Playas del Coco

Welcome to Playas del Coco, known to locals as “El Coco.” Located in the Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste province, it’s one of the oldest and most established beach communities in Costa Rica.

Unlike remote surf towns that take hours to reach, Playas del Coco pairs high-energy coastal life with modern infrastructure and easy access to world-class marine adventures. It’s a base camp for scuba divers, deep-sea fishermen, and beach lovers alike.

Here’s our guide to experiencing the best of Playas del Coco, and how to get there without the hassle.

Top things to do in Playas del Coco

1. Scuba diving at Monkey Head and the Catalinas Islands

Playas del Coco is the premier scuba diving hub on the North Pacific coast. Local dive shops run daily boat trips out to volcanic rock formations like Cabeza de Mono (Monkey Head) and the Catalinas Islands. Below the surface, you’ll swim alongside manta rays, white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and schools of tropical fish.

2. Walk the oceanfront “Amor de Temporada” boardwalk

Spend your late afternoon on El Coco’s beachfront boardwalk. Named after a famous Costa Rican song, this paved walkway has parks, volleyball courts, and open-air seating. Watch the fishing boats in the bay as the sky changes color at sunset.

3. Take a private beach-hopping boat charter

El Coco’s dark-sand bay is sheltered, so the water stays calm for boat departures. Rent a local panga or a catamaran to reach beaches in the Gulf of Papagayo that aren’t reachable by car, like Playa Nacazcol, Playa Huevos, or the Papagayo Peninsula.

4. Experience the nightlife on Main Street

When the sun goes down, Playas del Coco comes alive. The main strip through town has open-air bars, local breweries, live music venues, and international restaurants, one of the livelier nightlife scenes in Guanacaste and a draw for weekend travelers and expats.

The proximity advantage: getting to El Coco

Playas del Coco’s biggest perk for a Costa Rica vacation is how close it is to the airport.

• From Liberia Airport (LIR): the closest major beach town to the airport, a 30-minute drive away.
• From San José Airport (SJO): roughly 4 to 4.5 hours along the Inter-American Highway.

The road from the airport into town is paved and easy to navigate, but driving yourself still has its hassles. Main Street traffic gets heavy at peak hours, pedestrians crowd the road, and parking near the beach or local restaurants can be hard to find.

Start your vacation the moment you land

Because Playas del Coco sits so close to Liberia Airport, a long rental car line can double your travel time. Skip the car rental counter, the foreign traffic rules, and the hidden insurance fees.

At Beach Shuttles CR, we run door-to-door airport shuttle transfers directly to your hotel or vacation condo in El Coco.

Step off the plane and into one of our modern, climate-controlled vans, and you’ll be on the beach with a cold drink in under an hour. Traveling with scuba gear, underwater cameras, or extra suitcases? We have room for it, no extra hassle. Our local drivers handle the arrival logistics so you can get straight into the Pura Vida lifestyle from the moment you land.

Book your airport shuttle to Playas del Coco with Beach Shuttles CR today!