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Costa Rica: Pacific coast

The Pacific coast, unlike the sheltered volcanic beaches of the Caribbean, is lashed by foaming Pacific waves, much beloved by surfers. The wide golden beaches are extremely beautiful, made more so by the shade of the tropical vegetation and coconut groves which tumble down to and fringe them.

Halfway down the coast is Manuel Antonio National Park, a tropical fairy-land of palms, creepers and mangrove swamps, where monkeys scamper down to the sweep of ochre beach at sunset. Hotels and other properties punctuate the hills beyond and sit along the shoreline that leads to the protected national park. There’s also a growing resort complex at Herradura.

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Expedition cruise: Panama, the Canal and Costa Rica

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Off the beaten track Costa Rica: National parks and private reserves

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Family Costa Rica: Jungle walks and turtle spotting

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Luxury Nicaragua and Costa Rica

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View all things to do nearby

Zip line in the Costa Rican jungle

Visit the national parks and private reserves on the Pacific coast

Kayak through Pacific mangroves

Take a surfing lesson

Our insider tips for Pacific coast

Rafe Stone

Exploring the trails in the Manuel Antonio National Park. The protected tropical forest has a huge range of wildlife: you’ve a good chance of spotting monkeys, sloths, armadillos, iguanas and racoons plus exotic birds – toucans, macaws, hummingbirds….

Sophie Barber

Viewing the tropical landscapes from the back of a horse, on a gentle trek through the private ecological reserve at Tocori, near Manuel Antonio.

Hannah Donaldson

Going offshore sport fishing from the port of Quepos: in the dry season you can land marlin, dorado, amberjack and yellowfish tuna.

What our experts say

The beach at Manuel Antonio, on the edge of the eponymous jungley national park, is one of the most visually stunning Pacific beaches. Not surprisingly there are now plenty of hotels and other facilities, although it remains largely unspoiled. Of course it wasn't always like this: on my first visit in 1981 only a few adventurous backpackers made it there (you could fly in on a battered DC3 for $4.00); it had one bar which offered lethal vodka and orange cocktails, and a fan of sands which at sunset attracted families of monkeys to play. You could by a plot of beachfront land for $US500. I met a Canadian hippy who did just that. Far-sighted or what...

Claire Milner

Product and Marketing

What our clients say

97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

Pacific coast | Rating: Excellent

We had a most enthusiastic and knowledgeable young guide at Manual Antonio National Park in Costa Rica. He was from our hotel, Arenas del Mar, and was very good. Manuel Antonio may be a small park and it may be over-popular, but it is crammed full of interesting plants and wildlife.

JM, Barnes | December 2012 | 65 and over | With Partner

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97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.

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Nicola Goldie, Travel Consultants

Nicola first experienced Latin America during a backpacking trip around the continent and later went on to spend a year in Colombia as part of her degree in Latin American Studies.

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Costa Rica: Pacific coast

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