travelling 06-26feb. Can you send me as much info as youve got, Randall, etc. First time down to the Americas, mainly going for relaxation and I dont drink anymore but enjoy going out even at 54yrs. Former poice officer and retired firefighter from Canada. Thx. Bob.
Sammi says
Hi Robert! Sent you an email 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Leah, with kids and that much stuff, I actually recommend taking a shuttle. The bus from Liberia to Coco is usually packed and you will need to take a taxi to the main road since the airport isn’t right on the street, you will need to walk around 30 minutes in the heat. The airport to the main road is about 1 kilometer. The bus from Liberia to Coco does goes by every hour and you will need to flag it down (it says Pulmitan Liberia and the bus is blue) but sometimes its so full, people have to stand because it fills up at the Liberia bus station. With a baby and toddler, I highly recommend booking a shuttle. It’ll be way more comfortable and you won’t have to lug all your stuff around and be waiting around in the heat.
Leah says
Good to know. Thank you!
Jim says
Where is the public bus stop near the Liberia airport headed to Coco?
Sammi says
There is a bus stop outside the Liberia Airport but I am not positive if it stops there, normally you would need to walk out to the main road as the public bus doesn’t usually stop by the airport unless someone requests
Mo says
Any more info on this bus for coco to Liberia? I just saw a bus go by that said Liberia on it. Would love to get to the airport in a cheap way.
Sammi says
Coco to Liberia is easy. The bus stop is by Tico’s Bakery and Soda Los Pelones. I recommend getting there at least 10-15 minutes early since it’s a super popular bus and fills up quickly and there is one every hour from 5 AM to 8 PM I believe. To get off at the airport, tell the driver to stop at the airport so he knows to turn in, or else he will just keep driving to Liberia.
Shu-ling Garver says
I took this bus to the airport many times. The buses are once every hour, except from 10am to 2pm, they are once every half an hour. You need to ask the drive to stop at the airport. It stops on the main road across from the airport. There are many taxi’s and buses go to the airport from the main road. You need just to walk across the road and flag one down. People are so nice, they never charged us. I offered 1000 colones ($2 USD) to pay the driver last time. Simple and easy and cheap.
Leah says
How far of a walk is it to the main road to get to the bus stop? I’m traveling with a baby, a toddler, two car seats and luggage. I’d like to take the bus from the airport to Coco. Should I grab a taxi from the airport to the bus stop on the main road? Will I be hanging out at the bus stop on a busy street with two kids for an hour?
Denisha says
Hola Sammi – we are thinking about heading to Coco tonight. How late do the shops and restaurants stay open (not looking for bars necessarily as we’re traveling with our 4 yr old). Also – where can we exchange money in town
Sammi says
Hi Denisha, the restaurants usually stay open till about 9 or 10, the bars stay open later but their restaurant usually closes around 10 pm. The supermarkets I believe close at 8 or 9 PM, there are no 24 hour ones. There are many banks in town, there is Banco Nacional or BCR which are very close to each other that you can exchange money at.
Pat says
Hello and thanks for the great information. We will be staying at RIU Palace, what’s the best way to travel to Coco if we want to experience the nightlife?
Sammi says
Hi Pat, I believe the RIU has a shuttle to Coco. I’m not sure how much it costs or if it’s free but we always see RIU shuttles taking their guests to Coco
iran says
I’ll be staying at the riu Guanacaste in mid September. can I do any surf fishing from the beach there?
also where can I charter a 1/2 day inshore boat?
what’s the catch that time of year?
thanks!
Sammi says
Hi! There is very good fishing from the RIU but for surfing, you will need to either drive down to Tamarindo or take a boat to Ollie’s Point/Witch’s Rock since the beaches around the Riu are not surfing beaches. Ollie’s Point and Witch’s Rock are also better places for intermediate to pro surfers since waves can get very big over there (all the local surfers like to go there because of the big waves), especially if there is a swell then it is only for more expert/pro levels.
