Costa Rica: Caribbean or Pacific Coast?

Which coast should you choose?

With its white sandy beaches, biodiversity found nowhere else in the world and belief in sustainable tourism, Costa Rica is a magnet for people who love unspoilt nature. But should you opt for the Caribbean or Pacific coast? And where are the best places to visit in Costa Rica? Let us be your guide.

“Costa Rica instantly immerses you in lush, vibrant nature. You go from beaches whose black volcanic sand was made from ancient rocks dating back to the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, to immense mangroves towering at a height of more than 30 metres which are only explorable when the tide is right.”

Caroline Sanchez, geologist and expedition leader for PONANT EXPLORATIONS

The east coast of Costa Rica: the good life in the Caribbean

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline is dotted with Afro-Caribbean villages and nature reserves ringed with white beaches, so the ambiance is at once wild and delightfully private.

Tortuguero: a mellow island paradise

The village of Tortuguero is nestled between the Caribbean Sea and peaceful canals, and its sandy winding streets and colourful little houses give it an island atmosphere. It is also the gateway to the national park which bears its name. This wilderness area is extraordinarily diverse, holding within its lush borders mangroves, lagoons and rainforests that you can explore on foot or by boat. You will spot monkeys swinging in the foliage, sloths making their placid way through the trees and birds everywhere you look. Tortuguero even welcomes four species of sea turtle during egg-laying season, specifically the green, leatherback, hawksbill and loggerhead varieties. As a spectacle it is rare, but unforgettable.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca: Caribbean perfection

The fishing village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca inducts visitors into a slower pace of life, cultivating an authentically Caribbean, relaxing vibe. Life is barefoot and lived to the beat of the waves and reggae music. Surfers love the waves here, while beachgoers are drawn to the white sand and coconut trees of Playa Cocles and Punta Uva. On an evening, the pace picks up in Puerto Viejo and several restaurants serve the famous rondón, a delicious seafood and coconut milk soup, as well as patí meat doughnuts jazzed up with local spices.

Cahuita National Park: the best place for snorkelling

Cahuita National Park is an unmissable part of any visit to the Caribbean coast thanks to its dazzling colours, from the emerald green jungle to the sparkling turquoise waters that lap at its edges. The vast coral reef extending over 600 hectares is undoubtedly the site’s major attraction, offering the ideal place for snorkelers to explore. Dive into its clear waters to admire the reef’s tropical fish in all their vibrant colours. It is a wonderful way to get up close to nature.

Manzanillo Nature Reserve: off the beaten track

Far from the usual tourist trail, the nature reserve at Manzanillo is both untamed and rarely experienced. Its ecosystems work in harmony with each other, from secret coves to intact palm forests and iridescent lagoons, all crisscrossed with paths you will want to linger on, ideally equipped with binoculars to spot some of its remarkably diverse wildlife. Inland, howler monkeys live alongside toucans, sloths and amphibians, while at the coast, dolphins and manatees glide among the tropical fish. This is the ideal destination for people who love calm and solitude.

The Pacuare river and its gorgeous gorges

The Pacuare is considered the country’s most beautiful river and offers unforgettable rafting trips through spectacular scenery. The gorge gets narrower as the rapids descend and the rainforest forms an impenetrable backdrop, the area’s magical atmosphere conjuring the memories of a lifetime. You could swear you are a thousand miles away from civilisation during your adventure through the heart of nature. Here you will find what the Costa Ricans call “pura vida”, or “pure life”, rooted in the power of the present moment and the magic of the memories it leaves behind.

Biodiversity in Costa Rica

Although Costa Rica only takes up 0.03% of the world’s total area, it is home to no less than 5% of its biodiversity, with more than half a million animal and plant species according to the country’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy. About 25% of its land and 30% of its seas are officially protected as part of a deliberate approach to the environment which attracts visitors looking to get back to unspoilt nature. You are legally required to visit some national parks with a guide, including Corcovado.

Costa Rica’s west coast: venturing through the heart of nature at its most spectacular

With its endless beaches, excellent breakers for surfers, lush forests and nightlife, life on the Pacific coast is intense.

Santa Teresa: endless delights in Nicoya

At the furthest point of the Nicoya peninsula, Santa Teresa village has a dazzling beach and the kinds of waves surfers love, as well as a truly relaxed atmosphere. The splendid Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve and its many monkeys and birds are very close by, offering a wonderfully wild counterpoint. There, forest paths lead to a deep blue ocean. It is the perfect stopping point to take in both the energy of a coastal resort and the calm of Costa Rica’s natural world.

Sámara: a slower pace of life and wild creatures

Sámara is quieter than Santa Teresa and sits snugly in a peaceful crescent-shaped bay. The beach is protected by a reef, so the water is calm enough for swimming and snorkelling. Visitors interested in wildlife will be equally impressed, as some of the beaches are used by turtles to lay their eggs from August to December (especially the leatherback and Pacific green varieties), while humpback whales use the bay’s warm waters to birth their calves in autumn and winter. Another local curiosity is the Islita Reserve. It works to protect scarlet macaws, making it an excellent place to admire their vibrant plumage in the wild.

Manuel Antonio National Park: a classic Pacific destination

Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica at its purest and much loved for its rare combination of abundant nature and dazzling shores. Wildlife is there to spot as you wander the paths of a rainforest that rings white sandy beaches lapped by luminous seas. Between strolls through towering trees and time out by the sea, you can experience the Park’s oceanic atmosphere another way at diving spots in hushed, crystalline waters. The only wrinkle is that they are often busy, so visitors looking for peace and quiet might prefer other options.

Merino Ballena: an unusual sight in blue and white

This marine national park is famous for its tómbolo, the whale tail-shaped beach revealed at low tide, and it offers a great place to see abundant wildlife in its natural habitat. From August to November and December to March, grab your binoculars and keep an eye on the horizon. You might spot the fins of humpback whales heading for the nutrient-rich Arctic Ocean in autumn or warmer southern climes in the winter breeding season. Whatever the time of year, dolphins, hammerhead sharks and manta rays always put on quite the show.

Treasures of the south-west

The Osa peninsula on the Pacific south coast is harder to get to, but it is overflowing with Costa Rican icons. One of them is Corcovado National Park, an extraordinary sanctuary to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity according to SINAC (the Costa Rica National System for Protected Areas), and a place where the forest is almost Amazonian in character. Visitors must be accompanied by a guide.

My favourite spot by Caroline Sanchez

“If you sail Golfito Bay very early in the morning, you might be joined by tens of dolphins. Passengers are always blown away by the wildlife they spot. Some people cry when they hear their first howler monkey family or see their first pair of scarlet macaws take off at sunrise or sunset or, more rarely, perched in their nest. You can also spot capuchin monkeys, agoutis, crocodiles, sea turtles and blacktip reef or nurse sharks.”

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