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Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
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north end of Playa CuruPlaya Curusand and water at Playa CuruNikki and Ricky; enjoying Playa Curu
Playa Curu fast facts
English name: Curu Beach
Distance from San Jose: 275km (approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes) via ground transport; Shorter travel distances/times are possible by taking ferries that cross the Nicoya Gulf from Puntarenas
Closest Town: Paquera (small town)
Beach Status: Public beach (access is granted with payment of a fee; see below for details)
Playa Curu beach details
Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features
Playa Curu is a crescent beach that curves around Bahia Curu (Curu Bay). It has soft, light-brown sand that ripples in shallow water. The beach is framed by vegetation-covered headlands that appear bright green and lush throughout the year.
Crowds and noise
Playa Curu is part of the Curu National Wildlife Refuge. Though several people set foot on Playa Curu each day (the beach serves as the jumping off place for tours to Tortuga Island, scuba diving tours, and snorkeling tours), few visitors stick around to swim and sunbathe at the beach. Small tour groups tend to congregate on the beach between 8am-9am, around lunchtime, and between 3pm-4pm. Outside these times, it’s possible to have the beach all to yourself.
Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating
Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)
Currently, Playa Curu is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Curu on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).
Development at Playa Curu
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
The central section of Playa Curu has bathrooms and the office for Turismo Curu, a tourism company that operates tours inside the refuge. The rest of Playa Curu is void of commercial development.
Playa Curu safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Curu and is lovely in the tranquil Bahia Curu, save for waves caused by tour boats coming and going from the shore. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.
General safety
Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you have one. Do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset.
Playa Curu location and road conditions
Access to Playa Curu and 4×4 requirement
Playa Curu is located on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. It sits south of the community of Paquera and falls within the boundary of the Curu National Wildlife Refuge.
Playa Curu is located at the end of the main access road that leads through the Curu National Wildlife Refuge; an approximate 2.5-kilometer, 8-minute drive from the refuge’s entrance. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Curu.
Map of Playa Curu Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Curu
There is no official parking at Playa Curu, though there is a makeshift parking lot at the end of the road that leads through the Curu National Wildlife Refuge from the refuge’s entrance to the beach. There is room for several vehicles and parking is free.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Curu
Playa Curu isn’t worth traveling to purely to experience the beach. However, it’s a beautiful beach you can easily stretch out on and relax at if you plan to spend a day exploring the Curu National Wildlife Refuge. You can also enjoy Playa Curu for a short while before or after you participate in a tour operated by Turismo Curu. (Tours typically depart from the beach.)
Beach-hopping from Playa Curu (or alternative beach options in the region)
Do you have questions about Playa Curu, want to know more about the area surrounding the beach, or need help incorporating a visit to the beach into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Photos of Playa Curu Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Curu Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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Tagged: beach, beaches, costa rica, costa rican beaches