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Playa VentanasRicky and Nikki; exploring the cave at Playa Ventanassouth end of Playa Ventanasnorth end of Playa VentanasNikki; photographing the cave at Playa Ventanasview of the beach from inside the caveview of the ocean-side cave opening from Playa Ventanas
Note: The Playa Ventanas referred to in this article is the Playa Ventanas that is located along Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, between the communities of Uvita/Bahia and Ojochal. We cite the beach name as Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) to distinguish it from Playa Ventanas (Guanacaste), a similarly named beach located along Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast.
Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) fast facts
English name: Ventanas Beach (Ventanas translates to “Windows”)
Distance from San Jose: 235km (approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes)
Playa Ventanas is a medium-sized, pebbly beach with light-brown sand. The shallow beach is edged by rock, lush greenery, and a row of palm trees. A row of chairs and tents provide cooling shade at the back of the beach. Caves (at the north end of the beach), which you can enter at low tide, carve out a rock wall and provide unique photo opportunities.
Crowds and noise
Playa Ventanas receives a small but steady number of visitors, mainly because it’s the best beach in the Ojochal area. People come to this 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.)
Playa Ventanas is not currently participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica. Therefore, it does not have a star rating.
Development at Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific)
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
There is no commercial development at Playa Ventanas apart from the line of chairs and tents positioned at the back of the beach. There’s usually a snack vendor parked at this beach who sells chips, copos (learn about copos by reading our related blog post: Copos In Costa Rica), and other treats.
Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Ventanas. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers. Be extremely cautious of rising water levels when visiting the caves; only attempt to enter the caves at low tide. Water levels rise quickly and can be dangerous.
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 Ventanas (Central Pacific) location and road conditions
Access to Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) and 4×4 requirement
Playa Ventanas is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It is a principal beach of Ojochal, an inland community positioned on the north side of Highway 34, east of the beach.
Playa Ventanas sits at the end of a short, unnamed, unpaved side road that juts off Highway 34 approximately 11 kilometers southeast of Uvita/Bahia. During rainy periods, you may need to ford (cross) a small river along the side road. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended to reach Playa Ventanas.
Map of Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific)
There is no official parking at Playa Ventanas. However, the back of the beach has enough space for several vehicles, which is where locals park.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific)
The best reason to visit Playa Ventanas over other beaches in the central Pacific region is to see the beach caves at low tide. Alternatively, Playa Ventanas is a worthwhile day trip if you plan to station yourself in the Ojochal, Uvita/Bahia, or Dominical area of Costa Rica.
Beach-hopping from Ventanas (Central Pacific) (or alternative beach options in the region)
Recommended day trips from Playa Ventanas include visits to Playa Uvita, Playa Dominical, and/or beaches in the Manuel Antonio vicinity such as Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Espadilla Sur, and Playa Espadilla Norte.
Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:
Do you have questions about Playa Ventanas, 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 Ventanas Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Ventanas Costa Rica (Central Pacific coast), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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Tagged: beach, beaches, central pacific, costa rica, costa rican beaches