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 Herradura photos

Playa Herradura fast facts

• English name: Herradura Beach
• Distance from San Jose: 95km (approximately 2 hours)
• Closest Town: Jaco (large town)
• Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Herradura beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Herradura is a long, crescent beach comprised of compact, brown sand that’s often speckled with stones and pebbles. It curves around Bahia Herradura (Herradura Bay), a sparkling, sometimes turquoise-tinged body of water where yachts and fishing boats bob over waves. Vegetation-covered headlands to the north and the south bookend the beach, helping it feel private. A few tall palm trees back the beach and divide it from the beach access road and a parking lot.

Crowds and noise

Playa Herradura receives a small but steady number of visitors for two reasons: because of its proximity to the beach town of Jaco, and because the beach is commonly accessed by guests of Los Suenos, a popular accommodation positioned at the north end of the beach. (To learn more about Los Suenos, see our related blog post: Costa Rica Luxury Travel: All-Inclusive Resorts And Non-All-Inclusive Resorts In Costa Rica.) Though you’ll surely find some locals spread out around the central and southern sections of the beach, noise is generally 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 Herradura is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Herradura on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).

Development at Playa Playa Herradura

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

Facilities of Los Suenos are positioned at the north end of Playa Herradura, a short walk inland from the water. Along the central stretch of the beach are a few informal restaurants and a makeshift parking lot. Apart from the local eateries and the lot, Playa Herradura is primarily void of development.

Playa Herradura safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Herradura, where the water is generally calmer than the water at Playa Jaco and Playa Hermosa, just down the coast. This being said, the yachts and fishing boats that come and go from Bahia Herradura sometimes churn up strong waves, so watch out for those. If you’d prefer a calmer place to swim, gentler water can be accessed just up the coast at Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca. 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 Herradura location and road conditions

Access to Playa Herradura and 4×4 requirement

Playa Herradura is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It sits along Calle Central (Central Street), a side road that juts off Highway 34 to the southwest at Plaza Herradura (a popular shopping center), leads directly to Playa Herradura and the makeshift parking lot, then bends sharply to the south and parallels the beach. You may see the side road signed for Los Suenos. A 4×4 vehicle isn’t required to reach Playa Herradura.

Map of Playa Herradura Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Herradura

There is no official parking at Playa Herradura, though steps from the beach is a makeshift lot. You’ll find the lot along Calle Central where the road bends sharply to the south. There is room for several vehicles.

Alternatively, you can park along the section of Calle Central that parallels Playa Herradura. These spots are commonly used by people visiting one of the restaurants in the area. If you choose to park in one of these spaces during your trip to the beach, ordering food or a drink at one of the establishments is the polite thing to do.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Herradura

If you plan to stay at Los Suenos, the most obvious reason to visit Playa Herradura is to take advantage of the beach that fronts the resort. If you do not intend to stay at the resort, an alternative reason to visit Playa Herradura is to spend time at a beach in the Jaco area that’s void of Playa Jaco’s crowds. If you wish to station yourself in Jaco to take advantage of the town’s offerings, mainly the social vibe and active nightlife, you’ll find a calmer beach environment at Playa Herradura.

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

Recommended day trips from Playa Herradura include visits to Playa Blanca (Central Pacific), Playa Mantas, Playa Jaco, and 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 Herradura? What did you think?

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