Akvile says
Hello,
I am coming from Liberia airport to the Flor de Itabo hotel on April 10th. Could you give me the shuttle details and how much would it cost for 2 people?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Akvile, I just sent you an email.
Kelly Pearce says
Hi Yeison and Sammi,
Thanks for this great blog on Playas del Coco! It’s very informative and gives us an idea of what to expect. We will be staying there April 10-13 and my husband just recently heard from a client, who was there a week or two ago, that something is going on with the water at the beach? To the point that they are advising people not to get in the water! The client stated the locals told them it had to do with all the boats in the cove? They call it red [something]. Anyway, wondering if you guys have heard about it and if perhaps it has moved out of there yet? Thanks so much for any information you can offer!
Kindest Regards,
Kelly Pearce
yeison says
Hello Kelly,
To be honest we haven’t heard anything about that, if that would be true it will be all over the news here, and all the governmental environment divisions will be working on it. We will let our readers know if something like this happen.
Thank you for your kind words and for follow our blog 🙂
Nisha says
I can’t thank you enough for your blogs and your willingness to answer all questions! Do the restaurants in Coco take USD or just colones?
Sammi says
Hi Nisha, they take both. If you use USD, they will give you your change back in colones.
Tee says
Hi. Any pineapple or banana tours near the Riu Guanacaste?
Sammi says
Hi Tee, no there aren’t unfortunately.
Melinda Mueller says
How do we book a shuttle to take us from our hotel in Coco (Flora del Itabo) to the airport? Our flight is on Feb. 24, at 7 in the morning.
Sammi says
Hi Melinda, I just sent you an email!
PAM SMITH says
Hello
I love your website and have been getting your informative emails…thank you
I have a question…we will be arriving February 5th this Sunday and will be staying in Playa del Coco.
Do you know of a reasonable shared or private shuttle service for us to use.
Thank you again for you help
Pam Smith
Scot says
Flying in Feb 03 2017 flying out Feb 17 2017 what is the best shuttle to book and how?
Sammi says
Hi Scot, just sent you an email!
Adele says
Hi! I am looking for somewhere to take my kids for the first two weeks of August. Will the weather be ok in Playa for swimming in the ocean, being outside etc. at that time of year?
yeison says
Hello Adele, August and September are our favorite time of the year its the transition between the dry season to the rainy season, usually the oceans are super clear and it is as hot as it is on the dry season, still very warm but nothing over 100. Let us know is you have questions about Costa Rica
Jasmine says
Guru, is their yoga here?
Sammi says
You can check Coco Gym, there used to be a yoga studio in Coco but I am not sure if its still there.
Mindy Livingston says
Hi! We’ll be staying in Playas del Coco for the month of February. While we’re there we want to take week to visit Boquete, Panama. We wanted to rent a car and drive, but have discovered that we can’t take a rental car from C.R. to Panama. 🙁 The flight schedules and bus schedules look l-o-n-g from what I can tell. Can you recommend the best way for us to get from Coco to David without going to San Jose and Panama City?
Thank for your help!
yeison says
Hi Mindy! That is a LONGG drive almost 500 kilometers and at least 10 to 12 hours driving you will have to cross the whole country. If you are not driving you will have to go to San José it will be easier jut get there and get the Tracopa Bus or any other bus that goes to Peñas Blancas, I used to take a bus to the border cross the border by myself and then pay a Taxi to David, 2 years ago they used to charge around $45 for a 40 minutes ride. Another option is to find out which rent a car company have an office at the border and rent a car from Coco to Peñas Blancas, the rent a car company might charge you an extra fee to deliver the car in the other side of the country but in this way you will not have to go to San José then cross the border take a taxi to David then to Boquete.
