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 Hermosa (Guanacaste) photos

Note: The Playa Hermosa referred to in this article is the Playa Hermosa that is located along Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, just north of Playas del Coco. We cite the beach name as Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) to distinguish it from Playa Hermosa (Central Pacific), a similarly named beach located along Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.

Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) fast facts

• English name: Hermosa Beach (Hermosa translates to “Beautiful”)
• Distance from San Jose: 240km (approximately 4 hours)
• Closest Town: Playas de Coco (small town), Liberia (large town)
• Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Hermosa is a long beach with trodden, light-brown sand and a front-row view of fishing boats moored in Bahia Hermosa (Hermosa Bay). The beach is framed by vegetation-covered headlands that appear bright green and lush for part of the year, typically between May and December, but can be bare and dry looking during the summer months, usually January to April. Trees at the back of the beach provide cooling shade.

Crowds and noise

Playa Hermosa receives a steady number of visitors, mainly because it’s the principal beach that fronts the community of Playa Hermosa. The north section of the beach, which is closest to the community’s main street (the second and northernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa), is the gathering place of local beachgoers. Although this is the busiest part of the beach and some beachfront establishments play music, noise generally isn’t an issue. Less frequented and quietest overall is the south section of the beach, which sits at the end of the first and southernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa, and has less commercial development right on the beach.

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

Development at Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste)

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

The community of Playa Hermosa provides an assortment of establishments, mainly hotels, condos, and restaurants. Most cluster around the town’s main drag (the second and northernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa) and are within walking distance of the north section of the beach. The long-standing restaurant and bar Aquasport is positioned on the beach in this area.

Along the first and southernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa are additional hotels, condos, and restaurants, which are within walking distance of the south section of the beach. There is less development directly on the beach in this area, save for a few picnic tables spread out on the sand.

Horseback riding tours, parasailing tours, and kayaking tours run in the region sometimes visit Playa Hermosa.

Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Hermosa and is generally easy in the bay’s calm waves. 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 Hermosa (Guanacaste) location and road conditions

Access to Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) and 4×4 requirement

Playa Hermosa is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It sits north of the town of Playas del Coco and south of the Peninsula de Papagayo (Papagayo Peninsula).

Playa Hermosa is a quick 10-kilometer, 15-minute drive up and over a hill from Playas del Coco via Road 151 and Road 159. The route is paved. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Hermosa.

Map of Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste) Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste)

There is no official parking at the north section of Playa Hermosa. Locals park randomly along the sides of the second and northernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa, which ends at the beach. At the south section of Playa Hermosa, there is a makeshift parking lot behind the beach at the end of the first and southernmost entrance to Playa Hermosa. There is room for several vehicles in the lot.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Hermosa (Guanacaste)

Playa Hermosa isn’t worth traveling to purely to experience the beach. However, if you plan to station yourself at a hotel or condo in the community of Playa Hermosa, the beach is a decent spot where you can stretch out along the coast, watch fishing boats peacefully come and go from the bay, and just relax. Alternatively, you can accomplish the same on a day trip from nearby Playas del Coco or whichever destination you plan to station yourself at along the northern Pacific coast.

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

Recommended day trips from Playa Hermosa include visits to Playa Panama, Playa Nacascolo, or Playa Virador, all to the north of Playa Hermosa, or Playa del Coco, Playa Ocotal, or Playa Matapalo, all to the south of Playa Hermosa.

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 Hermosa? What did you think?

Pura vida!

Hey, Costa Rica Travel Blog reader, thank you for visiting and reading our blog! We're truly grateful for your time and preference.

Do you know that your spam-free reading experience is most important to us? Unlike some other Costa Rica blogs, we do not to sell your personal information, and we choose not to display ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing on our blog so we can keep your visit as distraction- and junk-free as possible. Because we prioritize your privacy, we don't earn money when you visit us, when you sign up for our e-course, or when you click on our links, which means the time and work we put into this blog—including its 300+ articles—is entirely voluntary! If you find our content valuable, and you'd like to thank us for making the trip-planning process easier and your Costa Rica vacation more enjoyable, please consider making a small donation ($1, $2, $3, or an amount of your choosing) to our blog. Doing so is a great way to pat us on the back if you feel we deserve it. 😊 Pura vida, amigos!

Click on the button above to donate through PayPal. (If you cannot see the PayPal button above, click here.) A PayPal account is not required to make a donation; credit and debit cards are also accepted. PayPal donations are confidential; we never see your payment details.

Love our blog? Check out our other Costa Rica-related projects, too: