Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Guanacaste
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste
Area de Conservacion Guanacaste Attractions
Playa Islita
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Playa Islita

See all things to do
See all things to do
Playa Islita
4.5

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
10 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
0
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Rochelle F
Randolph, NJ929 contributions
Nice beach but road to get there is very bumpy
Jan 2022 • Couples
We decided to venture out to this beach. It is pretty but the road is not paved so it is a long a bumpy ride to get there. Nice hotel there but we did not go visit it.
Written 24 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J K
Boone, NC4 contributions
Ranger guarded Turtle Nesting Beach
Mar 2020 • Family
It was our destination for a great guided kayak tour set up by Hotel Punta Islita. Dry season meant we put in an hour from Ocean and paddled both ways... easy, beautiful and informative.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stefano B
Cartago, Costa Rica889 contributions
"Natural secluded site"
Mar 2019 • Couples
We spend a really great time at Islita beach as it is a very nice natural and secluded site with just small groups of people around. The beach has dark colored sand and rock formations which allows small natural pools formation.
Written 17 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NoeB1
Antwerp, Belgium1,181 contributions
Refugio de vida Silvestre Camaronal
Jul 2018 • Family
I visited nearby Camaronal beach at night to watch the turtles at the Refugio. It was a fantastic experience. The weather was great, no moon, no clouds and a million of stars. And the sound of the breaking waves in the dark. But you have to come here to watch the turtles. A little turtle was just born and we were able to watch her first steps on the sand. We followed her until she was able to reach the sea and saw her struggling to get in! After that we searched for a big mother coming out of the sea to lay her eggs. What amazing to see! She had about 80 eggs in her body. After laying them she covered them with sand and hurried back to the sea. National geographic for real!!
Written 31 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WilliamBChicago
Chicago, IL25 contributions
Amazing waves, clean beach
Jun 2018 • Couples
We walked the beach and then watched surfers and body boards attack the great waves. Plenty of chairs and cabanas. Cocos Beach Club is right there for great food and drinks.
Written 20 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chris c
London, UK665 contributions
Amazing beach at sunset
Apr 2016 • Family
After visiting the local artist community we went for a wonderful walk on the perfect crescent beach just before sunset- we pretty much had it to ourselves that imho does not happen much around the world these days.
Written 4 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shorty B
Ottawa, Canada187 contributions
A beach less travelled ...
Feb 2015 • Couples
Playa Islita is one of those beautiful, pristine sandy beaches in a quiet bay that helps make a Costa Rican vacation special - its not where everyone else always goes. It's a very tranquil place offering a chance to soak up sun or play in the water without a whole lot of others around.

Unlike the black sand of Playa Camaronal just up the coast, Islita's broad golden sand beach offers a few more shade options among the trees or next to the rock wall at the end of the bay. If you get near the pebbly area by the rock wall and stay absolutely still, you will see the ground come alive as hundreds of tiny shells start moving as the hermit crabs go about their business!

We spent a lazy afternoon in early February enjoying the shallow surf and revelling in being a couple of the very few people on the beach the entire time that we were there. (There's a reason that the Punta Islita Hotel is adjacent - am sure that those who stay there much enjoy feeling like they are on their own private beach.)

Playa Islita is easily accessible by car from Nicoya or Samara. There's parking in an area at the end of the road that leads to the beach but stop along the way and bring your own refreshments as their are no services on the beach. We were told by a couple of great guys we talked to that the restaurant at the Punta Islita Hotel is excellent - they were servers in the restaurant :)

If you are looking for relative solitude and tranquility in a gorgeous setting, Playa Islita provides all of the above!
Written 14 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PLAYA ISLITA (Area de Conservacion Guanacaste) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Playa Islita