Central Pacific
The Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica is a narrow strip of coastal land that stretches from north of Jaco to south of Manuel Antonio. Sandy beaches and protected wildlife are two primary draws to this area. The magnificent beaches, flanked by spectacular cliffs, create an awe-inspiring landscape; and with its combination of ocean panorama and lush tropical vegetation, Costa Rica?s Central Pacific has scenery unlike any other.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Created in 1972 to preserve the richness of the forest and the idyllic beaches, Manuel Antonio is home to many of Costa Rica's endangered species. Don't let the size fool you, the smallest of Costa Rica's National Parks, which encompasses almost 1,700 acres of land (683 terrestrial hectares) and 136,000 acres of ocean (55,000 marine hectares), is regarded as one of its best.
Explore PlaceSavegre River
Beginning in the rainforest clad Talamanca Mountain Range between Cerro de los Muertos and Chirripo, the Savegre River flows south until reaching an estuary in the Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Explore PlaceCarara National Park
The last noteworthy portion of primary rain forest in the Central Pacific region is located within the very accessible Carara National Park (Parque Nacional Carara). It ranks among the most popular due to its close proximity to the capital city, however, if you can beat the crowds, the experience and wildlife which runs rampant throughout the park will impress any nature enthusiast.
Explore PlaceManuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is home to a namesake national park full of unspoilt beaches and world-class views. Enjoy adventures as diverse as snorkeling and jungle hikes. A great destination for families, there’s something for everyone whether you have young children or college-bound teens. See a variety of Costa Rica’s animals when you peek into tide pools and hike through forests; experience the subtle thrill of birding when you cross a variety of species off of your ‘seen’ list. The best part? This is just the beginning of all of the beauty, excitement, and adventure awaiting you in Manuel Antonio.
Explore PlacePlaya Herradura
Playa Herradura is a small beach located on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, about 3.5 miles (6km) north of the town Jaco. It's Spanish name means "horseshoe", which refers to the shape of the bay of this particular beach. Playa Herradura has different types of hotels, cabins, camping sites and restaurants.
Explore PlaceJaco
Playa Jaco is the closest beach to San Jose, the Central Valley and is one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. The beach is a 2.5 mile (4 km) strip which offers world renowned surfing and more.
Explore PlaceQuepos
Quepos allows tourists to experience a once in a lifetime nature experience in Manuel Antonio National Park without leaving any of the familiar amenities behind. The close proximity of the park, located just 4.3 miles (7 km) to the south, and a wide array of services makes Quepos the perfect place to stay for those who wish to explore this enchanting area. The amenities available include everything from banks, restaurants, hotels, gift shops, bakeries, bars, a hospital, supermarket and even a post office.
Explore PlacePlaya Hermosa
Playa Hermosa on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is situated about 3 miles (5km) south of Jaco and is one of the best surf destinations in the country. There are two Playas Hermosa the other is in Guanacaste and is not a surfing beach.
Explore PlacePlaya Esterillos
No crowds, chocolate colored beaches, and great surf best describe the beaches of Esterillos. You may never see another person as you stroll down the beaches where palms and almond trees line the forest edge and the clear blue waters invite you to go for a swim. This serene, contiguous stretch of beach is made up of Esterillos Oeste to the west and Esterillos Este to the east, appropriately, where you will find plenty of accommodations laced throughout.
Explore PlacePuntarenas
Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya on the Central Pacific Coast. The area is blessed with large amounts of sunshine and warmth. Like the name of the town Puntarenas is the Province it lays in and stretches as far south as Panama. This stretch has fantastic flora and fauna, radiant beaches, incredible eco adventure opportunities, and majestic national parks.
Explore PlacePunta Leona
Set along the extraordinarily beautiful Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Punta Leona is a vitally important, 750-acre (300-hectare) nature reserve. Though widely unknown to the masses, this reserve is remarkably diverse and unique in its attraction, as it helps to protect crucial transitional forests within the country.
Explore PlacePlaya Bejuco
Playa Bejuco is only about 35km north of Manuel Antonio and about 30 km south from Jaco but the atmosphere could not be more distant from the more popular destinations. The beach is pristine and clean with a Blue Flag rating, is a popular nesting area for birds and even has some pretty good surf from time to time.
