The Lonely Planet travel guide has rated Playa Conchal as one of the best beaches to visit in the country. The sand is coated by a layer of finely crushed seashells that have been smoothed and battered by the Pacific Ocean. It can be accessed through the northern part of the Guanacaste Province, and is a quieter area well suited to personal meditation and snorkeling or scuba diving along its shores. To get the most out of your beach time, visit Playa Conchal between December and April, when there are nearly 12 hours of sunshine everyday.
Rated by Frommer's Travel Guide as one of the best adventures in Costa Rica, the remoteness of Coco Island has only helped add to its allure. It is especially popular with divers who want to try their hand at searching for legendary buried treasure while avoiding the large packs of hammerhead sharks that frequent the area. Since it is so far from the mainland, many visitors choose to do a live-aboard trip, normally for a period of 10 days, before returning to Costa Rica.
The tourism website Go Visit Costa Rica consistently rates Playa Ocotal as one of the top beaches for swimming, scuba diving and lounging on the sand. Exceptionally clean, and quieter than other beaches that attract swarms of tourists, Playa Ocotal is part of the small village Playas del Coco on the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. You can scuba dive right off the shoreline or boat out to nearby Catalina Island to see a wide variety of fish that are underwater-camera-worthy. It is best to visit during the dry season from December to April, when there are at least nine hours of sunshine each day.
