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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Playa Grande
Spend 1–2 days in Playa Grande for turtle watching, surf and beach walk; arrive via Liberia Airport (1 h drive).
Playa Grande is a low‑key beach town in Guanacaste, home to the Las Baulas National Marine Park where leatherback turtles nest. The main attractions (turtle season, surf break, nearby Playa Carbon) fit comfortably in a short stay, and the town is reachable in about an hour from Liberia Airport.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season, good surf)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, limited beach access)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₡4,000–6,000 excl. bed · Mid ₡6,000–9,000 excl. bed · High ₡9,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a local restaurant | ₡3,500–7,000 |
| Bicycle rental (half‑day) | ₡2,000–3,500 |
| Surf lesson (2 h) | ₡12,000–18,000 |
| Taxi from Liberia Airport to Playa Grande (≈30 km (19 mi))Taxi from Liberia Airport to Playa Grande (≈19 mi (30 km)) | ₡15,000–20,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LIR · Liberia Airport
- ≈1 h drive north via Route 21
Typical fares
- Liberia Airport → Playa Grande (taxi)
- ≈ ₡15,000–20,000, 30 min (check)
- Bicycle rental (half‑day)
- ≈ ₡2,500
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bicycles are the easiest way to explore the 5 km (3.1 mi) beach stretch; scooters and cars can be rented in Liberia or Tamarindo.Bicycles are the easiest way to explore the 3.1 mi (5 km) beach stretch; scooters and cars can be rented in Liberia or Tamarindo.
See and do
Known for
- Leatherback turtle nesting
- Surfing at Playa Grande break
- Las Baulas National Marine Park
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tamarindo | Taxi or bus from Playa Grande, about 30 min | ≈45 min |
| Las Baulas National Marine Park | Walk north along the beach or short bike ride, 5–10 min | ≈10 min |
Sleep
- Hotel RipJack Inn
- Beach‑front, surf‑focused; good for 1‑night stays
- El Manglar Hotel
- Villas and hostel rooms in Palm Beach Estates; budget‑friendly
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-kuhl-peh |
| Thank you | Graciasgrah-see-as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn-toh kwes-tah |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?don-deh es-tah lah plah-yah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Turtle nesting sites are protected – no lights or beach fires at night (check park rules).
- Surf can be strong; beginners should take lessons at Una Ola Surf Resort.
Playa Grande is generally safe; watch for strong surf and respect turtle‑nesting restrictions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Playa Grande yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Leatherback turtle nesting
- Surfing at Playa Grande break
- Las Baulas National Marine Park
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Playa Grande: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Playa Grande, revision 4918110 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4918110
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Playa Grande
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Ambulance911
US consulate in San José (check address); other embassies in San José.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/playa-grande). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.