Beaches, surfing, beach clubs and a sunset every evening that you won’t want to miss. The Pacific coast of Costa Rica was the longest stage of our trip. From party town Tamarindo to laid-back Sámara, from hip Santa Teresa to the macaws of Manuel Antonio and the Whale Tail of Uvita. In short: five places, five completely different vibes. A true ‘Let Us Stay For A Day’ recommendation…

This is part 3 of our route. Also check out the complete 3 to 4 week Costa Rica itinerary, part 1: the Caribbean coast and part 2: Arenal & Monteverde.

Important: rent an SUV or 4×4 on this coast. Pavement is scarce here. So expect dust, steep hills, big potholes and sometimes a river you have to drive through. Before you leave, also check your own government’s current travel advice for Costa Rica.

Tamarindo: surfing and partying on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Tamarindo is the best-known beach town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and feels a bit like an American enclave. Not for nothing do the locals call it ‘TamaGringo’. You will find a wide beach, plenty of surfers and lots of great beach restaurants. At the river mouth there are warnings about crocodiles. Luckily, we didn’t see any.

Claudia went surfing here, for example. I preferred to watch the surfers stumble around on their boards from my beach bed.

Tamarindo tips

• Breakfast: Pico Bistro on the beach.
• Taco Monday: Little Lucha. Cheap and tasty, $3 per taco.
• Taco Tuesday: Sol Bakery, also $3 each.
• El Mercadito de Tamarindo: food court with excellent sushi and delicious poke bowls.
• Sunset: Palapa (2-for-1 happy hour) or Namu (tasty bites and friendly service).
• Tama Onda: live music, happy hour Cuba Libres and a fantastic fire show.
• Nightlife: Sharky’s.
• Shot: the best Chiliguaro you’ll drink at Chili-Guaro’s. How could it be any different.
• Day trip: Playa Flamingo (lunch at Pleamar) and the quiet, wide-open Playa Grande.
• Where to stay: La Ramona Charming Hotel.

👉 Activities in and around Tamarindo:

Sámara: our favorite spot on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Then came Sámara, and it stole our hearts. For us this is the most beautiful place on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. So much so that we went back a second time later. There is a relaxed vibe, a lovely beach and small hotels with lush gardens. We finally spotted a toucan here, along with a good 20 howler monkeys.

Where to stay in Sámara

• Hotel Belvedere – quiet hotel with a pool that we often had completely to ourselves.
• Samara Palm Lodge – close to the village and the beach, with the Boulangerie next door for fresh croissants.

Eating and drinking in Sámara

• Roots Bakery & Café – for a snack on arrival.
• Las Olas Beach Bar – great cocktails with a view of the beach volleyball.
• Heritage Bar & Carrera 18 – a cozy food court with Colombian food, sushi, pizza and Indian. Live music every evening.
• Limey’s – beers with a view of the street. On the street stands a man with skewers from the BBQ: if he were a pin on Google, he’d have five stars.
• L’Authentique – small French tapas restaurant. Not cheap, but the mozzarella with mango carpaccio and melted brie are a 10 out of 10.

Day trip: Nosara and Guiones on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

From Sámara you can drive to Nosara and Guiones, for example. Recommended are La Luna and the lunch spot Orgánico Bakery, with a pool and even a mini golf course. The road there is full of big potholes, though, so a 4×4 is no unnecessary luxury.

Santa Teresa: beach clubs and sunsets on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Santa Teresa lies on the Nicoya Peninsula, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. From Sámara to Santa Teresa it is only 52 miles, but the drive takes almost 3 hours. You drive over unpaved roads and through three rivers. If the car in front of you makes it to the other side, you’ll dare to do it yourself. In the dry season it is perfectly doable, though. Note: with almost all rental companies your insurance is void if you get damage from water. Doubt it? Then don’t drive through. You can read more tips in Renting a car in Costa Rica. Just before Santa Teresa you also drive a stretch over the beach. So cool!

