Península de Nicoya

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Palm trees lining beach at Playa Carillo.

Jonathan Gregson

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Overview

Maybe you’ve come to the Península de Nicoya to sample the sapphire waters that peel left and right, curling into perfect barrels up and down the coast. Or perhaps you just want to hunker down on a pristine patch of sand and soak up some sun. By day, you might ramble down rugged roads, fording rivers and navigating ridges with massive coastal views. By night, you can spy on nesting sea turtles or take a midnight dip in the luxuriant Pacific. In between adventures, you'll find no shortage of boutique bunks, tasty kitchens and indulgent spas to shelter and nourish body and soul. Whether you come for the thrills or just to chill, the Nicoya peninsula delivers. You'll find that the days (or weeks, or months) drift away on ocean breezes, disappearing all too quickly.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Montezuma Waterfalls

Montezuma

A 40-minute river hike leads to a waterfall with a delicious swimming hole. Further along, a second set of falls offers a good 12m leap into deep water…

Rustic wooden bridge on the trails of the Curu Wildlife Reserve in Costa Rica.

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Curú

Península de Nicoya

Situated at the eastern end of the peninsula, this tiny 84-hectare wildlife refuge holds a great variety of landscapes, including dry tropical forest,…

Olive ridley sea turtle on the sand in Ostional Nacional Wildlife Refuge.

Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional

Península de Nicoya

This 85 sq km coastal refuge extends from Punta India in the north to Playa Guiones in the south, and includes the beaches of Nosara and Ostional. It was…

Parque Nacional Barra Honda Caverns

Península de Nicoya

This 23 sq km national park protects a system of 42 caverns. The only cave with regular public access is the 41m-deep La Terciopelo, which features…

Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas de Guanacaste

Península de Nicoya

Las Baulas national marine park encompasses the entire beach at Playa Grande, as well as the adjacent land and 220 sq km of ocean. This is one of the…

Playa Manzanillo

Mal País & Santa Teresa

About 8km north of the Playa El Carmen intersection (past Playa Hermosa), Playa Manzanillo is a combination of sand and rock that’s best surfed when the…

Playa Cocolito

Montezuma

Here's your chance to see a waterfall crashing down a cliff, straight onto the rocks and into the ocean. El Chorro Waterfall is the pièce de résistance of…