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 Ventanas (Central Pacific) photos

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)
• Closest Town: Uvita (small town), Quepos (large town)
• Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Ventanas (Central Pacific) beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

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:

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 Ventanas (Central Pacific)? What did you think?

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