Photos of Playa Tropical Costa Rica (Isla Tortuga, Nicoya Peninsula) From Our Personal Collection

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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. ❤️️

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Playa Tropical photos

Playa Tropical fast facts

• English name: Tropical 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 (depending on where you choose to access the beach from, payment of a fee may apply; see below for details)

Playa Tropical beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Tropical is our favorite secluded beach. Etched into Isla Tortuga (Tortuga Island), an uninhabited island roughly three kilometers off the Pacific Coast at Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Tropical has fine, light-beige sand that gradually sinks into shallow, aquamarine water. At the back of the beach, a canopy of dense vegetation topped by terrific tall palms provides cooling shade and a perfect place for picnicking.

Crowds and noise

Isla Tortuga nears the Curu National Wildlife Refuge on Costa Rica’s mainland. Although several people hike the refuge’s terrestrial sector each day and spend time at mainland beaches inside the refuge, including Playa Curu and Playa Quesera, most visitors come to the refuge to catch a boat to Isla Tortuga, which provides additional beaches and decent snorkeling and diving opportunities. Although Isla Tortuga is not part of the refuge, getting to the island by boat from the refuge is a quick and easy trip compared to boat trips to Isla Tortuga made from other coastal areas of Costa Rica, such as Montezuma, Puntarenas, and Herradura. In addition, while boat trips to Isla Tortuga from Montezuma, Puntarenas, and Herradura deliver passengers to the popular Isla Tolinga (Tortuga Island’s principal beach), which is a busy beach with a social vibe, if you take a boat trip to Isla Tortuga from within the refuge, you’ll be dropped off at Playa Tropical, a more isolated beach on the island that receives few visitors and is remarkably quiet. On some days, you’ll have the beach entirely 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 Tropical is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Tropical on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).

Development at Playa Tropical

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

Playa Tropical, on the uninhabited Isla Tortuga, is void of commercial development. Back on the mainland, Playa Curu (the beach where boats to Isla Tortuga depart) has bathrooms and a tour office.

Playa Tropical safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Tropical and is lovely in the undisturbed Golfo de Nicoya (Nicoya Gulf). As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.

General safety

Although Playa Tropical is an unfrequented beach, theft is rarely a problem. That said, our advice for visiting any beach in Costa Rica still applies: never bring items of value with you to the beach; always keep an eye on your belongings; and do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset.

Playa Tropical location and road conditions

Access to Playa Tropical and 4×4 requirement

Playa Tropical is located on Costa Rica’s Isla Tortuga, roughly three kilometers offshore from the Nicoya Peninsula at the Curu National Wildlife Refuge. The best way to reach Playa Tropical is by boat from the refuge, but Playa Tropical can also be accessed by boat from other coastal areas in Costa Rica, including Montezuma, Puntarenas, and Herradura, among others.

If you opt to visit Playa Tropical by boat from the Curu National Wildlife Refuge, you must pay the Curu National Wildlife Refuge entrance fee. (For more information about the Curu National Wildlife Refuge entrance fee, see our related blog post: A List Of 50+ Costa Rica Entrance Fees: How Much It Costs To Enter National Parks, Reserves, And Refuges.)

To reach Playa Tropical by boat from the Curu National Wildlife Refuge, you must first reach Playa Curu. 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.

From Playa Curu, a brief boat ride will take you to Playa Tropical. (If you’re an experienced kayaker, you can also rent a kayak from Playa Curu and paddle out to Playa Tropical.) Alternatively, you can catch a boat ride from Playa Curu to Playa Quesera. Boats and rentals are run by Turismo Curu, a tour operator that operates from within the refuge and has an office on Playa Curu.

Map of Playa Tropical Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Tropical

There is no parking at Playa Tropical because the beach is on an island. If you wish to drive to the Curu National Wildlife Refuge and travel to Playa Tropical by boat, 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 Playa Curu. (You’ll then take a boat to Playa Tropical from Playa Curu; see above for details). There is room for several vehicles and parking is free.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Tropical

Offering some of the prettiest sand along the Nicoya Peninsula, the paradisiacal Playa Tropical is worth visiting purely to experience the beach. If you choose to visit the beach by way of the Curu National Wildlife Refuge, you can couple your glorious beach visit with a hike inside the refuge and the possibility of wildlife encounters.

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

Recommended day trips from Playa Tropical include visits to Playa Curu, Playa Quesera, Playa Tambor, and/or beaches in the Montezuma vicinity such as Playa Montezuma and Playa Las Manchas.

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)

Pura vida!

Do you have questions about Playa Tropical, 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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