Costa Rica's Pacific coast runs from the dry beaches of Guanacaste in the north, past Jacó and Manuel Antonio, down to the rainforest of the Osa peninsula in the south.
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays and opens from 7 am to 3 pm on the other days. Tickets are sold only online, through SINAC, the national parks system, and the park limits the number of visitors per day, so book ahead in the dry season. Bring the ID you booked with: it is checked with your ticket at the entrance.
Rip currents
Rip currents cause most drownings on Costa Rica's beaches, and most beaches have no lifeguards. Swim where lifeguards are on duty. If there are no lifeguards, no signs and no flags, stay out of the water.
Corcovado and the Osa peninsula
Corcovado National Park, on the Osa peninsula, can only be visited with a certified guide and a park permit, usually arranged through an authorised tour operator. Boats to the Sirena ranger station leave from Drake Bay. The park is remote, with basic facilities, so plan the day before you set off.
Guanacaste
The northern beaches, from Playas del Coco to Tamarindo and Nosara, are closest to Liberia airport: see our Liberia airport guide.
Good to know
- Emergencies. Call 911, the national number for police, fire and ambulance.
