Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste

Playa Ocotal is a small village that is 3 km south of Playas del Coco on the northern pacific coast of Costa Rica.

The beach on Playa Ocotal is one of the best places to snorkel in the area. Playa Ocotal is also one of the cleanest and quietest beaches around.

Beautiful Beach

Playa Ocotal is a calm, sandy beach, about a third of a mile long; it's ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities. It's also a perfect place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Playa Ocotal is a five-minute drive from Playas del Coco, a small fishing and tourist village. This tiny pocket cove features a small salt-and-pepper beach bordered by high bluffs and is quite beautiful.

When it's calm there's good snorkeling around some rocky islands close to shore here.

Magical Energy

The sea air is tinged with a whitish mist that many healers believe to be rich in negative ions, small particles charged with electricity that have beneficial effects on people animals and plants.

The advantage of Ocotal is that this idyllic beach combines this kind of energy with hours and hours of brilliant sunshine, a mild climate and the warm inviting waters of the blue sea. Indeed, during the dry season (December-April) there are 9 hours of sun a day.

Playa Ocotal

Where to Stay

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Best Snorkeling Around

Playa Ocotal is an attractive but small beach 3 - 4 km southwest of Playas del Coco.

It is the cleanest and quietest beach in the area, offering good swimming and snorkeling.

Scuba diving is available, and nearby Catalina island is a recommended diving spot; it's the best place to see huge schools of rays, including the giant manta ray. Accommodations are good but not cheap.

Camping is possible but not that common; be discrete and you'll have a better time.

The south end of the beach is recommended for snorkelling.

Map of the Area

Click to enlarge map - Map of the Area

Location of Playa Ocotal

Playa Ocotal is located at only 40 kms from the city of Liberia and the gateway to the Gulf of Papagayo.

Playa Ocotal is a small beach protected by hills and cliffs of sedimentary metamorphic rocks of 80 million years of age. Its clear sands mix with scarce rock formations and the dry forests of the hills.

Ocotal is famous for its clear waters making Scuba diving and snorkeling an unforgettable experience.