Mindy Livingston says
Thank you for the suggestions. We decided to fly from Liberia to David and rent a car there for the drive to Boquete. Less complicated. Thanks again for the detailed suggestions!
yeison says
That sounds even better, great call. We wish you an excellent trip and please let us know if there something we can help. Thanks for reading Mytanfeet 🙂
Elsa says
Hi! I am a group of four traveling in late February from Liberia (airport) to Playa del Coco. Can you help advise me on a shuttle?
Thanks!
yeison says
Hello Elsa,
Yes no problem we have a friend that has a transfer company we always send him all our readers. Can you please email us on our contact page your flight info thanks!
Sammi says
There aren’t really any hiking trails in this area, you can walk up the hill from the Las Palmas neighborhood and walk on the road to Hermosa or walk to Ocotal, but there aren’t hiking trails. To get good hiking trails, the best one is at Rincon de la VIeja National Park. We wrote a guide to the hikes here: Rincon de la Vieja National Park
We haven’t stayed at the Breeze so not sure, but I’m sure you can find reviews for it online.
You can’t snorkel at Coco beach, the water isn’t clear and there aren’t any reefs, you can go to Ocotal for OK snorkeling.
Charlie Watkins says
Hi. We like to hike. Are there good hiking trails nearby? Or, would we have to drive a good distance to get to good hiking trails?
Is “The Breeze” private residence club a nice place to stay?
How is the snorkeling? Would we have snorkeling right off the beach or would we have to drive or boat somewhere else?
Thanks!
Fionna says
Hi Yeison and Sammy, thank you so much for your blog and all the info! Quick question, we have a 7 year old child and are wondering what the swell/waves are like on the Coco/Hermosa/Ochatal side for swimming and snorkeling in March? Is the ocean fairly calm during that time of year? Or would the waves be too big for the young one? Many thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Fionna, the waves at those beaches are great for swimming, they are pretty calm and very nice, lots of families visit those beaches because of the calm waves. Another great beach for kids is Playa Panama next to Hermosa, since that beach is inside a bay, there are barely any waves at all, it’s like a giant pool.
Michelle Lindberg says
So glad to have found your site. We are visiting April 29 to May 6. Cannot wait! We are staying at Condominium Pacifico. I hope there are a lot of things to do close. I will be reading as much of your site as possible before our trip!
J & M
Sammi says
I’m glad you found us too! Thanks for reading 🙂
yeison says
Hello Ally thanks for reading our blog, here are our favorites beaches in Costa Rica: Best beaches in Costa Rica. All Zip lines are great it all depends where you are going to be prices of drinks and food changes a lot you can get a dinner on a local place for $10 to $100 on a fancy place.
Ally says
Hi I’m going in January what is the prettiest beach
Best zip line
Average price of drinks
And dinner
Steve says
I’ve been to Coco twice and I cant remember there being any zip lines. There are all day tours to zip lines, but none there. The best thing to do local, is the catamaran tours.
Other than Coco beach there is one to the North called Hermosa, and one to the south called Ocatel. Both are about a $4.00 cab ride.
Average price for drinks (At a bar) is around $3-4 American. Your bill comes in both currencies also and the tip is included on the bill so pay attention.
Janieke says
Such in dept information! Thank you so much 🙂 I just moved to Playa Del Coco to work at one of the dive shops so this was very helpful.
Sammi says
Hi Janieke, that’s awesome have a great time! Thanks for reading!
Susan says
Hello…we would like to take a shuttle from the airport to our resort in playas del coco called sapphire residents. Can you help with a good shuttle name ..thank you
We will be traveling there the day after thanksgiving next month..any other great tips would be wonderful too. It’s our first trip there..thank you
yeison says
Hello Susan the best guy we know is our friend Randall, we always use him for friends and family if you would like to we can put you on contact, please email us on our contact us page with the details and we will put you in contact. Thanks for reading our blog 🙂
Pam says
Hello
Our group of 6 adults will be traveling early February. Can you please email me the way to contact Randall for transfers from lir to playa coco.
Have you rented a car there? Do you think transfers would be better?
