I'm taking our family and a couple of the kids friends (age 14 and 16) to spending christmas vacation to Guanacaste and Nicoya Peninsula. We're flying into Liberia.

We'll have a 4 x 4 and love exploring. I just would love advice on some of the best beaches to check out. Thanks John

It's a very Americanized area, but do check out Playa Flamingo--absolutely gorgeous beach and sunsets. Also Playa Hermosa, a little further north and very close to Liberia.

About 10 minutes south of Flamingo is the little town of Brasilito (and Playa Brasilito). From there you can walk about 5 minutes to Playa Conchal, also a beautiful beach, but not accessible to the public except from Brasilito (Paradisus Playa Conchal Hotel is on that beach).

Not sure how much time you'll have, but if you have 4 or so extra days, you'd probably enjoy Malpais down on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. By the way, do you have reservations yet? Christmas is an extremely busy time, and most hotels have been booked for awhile now. Hopefully, you've already taken care of that.

Thanks - have reservations in Mal Pais but am behind ihe eight ball on finding other places to stay.... Have been on the phone and emailed several places over the last week.

Realized after we purchased our airline tickets just how booked up it is. Suggestions? Thanks John

Well, there's always littel Hotel Brasilito right on the beach. Very basic, no AC, no pool, but in the middle of some nice beach areas, including Sugar Beach and Potrero Beach, up by Flamingo. How much do you mind basic? As of last week, they still had some availability. We stayed there a couple of Christmases ago with our young adult kids for 3 nights. Paid to get into Paradisus Playa Conchal for a day by the pool and evening show (all-inclusvie for the day). Spent another day at Flamingo Beach. It's an option anyway. This is the most popular part of the country as far as beaches go, so good luck!

I also love Playa Conchal. It is a very long horseshoe-shaped beach made up primarily of crushed shell (concha). Even with the resort, it rarely gets crowded.
My other favorites in Nicoya are Playa Samara and Playa Carillo further south. There are more hotels to choose from in Samara and you might find something available, although it's really late for Christmas Week.

Not going to hijack this thread!! But, rbrazil, I am always looking for the perfect beach in CR. Trying a different one (sometimes two) each trip. About Playa Samara and Playa Carillo - where did you stay - what type of lodging did you choose?

dfarmer - keep in mind that the original poster specified that he was going to Guanacaste and Nicoya. I happen to think that the best beaches in Costa Rica are onthe Caribbean side, not the Pacific side. But as far as Nicoya is concerned, Samara, Nosara, and Carrillo - particularly Carrillo - are very nice. We stayed in Playa Samara at Las Brisas del Pacifico. It's right on the water, the restaurant was nice and the price was right. Others on this forum have been less impressed. We also toured (but did not stay at) Villas Playa Samara, which I might consider if we went with younger children or with a group - it was a little too Orlando-esque for me. Villa Kalimbas has gotten a lot of favorable reviews here, but I have never been there.
The beach at Playa Carrillo (which is only about three miles from Playa Samara) is beautiful, and virtually deserted. However there is no real town, and only a couple of hotels. I think it would be a little dull to stay there more than a night or two.

dfarmer...I concur with rbrazill and would like to add that I have stayed at Villas Kalimbas (Feb 05) and highly recommend it. Outstanding service and accomodations.

Playa Flamingo is beautiful and used very lightly, especially during the week. A short distance north is Playa Potrero which is smaller but also very beautiful and almost deserted. For basic lodgings, but with a pool and beautiful landscaping, try Hotel Bahia Esmeralda in the small town of Potrero, a couple of miles north of Flamingo.