Costa Rica’s Gold Coast
One coast, a handful of towns
The Gold Coast is the stretch of Guanacaste shoreline from Las Catalinas down to Tamarindo. Playa Flamingo sits right in the middle, which makes it an easy base, but every town along here has its own feel.
Playa Flamingo
Playa Flamingo, the easy home base
White sand, calm water and the marina, which is where most snorkel trips, dives, fishing charters and sunset sails leave from.
Good for: families, boat days and sunset dinners.
On the water
Catamaran and snorkel trips, Catalina Islands dives and sportfishing all start a few minutes away.
Food
Surf Box at the marina, Gracia at Mar Vista for sunset and a handful of easy beach spots.
Playa Potrero
Potrero, quiet bay and big sunsets
Just north of Flamingo, Potrero is a calm, local-feeling bay with a long beach and a view straight out to the Catalina Islands at sunset.
Good for: slow beach days, sunsets and a cold beer.
Sunsets
The bay faces the Catalinas, so evenings here are hard to beat.
Potrero Brewing
Craft beer, sliders and tacos in a relaxed food court setup.
Boats
Some snorkel and dive trips leave from Potrero too.
Brasilito and Playa Conchal
Brasilito and Conchal, local town, shell beach
Brasilito is a small, laid-back town with sodas, a soccer field and fishing boats pulled up on the sand. Walk south over the point and you reach Playa Conchal, a beach made of crushed shells with clear water.
Good for: a local feel, snorkeling on calm days and simple Costa Rican food.
Sodas
Small family-run spots serving casados and fresh fish.
Playa Conchal
Clear water that’s good for snorkeling when the sea is calm.
Getting there
About 10 minutes from Flamingo, so it’s an easy half-day trip.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo, surf town with a buzz
About 40 minutes south, Tamarindo is the busiest town on the coast, with lots of restaurants, nightlife and beginner-friendly waves.
Good for: surf lessons, a night out and boat trips up the estuary.
Surf lessons
Beginner lessons run about an hour and a half on gentle beach breaks. More on surf lessons.
Nights out
If you want to dance, this is the place. Flamingo is much quieter.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande, waves and wild beach
Across the estuary from Tamarindo, Playa Grande is a long, undeveloped beach inside Las Baulas National Park. It has some of the most consistent surf around, and leatherback turtles nest here in season.
Good for: surfers, long beach walks and turtle season.
Surf
More consistent waves than Tamarindo, with fewer people. Good for surf lessons at the right tide.
Las Baulas National Park
A protected beach for nesting leatherback turtles, so the area stays quiet and natural.
Further along
More of the coast
A couple more worth knowing about.
Las Catalinas
A car-free beach town north of Potrero, known for its hiking and mountain biking trails.
Avellanas
A relaxed surf beach south of Tamarindo, good for a day trip.
Liberia
The airport town, about an hour inland. Waterfalls and adventure parks sit between here and the coast.
Plan your days
Staying somewhere on the coast?
Tell us where you’re staying and what you’re into, and we’ll suggest tours that make sense from there.
Still looking for a place? Our homes in Flamingo and Potrero are on Stay With Colibri.