What to Do In Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica
My first trip to Costa Rica was with a college friend back in 2001, and we’d had an incredible time. We spent a week in a small town on the Pacific Coast, then after she returned to California, I stayed on a few extra days to do some white water rafting, take a tour the country, and just generally having a fantastic time. I even remember crying during my cab ride back to the airport, because I didn’t want to return to New York City.
Since that trip, I’ve returned numerous times to this magical country. And though it’s gotten more expensive and touristy in the years since my first trip, Costa Rica offers a wide range of experiences to cater to almost any budget. In short, you can make a trip to this Central American country as budget or as luxurious as you’d like.
Playa Hermosa is a tiny beach town on the Northwestern Coast, roughly thirty minutes from Liberia Airport. If you pack with just a carry-on bag, you can be off your plane, through immigration, and at your hotel in under an hour, ready to hit the beach! The town/beach is a mix of friendly locals and retirees, and has super laid back vibe. This isn't the place to go if you want to meet backpackers and party, so keep that in mind. And with its calm waters, it's also not a great place for surfing, if that's your thing. This is a truly mellow, quiet place. If you're looking to relax, this is it.
Back in Playa Hermosa, there are a few nice accommodations to choose from in the area, but I always tend to stay at Villa del Sueño. The property is beautiful, the rooms are spacious and clean, and they have a restaurant right on the premises that serves delicious food and drinks, all for about $90 a night.
The area has gotten more upscale over recent years, in part due to the influx of American retirees that have moved down to the area, so be prepared to shell out quite a bit for meals.
Getting there: Liberia Airport is only 30-45 minutes away, and it's an easy drive on good roads from there to the beach. So you can literally be soaking in the sun less than two hours after you land!
Stay: I like Villa del Sueño as good value for the price, but there are a lot of others options, so do some research.
Eat: Bosque del Mar (fantastic food, a generous happy hour on a veranda overlooking the beach, and good prices for what you get compared to other restaurants in the area), Villa del Sueno (in low season they only serve breakfast, so keep that in mind), Aqua Sport (very casual, right on the beach and they have slushy frozen mojitos that are a godsend in the heat and humidity), Pizzeria Bocelli (if you're craving Italian), Ginger’s (tapas) is a classy open air restaurant/treehouse (I know…those two sound like they shouldn’t go together, but they do!) with a cool atmosphere and great food. These are just a few - there are a number of other great places to eat in the area, so don't be afraid to ask around for suggestions and explore!
Explore/Do: All of the hotels in the area offer day tours to various sites around Costa Rica and even up to nearby Nicaragua. For my money though, this is an ideal area to laze it up and do as close to nothing as possible.
Don't miss experience: A sunset sail. You’ll see all sorts of amazing wildlife and as the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll truly feel like you’re in paradise.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
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