Playa Grande FAQs

About 60 kilometers (37 miles), or roughly an hour’s drive from Liberia International Airport (LIR). That makes Playa Grande one of the easiest beach towns in Guanacaste to reach, and you skip the town traffic you hit going into Tamarindo.

Times are for normal conditions. Add extra time in the rainy season and on holiday weekends.

Yes and no. Liberia (LIR) is the closest international airport. There is also a small regional airstrip just outside Tamarindo with domestic flights to and from other cities in Costa Rica. San José (SJO) is about five hours away by road.

A rental car gives you the most freedom, but it isn’t essential. Shuttles run between Liberia Airport and Playa Grande for around $60 to $70 per person each way, and private transfers cost around $120. There’s no direct public bus from the airport. Uber works in the area; a ride from Playa Grande to Tamarindo is roughly $20.

Not to get here. The main road into Playa Grande is paved and a regular car is fine all year. In the rainy season, some dirt side roads get muddy, so ask where you’re staying before you book a small car.

Take the estuary water taxi. Walk to the river mouth at the south end of the beach near The Grateful Hotel, wave to one of the small boats, and you’ll be in Tamarindo in about two minutes for around $2 to $3 per person. Boats usually stop running around 5:30 pm. Never wade across: there are crocodiles in the estuary.

It depends on what you want. The dry season (December to April) brings sunny days, calm mornings, and the most reliable beach weather. The green season (May to October) brings afternoon showers, lush green hills, fewer people, lower prices, and bigger surf.

Honestly, you haven’t truly experienced Playa Grande until you’ve stood on the beach in a light rain watching a rainbow appear overhead. Our favorite season is the green season.

Leatherbacks nest on Playa Grande roughly from October to March, with the best chance around November to January. Very few still nest here, and night turtle tours are currently suspended. See The leatherback turtles below for what you can still do.

Playa Grande has surf all year. In the green season, southern swells bring bigger, more powerful waves, which is great for experienced surfers. In the dry season, offshore winds often groom the waves in the morning, and smaller days are ideal for learning.

Christmas and New Year, and Semana Santa (Easter week) are the busiest times, when many Costa Rican families come to the beach too. Book rooms, cars, and tours well ahead for those dates.

Expect sunny days with highs around 32 to 35 °C (90 to 95 °F), cooling off pleasantly at night. There’s little shade on the sand, so bring a hat, water, and reef-safe sunscreen.

Often, yes, especially from December to March, when strong seasonal winds blow from the east. They keep things cool and are offshore for surfers, but they can make afternoons dusty and boat trips bumpy.

Yes. This is high season. Popular hotels, rental cars, and tours fill up, especially over the holidays. Restaurants get busy at sunset and dinner, so reserve where you can.

Rarely. The hills turn golden and dry, and you can expect weeks of blue skies.

Usually not. A typical green-season day is sunny in the morning, with clouds building in the afternoon and a shower or storm in the late afternoon or evening. Plan beach time and tours for the morning.

September and October. July and August often bring a drier stretch locals call the veranillo (“little summer”), with consistent swell and lighter rain, which makes them a sweet spot.

Most are, but some close for part of September and October. For example, El Huerto closes from mid-September to November 1. Check before you go.

Usually. Many hotels lower their rates, and you’ll often have long stretches of beach to yourself.

Yes, especially at dusk and near the estuary. Bring insect repellent and wear light long sleeves in the evening.

The surf is bigger and rip currents are stronger, particularly at higher tides. Swim near other people and ask locally about conditions. If you hear thunder or see lightning, get out of the water and off the beach.

Las Baulas protects Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, Playa Carbón, and Playa Langosta, plus the mangroves of the Tamarindo estuary. It was created in 1991 to protect what was the largest leatherback nesting colony on the Pacific coast of the Americas. Leatherbacks can grow over 2 meters long and weigh up to about 700 kilos, and they are critically endangered in the Pacific.