Explore PlaceLagarto
Lagarto is a small town on the coast of the Gulf of Morales, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Go here for nature and wildlife tours, especially bird watching. It's also a good spot for surfing and getting off the beaten path.
Explore PlacePlaya Palo Seco
This is the beach on the central coast, located about a 45-minute drive west of Quepos and about a 3-hour drive from San José.
Explore PlaceCerros de Turrubares
Cerros de Turrubares, which means Turrubares Hills in Spanish, is a rural area in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific region. Cerros de Turrubares is definitely off-the-beaten-path, but it provides easy access to the Carara National Park and the central Pacific coastline.
Explore PlaceSavegre River
The Savegre River runs through a valley in central Costa Rica. It makes its way through the Las Quetzales National Park toward the Pacific coast, flowing from the humid cloud forest down into the lowland tropical forest.
Explore PlaceMatapalo
Just off the beaten track, yet possessing all of the natural beauty of the Central Pacific, Matapalo is an escape from the typical tourist destination. Those who enjoy enchanting beaches and great sunsets will be thrilled to divert from the larger tourist crowds and enjoy this pristine area. The town of Matapalo, about 20 miles (32 km) south of Quepos, is where you can find yourself caught in between scenic beaches and striking forests full of mango, palm and coconut trees.
Explore PlaceEsterillos Oeste
Esterillos Oeste is a small town on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, in the province of Puntarenas. This town’s main attraction is Esterillos Beach, which has excellent surfing conditions all year round. The beach has dark sand, and palm trees crowd the strip of land between the town and the beach.
Explore PlaceMore about Central Pacific
The Central Pacific is one of the most easily accessible regions in Costa Rica. It is no wonder the region remains one of the country's most frequented destinations. Along Coastal Highway 34, the incredible landscape features beaches, national parks, nature reserves, and exotic flora and fauna. World-renowned Manuel Antonio National Park is just one of the region's many points of natural interest. Additionally, ocean stretches along the Central Pacific provide the ultimate setting for water activities such as surfing, sport fishing, and scuba diving.
Lined with stunning mountainous coastline, the Central Pacific generally maintains a more arid climate then on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast. (Nevertheless, bring a rain jacket, as showers in the tropics are always a possibility.) The Central Pacific is also not as humid as the Caribbean Coast or the South Pacific. However, it is more humid than Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula to the northwest.
Steep verdant cliffs, swallowed by the vast blue water, and picturesque beaches, gleaming with colorful sunsets, cast spectacular ocean scenery. The breath-taking forests and fascinating mangroves are rich with life. Such diverse natural offerings bring strong allure to Costa Rica's Central Pacific. The region is a short two-hour car ride from San Jose; all its spectacular beauty is just an arm's length away!
Browse some of our favorite itineraries
Get excited and browse our selection of our favorite hand made tours including Central Pacific. From romantic honeymoons to family-fun; these are completely flexible and arranged to your needs.
All-In-One Magical Family Vacation
Best trip ever! Costa Rica is absolutely beautiful and magical. All the drivers were waiting and all the accommodations arranged — Anywhere took care of every detail so we don’t have to stress.
A Real Taste of Costa Rica
We wanted to take the kids to Costa Rica to appreciate the ecotourism. Monteverde region blew us away with the Twilight Walk, Children's Eternal Rainforest and the cabins and greenhouse at Los Pinos, including the cabins designed to profit from natural light in the washrooms. The butterfly garden tour in Monteverde was my father's favourite of the many tours that we took and my children appreciated the coffee tour in Arenal for the hot chocolate that we made and for Gustavo's enthusiasm and interaction with the kids. Exposure to the nature was one thing but seeing how the society embraces nature for conservation was truly impressive.
Classic Family Adventure Vacation
Costa Rica is an amazingly sustainable country and we really liked how much the country cares about its carbon footprint and saving its forests. It is beautiful and knows how to cater to tourism well without ruining the environment. It's a wonderful place that we would definitely want to visit again.
An Adventure Family Vacation to Remember
We all loved Costa Rica and had a great time. It was nice to see sustainability practices at the hotels although it was not what we really considered when choosing a hotel. However, it was nice to see.
An Adventure of a Lifetime
Costa Rica has really got itself well organised for tourism, the service was spot on, the travel timing accurate ( although some of the roads were really poor, pot holed). Hotels and activities are really geared for tourists and they made us feel welcome.
