Playas del Coco & Papagayo

Playas del Coco is a lively town on a wide bay in northern Guanacaste. It’s the closest beach town to Liberia airport and a practical base for diving, boat trips and day trips to Rincón de la Vieja.

About Playas del Coco

Playas del Coco is a lively beach town on the Gulf of Papagayo, only about 30 minutes from Liberia airport. That makes it the easiest beach to reach after landing in Guanacaste. The town beach is busy with fishing boats and dive operators. Quieter beaches like Playa Ocotal and Playa Hermosa are a few minutes away.

Things to do

• Scuba diving and snorkeling around the Catalina and Bat Islands, which are among the best dive sites in Costa Rica (seasonal conditions vary).
• Sunset catamaran trips and fishing charters.
• Day trips to Rincón de la Vieja (about 1.5 hours) or the beaches further south.

Where to stay

Hotels and condos in town are walkable to the beach and restaurants, roughly US$60–150. All-inclusive resorts line the Papagayo Peninsula nearby at much higher prices.

Practical tips

• It’s very dry from December to April: bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.
• Coco has supermarkets, banks and gas stations, so it’s a good first stop to stock up after the airport.
• The town beach isn’t the clearest for swimming. Ocotal and Playa Hermosa are calmer and cleaner.

Top things to do in Playas del Coco & Papagayo

• Scuba divingBat Islands and Catalina Islands trips.
• Playa Hermosa & Playa OcotalQuieter beaches minutes away.
• Sunset boat tripsCatamarans leave from the bay.

Driving, parking & safety notes

• Paved roads throughout the area.
• Busy town traffic on weekends.