Playa Avellanas

Playa Avellanas Review

Traditionally a far cry from Tamarindo's boom of real-estate development, this 1-km-long (½-mi-long), golden sand beach's main claims to fame are surfing and hanging out at Lola's, a very cool beach restaurant/bar. As you bump along the dusty, rough beach road, most of the cars you pass have surfboards on top. Nevertheless, Avellanas (pronounced ah-vey-ya-nas) is a lovely spot for anyone who likes sea and sand, though you shouldn't go in deeper than your waist when the waves are big, because of rip currents. Tamarindo escapees have been slowly encroaching on Avellanas for years, building private houses and a smattering of small hotels, but the inauguration of a massive Marriott here in 2008 marked the beginning of major development. The beach itself is beautiful, with rocky outcroppings at its southern end, a small river mouth, and a mangrove swamp behind its northern half. Unfortunately, security is an issue here, as at most Costa Rican beaches; posted signs warn visitors not to leave anything of value in parked cars or unattended on the beach. There is guarded parking at the beach entrance.