Thank you. Pam
Sammi says
Hi Pam, I Just sent you an email with Randall’s contact information. We have rented a car in Coco and we had a car when we lived there, it depends on what you want to do because if you’re not planning on going to other places in COsta Rica and are planning just to stay in the Coco area, you don’t need to rent a car. You can also do day tours from Coco so you won’t have to worry about transportation, but if you plan to explore and go to other places like the beaches down south, Arenal or other destinations, renting a car may be a good idea unless you don’t want to drive because there are many day tours from Coco.
Marlon Cervantes says
I just spent 4 days at playa del coco, it was a very good decision, since I have a rental car, and I was able to go to more beautiful beaches around the area, my favorite was Playa Conchal, but it is close to Playa Flamingo, Playa Tamarindo which a perfect destination for surfers, Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, Playa Ocotales, we stayed at Toro Blanco Resort, and we flew from Los Angeles to Liberia (LAX- LIR) straight flight via Alaska Airlines, I recommend anyone to take a trip to this area, it is amazing. I can’t say anything bad about this place, or trip. I am planning on going back, probably around Thanks giving or New years 2016
Sammi says
Hi Marlon, I’m so glad you had a wonderful time in CR! Hope you come back soon!
Marie Watson says
Thanks for suggesting some things to do on the beach in Costa Rica. I would love to go fishing and try to spot some of the many different species that dwell there. My husband and I are thinking about taking a trip next summer, so we will have to look into our options for a fishing trip as well.
Sammi says
Coco is an excellent spot for fishing, one of the best in CR. Hope you get to experience it sometime!
Sammi says
I don’t know the exact amount but it’s a couple of dollars. There isn’t a direct bus from Coco to Tamarindo and vice versa. The easiest way is to go all the way to Liberia and then take a bus from the Liberia station to Tamarindo. There is a way that doesn’t require you to go all the way to Liberia but there isn’t really a schedule or stop (you can stop by LIR airport and then wave down the next bus to the Flamingo/Tamarindo area). Unfortunately there aren’t really any hostels in Coco, there are some cheap cabinas near the beach/park entrance next to Toro Blanco.
Line says
Hi I would like to know, how much and how is the bus from playa del coco to Tamarindo or vice-versa. What would be the best place to stay in playa del coco for a hostel ?
Thank you 🙂
Paul says
I have a 7:45 am flight out of Liberia airport. For one person, what are my options for getting to the airport at that early time? Taxi? How much would that cost?
yeison says
Hello Paul, your need to be at 6am the latest you can take a taxi, shuttle, etc. They will charge you around $40 to $50 we always hire Randall from Shaman tours he has a very nice van and he is always on time, let us know if you would like us to put you in contact with him.
Sammi says
You can read all the articles on things we’ve done in/around Coco here: Things to do in Playas del Coco
We’ve also done snuba which you can read about here: Snuba Costa Rica. That is at the hotel RIU, about 45 minutes from COco.
There is also SUP, scuba diving and kayaking. Surfing can be done but it takes a bit of a long boat ride from Coco to go surfing at Witch’s Rock. Or you can visit the other beaches in Guanacaste like Tamarindo/Conchal/Flamingo.
A catamaran sailing trip is fun but it’s not really a water sport – the most you do is snorkel for a little bit and depending which you go with, they may or may not have kayaks/canoes to rent. We prefer a private boating trip since you can do way more snorkeling and visit more beaches. You can read about our Tico friend who has a private boat company and does surfing/fishing/boating/snorkel trips: Mystic Rides boating
Alex says
I’m curious since we live inland Canada. Whwat would be the most fun for my sporty boyfriend to do as a water sport?
I was thinking a catermaran, he’s not too into fishing. I’m a recent grad, so we’re on a budget.
Love the blog. It’s been most helpful!