Where to stay in Santa Teresa

• Santa Teresa Surf Vista Villas – high up the mountain with a fantastic view. Large apartment with (outdoor) kitchen and a pool overlooking the sunset. The only downside: the hill. Walking is not an option and even with a 4×4 it’s tricky.
• Manala Hotel – beautiful 645-square-foot huts in the jungle, in the middle of the village and close to the sea. On arrival we were welcomed by a group of white-faced capuchin monkeys.
• D’Palm Villas – spacious three-bedroom apartment, a small pool and a mango tree full of howler monkeys.

Beach clubs in Santa Teresa

• Blue Mist Beach Club – our favorite. Top service, excellent food and luxurious beds. Within walking distance of surf beach Playa Hermosa.
• Banana Beach Restaurant – the best beach beds for lying by the sea during the day.
• Uma Beach Club – the place for sunset. Order the tuna tartare with grilled pineapple.

None of them is cheap, but the service is attentive and the view is priceless.

Eating and drinking in Santa Teresa

• Rico’s – brioche with tuna and focaccia with Tamarindo BBQ. Heavenly.
• Chez Coco – tasty, but hard on your wallet. The avocado toast is recommended.
• Soda Soy Tico – local favorite for little money.
• Terrazza – tasty pizzas and the best cocktails in the lounge. The bartender lets you taste mezcal and pisco. Only the DJ… sitting on a stool, playing every track all the way through. As a DJ myself, I felt secondhand embarrassment.
• Eat Street – cozy, with good cocktails at the bar too.
• El Falcon Grill & Bar – for an Imperial at the bar.
• Breakfast: Ani’s Bowls and Salad.

Skip: the cocktails at Somos (expensive and not good) and the nachos with brisket at Kooks (a plate that never ends).

Day trip to Montezuma: a short hike to the waterfall. Not very special, but a splash is always nice. Then a drink at Chico’s.

Taking the ferry from Paquera along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

To get from Santa Teresa to Manuel Antonio, you first take the ferry from Paquera to the mainland. It’s also a beautiful way to cross the Gulf of Nicoya.

Manuel Antonio and Quepos: the Pacific coast of Costa Rica at its best

Manuel Antonio is also the best-known coastal town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, with a national park right on the sea. It was so nice here that we went twice.

👉 Popular tours at Manuel Antonio:

Manuel Antonio National Park: watch out!

At the entrance, though, it’s chaos. Tour operators compete with each other and hunt for tourists. Our ‘private tour’ turned out to be a group of 14 and the seller had vanished afterward. The park was crowded and the guide was in a hurry. We still saw monkeys, birds, a snake and raccoons.

Our tip: buy your tickets online in advance via the official SINAC website and book your guide in advance too. Also go early, so it’s less crowded.

👉 With a guide through Manuel Antonio, by day or in the evening:

Beach in Manuel Antonio

Also beware of ‘free’ beach beds where you’re required to order food. We, for example, paid $189 for smoothies, two hamburgers and a few tacos. Afterward we found Elizabeth: two beds with an umbrella for 10,000 colones, no obligations. Look her up!

So take the local bus to the beach: 370 colones. And watch the flags: the undertow is enormous and the coast guard pulled several people out of the water.

Where to stay in Manuel Antonio

• Coyaba Tropical Guesthouse – adults only, run by two very nice Canadians. Beautiful pool with a plunge pool and a lounge in the garden.
• Pura Vida Apartments – here two macaws flew over our apartment in the morning and posed for half an hour in a coconut palm.

Eating and drinking in Manuel Antonio and Quepos

• Cuba Libre – in the Quepos marina. Sunset, delicious food, a fair price and good service.
• Soda Sánchez – really delicious and a great vibe.
• La Pizza de Nino – top pizza and great stories from owner Caesar.
• Magic Bus – the tuna tartare with avocado is delicious. The food does take a while.
• Ape Eclectic Social Bar – also a fun spot in the center.
• Bar Marlin – local bar in Quepos with strong Cuba Libres and the cheapest Imperial in Costa Rica.

Uvita: Whale Tail and waterfalls on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

About 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Manuel Antonio lies Uvita, the southernmost point of our route along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is a quiet, laid-back coastal town. You can also spot dolphins and whales here.

