ahart27

Does anyone have any recommendations on the best beach to visit in the Guanacaste and Northern Nicoya areas? Also, any hotel recommendations.
Thank you for any suggestions.

Janster

just got back from tamarindo which we loved - click on my screen name and you can see things i have written about it - it is a cool beach town with lots of stuff to do and good places to eat

shillmac

Two of the most beautiful beaches in the country (my opinion) are in northern Guanacaste. They are Playas Flamingo and Conchal. You have to access Conchal by driving a short distance (on the beach) from Playa Brasilito. It is made up of finely crushed shells.

Playa Flamingo is as close to white sand as you'll find in CR. It is a long expanse of beach with exquisite sunsets! Tamarindo is a fun town (for awhile), but Flamingo has a prettier beach. This area is all very Americanized (unfortunately), and getting more so all the time. That said, Guanacaste is still a great part of the country in which to spend your time!

Also, in Brasilito (between Conchal and Flamingo) there is a great restaurant on the beach, called Camaron Dorado. . .certainly it would be worth your time. Great food, great service, very romantic! Buen Viaje!

shillmac

Sorry, I didn't read your post carefully enough. One of our favorite hotels in this area (because we enjoy Playa Flamingo so much) is the Flamingo Beach Resort. They regularly run specials for $69-$99 per night. Also an all-inclusive plan, but don't do that. Their food isn't that good. Their swimming pool is right across a very narrow road from the beach. And they have an excellent masseuse on site. I'm quite sure I misspelled that! )

Another hotel in this area is Hotel Sugar Beach. It gets excellent reviews, although it is a bit isolated.

For an all-inclusive, we like to stay at Paradisus Playa Conchal occasionally. It's pricey, but very nice.

For a real bargain place, try Hotel Brasilito on the beach in Brasilito. Ask about the 2 upstairs rooms that face the beach. Used to be $50 but have probably gone up. Interesting place--we've stayed there 3 or 4 times. Cheap and a fun location in a tiny little Tico beach town.

And of course Tamarindo has many places to choose from--budget to luxury.

rbrazill

I have to agree with Shillmac about Playa Conchal. It is a very long (2-3 miles?) horseshoe shaped beach which, except for the area directly in front of the Paridisus resort, is virtually empty. The are some shallow coral reefs just off-shore where you can go snorkeling.
I also really love Playa Samara and Playa Carillo further down Nicoya.