Cheers,
Sammi says
It is Coco medical clinic
yeison says
Hi Nicko
We like to go to Ocotal when we dont have a boat available, it has decent snorkeling by the rocks but nothing amazing. We’ve seen sea stars and colorful little fish there. You can see what Playa Ocotal looks like here: Ocotal, Costa Rica
But Ocotal will be ok if you just want to snorkel not too far from shore
Nicko says
What would you consider is the best beach in the Guanacaste region for snorkeling? We will be arriving to Liberia and hope to find a beautiful beach for swimming but also for snorkeling.
Thanks,
Nico
Shane says
Staying at riu looking at boat to take me from coco to winches rock it’s like 25 km on boat with a board all these company’s want like 500$ for the day it’s crazy I live in long point ontario and I own a 25 ft sea ray these boats are barly worth 500$ let alone renting one for the day I just want some guy to drive me there for the day and pick me up at the end it’s like 50 to 100$ gas were we live I would think it should not cost more than a couple hundred if any one can help me I would love it
yeison says
Hi Shane,
I will email a friend that do the best fishing trips and they have a boat. I will copy to the email address you used here.
🙂
Robb qxrobb@yahoo.com says
Would like the fishing info too…
Sheryl says
We loved el coco but visitors should watch out for a tall Tiko man named Johnny D. He stands in front of papagayo seafood and uses their trip advisor rating as if it was his own. He scams visitors as well as his own people. Ask any local and they will agree. Do not sign up to fish with him he will scam you and does not own boats. He will either take your money as a deposit and leave you to pay the he boat in full. You can flag a boat off shore as early as 600 am and avoid the guys on the street all together. Average cost to fish should be 230-275 max. Jorge a bar tender at Tiki Coco Place has a boat for 275.00 and he is super professional.
Sammi says
Wow had no idea! Thanks for the tip Sheryl, will make sure to let people know!
Katie Jenner says
This looks like heaven! It looks so relaxing – just what I need after a dreary January to February. You are two very lucky people! Love your videos too 🙂 Katie xo
Sammi says
Aw thanks Katie! 🙂
Abi says
Hi there….I will be taking a taxi from my hotel and visiting coco beach for a couple of hours to go souvenir shopping. Where is the main place in coco beach where all the little souvenir stands are at? Thank you 🙂 Where should we tell the taxi driver to drop us off at?
Sammi says
Hi Abi!
The best place to tell your taxi driver to drop you off is Papagayo seafood restaurant. Along the street in center of Coco are allllll the souvenirs shops for you to look at. If you keep on walking down towards the beach, there are several more on the corner and on the right hand side where you will see the sign for massage and spa, there is a large one called Sussy in there.
Luckily there’s just one main street in Coco and all the souvenir shops are lined up on there so it won’t be hard to miss 🙂
Lulu says
Enjoyed the article and video of Coco, found You through YouTube. Lived in Coco over 10 years ago, stayed for a year, worked at Rich Coast Diving. Great blog. Thanks for sharing Your adventures.
Sammi says
Thank you Lulu! Wow didn’t know Rich Coast Diving has been around for that long. Bet you had a great experience! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
El Coco Connect says
Great article! You really put some time and detail into this! I like the drive through video, I might share it on our FB page if you don’t mind.
I just wanted to let you know about us. We’re a local classifieds and news site dedicated to Coco and it’s surrounding towns. Free to list….free to use.
Jim says
Sam,
Can you list the airlines that fly into Liberia airport? Please include from what city and how often. I found it to be difficult to know all the available travel options.
by Sammi says
Sure! I’ll do an in-depth post on flights that go in to Liberia and the airlines. I agree since LIR is smaller and there’s not as many flights it would be good information to know. Thanks for the suggestion!
Bret says
There are lots of tours in Playas del Coco as well including Marlin del Rey Sailing Tours. 🙂
by yeison says
Hi Bret,
Yes there are plenty of options for great tours in playas del coco. We haven’t done the Marlin del Rey yet but hopefully we will sometime in the future, we have heard good things about it !
Have a great day 🙂 and thanks for stopping by.
Pura vida