Whale Tail (Marino Ballena): a sandbank that forms the shape of a whale’s tail at low tide. A must-see.

Nauyaca Waterfalls: 2.2 miles each way through the mountains. Doesn’t sound like much, but at 95°F and high humidity it’s tough. We hitched a ride halfway with a ranger jeep, though. That put us among the first at the waterfall. What a view!

👉 Whale watching near Uvita or a day tour to Corcovado:

Eating in Uvita

• Ruby – local soda for lunch.
• Mosaic Wine & Sushi Bar – a real must, because everything is fresh.
• El Cardón – good Mexican food.
• Gusto Italian Restaurant – we picked up food here for our 7-year wedding anniversary.

Where to stay: Rooms & Pool Macaws, a small hotel with a shared kitchen and a pool in the middle.

More hotspots on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

In our Google Maps we keep a list of all our favorite places in Costa Rica. Besides the tips above, you’ll find even more restaurants, bars and activities along the Pacific coast here. Click a name to open the place directly in Google Maps.

Tamarindo

• Dragonfly Bar & Grill – restaurant.
• Sofia Mediterraneo – Mediterranean.
• D Bistro – restaurant.
• The Red Door – restaurant.
• El Tucan by Doni – typical Costa Rican food.
• Refugio – restaurant.
• Zolu Taco Bar – Mexican and tacos.
• Arepas Doña Ana – arepas.
• Ohana Poke – poke bowls.
• Asian Fusion Bistro – Asian.
• Jardín Food Truck Park – food trucks all in one place.
• Pacífico Beach Club – restaurant on the beach.
• El Chiringuito – restaurant.
• The Wave Sports Bar & Grill – sports bar.
• Crazy Monkey Rooftop Bar – rooftop bar and restaurant.
• Rumors – bar.
• Lotus Night Club – nightclub.
• Club 41 – club.

Sámara & Playa Carrillo

• Playa Carrillo – quiet beach with palm trees, just south of Sámara.
• Mar y Fuego – restaurant.
• Perozah – restaurant.
• Malehu Coffee Shop – coffee.
• Microbar Sámara – bar.
• Arriba Bar – bar and club.

Santa Teresa & Mal País

• The Bakery – bakery and restaurant.
• Ani’s Bowls and Salads – bowls and salads.
• Soda Tica Linda – local soda.
• Restaurante La Choza – restaurant.
• Rico’s – restaurant.

Manuel Antonio & Quepos

• El Chante del Parque – bar and restaurant.
• Restaurante Manuel Antonio – restaurant.
• Namaste – Indian restaurant.
• Brasa’s Grill – grill restaurant.
• Club Banana – restaurant.
• Mimositico – restaurant.
• Papugami Euro Bistro & Tiki Bar – bistro and tiki bar.
• Emilio’s Cafe – café with lunch.

Uvita & Dominical

• Catarata Uvita – small waterfall with a natural slide.
• Dolphin Tours – tours to spot whales and dolphins.
• Jaffa Restaurante de Mar – seafood restaurant.
• Fernando’s Restaurante – Costa Rican food.
• Beyan Restaurant – restaurant.
• Panoramika Café – coffee.

On the way

• Crocodile Bridge – the bridge over the Tárcoles River where you can see crocodiles lying on the bank.

Practical tips for the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

• How many days? Plan on 10 to 13 days for the whole coast.
• Transportation: SUV or 4×4. Cross rivers only in the dry season, and ask the locals if in doubt. Damage from water is not insured by almost all rental companies.
• Heat: it is 88 to 99°F here. Plan activities early in the morning.
• Swimming: the current is strong. Only swim at a green flag and don’t go deeper than your waist.
• Supermarket: everything is expensive. Bring sunscreen from home!

Frequently asked questions about the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

The end of our trip along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

After Santa Teresa we finally drove our jeep back to San José, where the trip had begun 45 days earlier. In short: a fantastic trip. Costa Rica is an absolute must. Put it on your bucket list!

Go back to the complete Costa Rica itinerary for the route and costs, or also read the Caribbean coast and Arenal & Monteverde. Less time? Then check our route for Costa Rica in 2 weeks.

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