Ultimate Guide to Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste is located just 15 minutes from the popular beach town of Playas del Coco and less than 30 minutes from the Liberia International Airport. A small town with a long expansive beach and calm waters, Playa Hermosa is a fantastic alternative to Coco for travelers who want to be near all the action but want a bit more of a slower pace.
For those who choose to stay in Coco, a visit to Playa Hermosa is worth it! It’s a quick taxi ride away and the beach is calm, clear and much less crowded than Coco. There are a few restaurants worth a visit too!
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How to Get to Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
There are a few ways to get to Playa Hermosa.
If you’re flying into the Liberia International Airport, your best bet is to take a taxi. This can cost between $30 and $40. Shuttles are also an option but usually cost over $50.
If you’ll be flying into the San Jose airport, you have several options – public busses, shuttles, a private transfer, or renting a car. You can follow the guidelines in this post on how to get to Playas del Coco. If you arrive on the bus, you can easily take a $10 taxi to Playa Hermosa or the other options will likely include drop-off in Hermosa as well.
Where to Stay in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
As a small beach town, Playa Hermosa has limited hotel options. However, vacation rentals are plentiful, including many beach-front and ocean-view properties. Here are a few of our recommendations.
- Budget Friendly: Anona Guesthouse is our go-to here. For one, rooms are well under $100 a night and second, they can accommodate up to 6 guests. All while being steps from the beach!
- Mid-range: Hotel El Velero, and Villa del Sueno are both beach-front (or very close) and provide comfortable accommodation. Both hotels also have a restaurant on-site.
- Luxury: For a most upscale stay, check out Club y Hotel Condovac La Costa and Hotel Bosque del Mar Playa Hermosa. Bosque del Mar is an upscale beach-front propery while Condovac gives you that resort vibe,.
- Vacation rentals: For the best vacation rentals in the area, check out Zindis. They have many quality vacation rentals, including some luxurious beachfront properties.
Where to Eat in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
While many may head to Playas del Coco for dinner, there are a handful of restaurants in Playa Hermosa worthy of a visit.
- Best lunch spot: Aquasport Bar & Restaurant is a super-fun beach restaurant, with swings and an over-sized chair perfect for taking photos. The restaurant is famous for its mango chiliguaros (if you don’t know what that is, you need to try one!) and makes a mean frozen mojito as well. They’re a little pricy but the location is worth it!
- Best seafood: La Casa del Marisco is arguably one of the best seafood restaurants in the entire Coco area, not just in Playa Hermosa. It’s a small restaurant located on the beach and if you’re visiting during high season, reservations are recomended.
- Best breakfast: Roberto’s is another beach-front restaurant in a hotel, with ample outdoor seating. Enjoy your breakfast under the shade of the palm trees then hit the beach!
- Best dinner: Ginger’s is the highest-rated restaurant in Playa Hermosa and it’s the place to go if you’re looking for a nicer meal out, tapas style.They’re well known for their martinis too.
What to do in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste is filled with quite a few fun things to do, especially because it’s right on the beach. It’s most often used as a base for visiting Playas del Coco and other nearby areas. Any tour that you’ll find online that leaves from Playas del Coco will often include a pickup location in Playa Hermosa as well!
Here are some of the best things to do in Playa Hermosa Guanacaste.
- Sunset sail or morning snorkeling with Kuna Vela. Kuna Vela Sailing Tours is based out of Coco but will pick up on the beach in Playa Hermosa as well! For a beautiful, relaxing morning or afternoon on the water, you can’t beat Kuna Vela. Great for families and couples alike!
- Go fishing with Gonzalez Sport Fishing Charters! It’s a locally owned sports fishing company that will pick you up right in Playa Hermosa. With several different boat options, they can accommodate both families and those who are serious about fishing. If you don’t want to fish, they can also put together custom sunset, snorkeling, and beach BBQ tours.
- Beach hop to nearby beaches! Obviously no trip to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste is complete without a trip to the beach. Beach hopping is the best way to explore them! Within just 15 minutes, you have a handful of options. Playa Penca and Calzon de Pobre are located between Coco and Hermosa. With just a ten miinute drive to Playa Panama, you can visit both Playa Bonita and Playa Buena too. For a further drive, head to Playa Iguanita and Playa Cabuyal, both on our list of best beaches in the area.
What’s the beach like in Playa Hermosa?
Playa Hermosa is a long beach that’s usually not too crowded, but keep in mind there is not a lot of shade. The water here is usually very clear and calm, which is why it’s a perfect beach for families. Most of the time it’s perfect for swimming with little to no waves. It’s one of the best swimming beaches in the area.
What’s the weather like in Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste?
Playa Hermosa Guanacaste weather is actually one of the hottest and driest areas in Costa Rica which is something to consider when planning your trip. Between December and May, there isn’t much rain and temperatures are around 70° to 80° F.
During the rainy season, usually with an exception of maybe two weeks tops in October, you can enjoy sunny mornings and an occasional rain shower in the late afternoon or evening. During this time, the temperature is around the same, between 70° to 80° F on average.
