Written by Nikki Solano

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. ❤️️

Playa Garza photos

Playa Garza fast facts

• English name: Garza Beach
• Distance from San Jose: 250km (approximately 4.5 hours)
• Closest town: Nosara (small town); Nicoya (large town)
• Beach status: Public beach

Playa Garza beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Garza is a heavenly crescent beach comprised of soft, light-grey, dimpled sand that you’ll love digging your toes into. The sparse trees that line the back of the beach provide little shade. The beach curves around Bahia Garza (Garza Bay), a body of water that’s sometimes speckled with small, quiet fishing boats. The bay’s long, unbroken waves are perfect for playing in. Playa Garza is also home to a small children’s playground.

Crowds and noise

Despite its proximity to Nosara, Playa Garza receives only a handful of visitors. People come to the beach to relax in solitude, so noise is kept to a minimum.

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 Garza is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Garza on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).

Development at Playa Garza

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

There is no commercial development at Playa Garza, though the small residential community of Garza, which has a few sodas (traditional Costa Rican restaurants), is located behind the beach (within walking distance). A handful of accommodations dot the area (along Road 160) but most are not directly on the beach.

Playa Garza safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Garza; the bay tends to be calm, save for waves created by passing fishing boats. 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. If possible, visit the beach as part of a group to avoid being at this remote-feeling beach alone.

Playa Garza location and road conditions

Access to Playa Garza and 4×4 requirement

Playa Garza is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It sits south of the community of Nosara and is separated from Nosara’s principal beach—Playa Guiones—by Punta Guiones, a headland. It’s an approximate 6.5-kilometer, 10-minute drive to Playa Garza from Nosara.

Playa Garza sits on the south side of Road 160; the beach is visible from the road. Though a 4×4 vehicle is not required to maneuver the stretch of Road 160 that lies between Nosara and the beach, it is recommended to have a 4×4 vehicle if you plan to reach Playa Garza from other destinations that fall along Road 160, such as Samara (to the east) and Ostional (to the west), because you may need to ford a river along the route.

Map of Playa Garza Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Garza

There is no official parking at Playa Garza, though steps from the beach is a makeshift lot that sits on the south side of Road 160. There is room for several vehicles. The playground is in front of the lot.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Garza

The best reason to visit Playa Garza is to sunbathe or swim at a beach in the Nosara area that’s void of Playa Guiones’s waves and crowds. If you wish to station yourself in Nosara to take advantage of the destination’s upscale boutique accommodations, health-conscious eateries, yoga retreats, and/or surf schools, consider the peaceful, nearby Playa Garza a beach that’s worth retreating to for a few hours of rest and relaxation.

Beach-hopping from Playa Garza (or alternative beach options in the region)

Recommended day trips from Playa Garza include visits to Playa Samara, Playa Cangrejal, Playa Carrillo, or Playa Guiones.

Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:

80+ Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them

Want to learn about Costa Rica’s ecological blug flag beaches? Don’t miss our related blog post:

Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica (Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners)

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been to Playa Garza What did you think?

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