Not right now. The night turtle tours run by the local guides’ association with the park were suspended in 2019, because so few leatherbacks still nest here: 2 to 8 a season, down from about 1,500 in the late 1980s. The park (SINAC) currently lists no turtle observation.

If you’re hoping to see a turtle, call the Las Baulas park office before you plan your night: +506 2653-0470 or +506 2653-2233.

Roughly October to March, with the best chance around November to January. Turtles come ashore at night, often near high tide. There is no set hour, and a turtle may not come up on any given night. Hatchlings emerge about two months after the eggs are laid.

The best bet is Ostional Wildlife Refuge, south of here near Nosara, where thousands of olive ridley turtles nest over a few nights (“arribadas”), usually between about August and December. Visits are only with accredited community guides, booked in advance. Call the refuge first to confirm an arribada: +506 2682-0400. Guides: ADIO +506 2682-1229, Ostional Local Guides Association +506 2682-0428.

Some local operators also run trips to other nesting beaches nearby. Ask where you’re staying, and choose a guide who keeps groups small, uses red light only, and never touches the turtles.

Yes. From January to March, the Playa Grande community group SosGrande runs hatchling expeditions with researchers, plus beach clean-ups and other conservation days year-round. Book by WhatsApp +506 8378-9640 or info@sosgrande.org.

The Leatherback Trust recruits field biologists each season, and Earthwatch runs volunteer research expeditions at Playa Grande.

During nesting season, the park beaches close every evening (be off the sand by 5 p.m.) until early morning. No white lights, flashlights, phone screens, or flash photos on the sand after dark. No dogs, fires, or camping on the nesting beaches.

Stay at least 5 meters (16 ft) away, keep lights off, keep dogs away, and leave the path to the sea clear. Never touch a turtle, eggs, or hatchlings. Then call the park’s report line: +506 8704-6444. Use the same number to report anyone breaking the rules.

Las Baulas National Marine Park (SINAC): +506 2653-0470 · +506 2653-2233. Ranger station next to Hotel Las Tortugas, open daily 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Official page.

Park report line: +506 8704-6444

SosGrande: +506 8378-9640 · info@sosgrande.org

Ostional Wildlife Refuge: +506 2682-0400

More on the Turtles page.

Playa Grande is mainly a surf beach with powerful waves and rip currents, and there are no permanent lifeguards. Ask locally about conditions, never swim alone, and if a current pulls you out, swim parallel to shore until you’re free. That said, at lower tides when the tide is coming in, you can enjoy hours of gentle surf and tons of fun.

No. The beach is part of a national park, so it stays natural. Bring your own shade, water, and snacks. Restaurants and bars are a short walk from the main entrances.

US dollars are widely accepted, but you’ll usually get change in colones. Credit cards work at most hotels and larger restaurants. Keep some cash for small spots, water taxis, and tips.

There’s no ATM in Playa Grande itself. The closest are in Huacas (about 10 to 15 minutes by car) and in Tamarindo. Withdraw cash before you arrive.

Tap water in Guanacaste is generally considered safe to drink. If you have a sensitive stomach, bottled water is cheap and easy to find.

Cell coverage in Playa Grande is good, and hotels offer Wi-Fi. For a local number, pick up a SIM card from Kölbi (ICE) or Claro at Liberia Airport.

Not if you’re coming from the US or Canada. Costa Rica uses the same plugs and 110-volt power.

Restaurant bills already include a 10% service charge plus 13% tax by law. Extra tips are appreciated for great service but not expected. Tipping guides and drivers is customary.

For non-emergencies, there are clinics in Huacas and Tamarindo. For serious emergencies, there are full hospitals in Liberia. Costa Rica’s emergency number is 911.

Visitors from the US, Canada, and most of Europe don’t need a visa for a tourist stay. You’ll need a passport valid for your whole trip and proof of onward travel, like a return ticket. Always check the latest entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.

Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America for tourists, and Playa Grande is a small, peaceful community. Use normal travel sense: don’t leave valuables on the beach or in your car, use the hotel safe, and stay aware at night.