Authentic Costa Rica
Playa Junquillal
Playa Junquillal is a beautiful authentically Costa Rican beach town 80 minutes (79km) from Liberia International Airport and 45 minutes south of Tamarindo on the Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste Province Costa Rica. This long, laid back playa is an Ecological Blue Flag beach, a designation given only to the cleanest beaches in Costa Rica. In that same vein, the Nicola Peninsula is designated one of only five Blue Zone Regions in the world where people live longer, healthier lives. It's a long, unpopulated, palm-lined gorgeous beach. Casa Bella Tortuga is the perfect destination to get away from the hustle of more touristy areas and experience the real Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
Points of Interest
1-Playa Blanca parking and beach access (7 min walk)
Secluded, unpopulated white sand beach. Tide pool snorkelling possible on the incoming tide.
2-Playa Blanca Sunset Point (20 min walk, 3 min drive)
3-Road to Playa Negra (10 min) and Avellanas (20 min) and beyond
4-Local futbol (soccer) pitch and basketball.
5-Access to Playa Junquillal (10 min walk). Easy walk along the road and trail to a quiet beach access point.
6-Beach access to Playa Junquillal. There are a number of beach access points...just follow one of the many roads down to the beach.
7-Verdi Azul and Playa Junquillal parking. The turtle hatchery is a very special place and the work they do is invaluable to the community and region...especially for turtles.
8-Road to Playa Junquillal south and Rio Seco Estuary. The estuary here has diverse birdlife, small crocodiles and mangroves.
Restaurants
The Playa Junquillal areas has a number of great SODAs. SODAs are open air, family owned and operated restaurants serving generally traditional Costa Rican cuisine. There are also a few lodges with good restaurants in Junquillal. Check them out in the map below.
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9-Tides Eco Resort Playa Junquillal- Run by a lovely Canadian family (you may catch a hockey game on the tele), good, modestly priced food with sunset views of Playa Junquillal.
10-Tatanka Restaurante & Pizzeria. Good Pizza. Eat in or take out.
11-Guacamaya Lodge - Delicious food and large diverse menu in a tropical setting...and homemade ice creams! There's also a nice little bar you can hang out at.
12-Mundo Milo Eco Lodge- Good all around menu and sushi on TUesday nights!
13-La Ventana del Surfista. Great inexpensive local SODA. Family run.
14-Restaurante Lochitos. Another great SODA. Delicious seafood.
15-Tata's Cafe & Super Junquillal Grocery Store
16-Road to Paraiso.
Las Tuquitas Restaurante (10 min drive on 928). Great SODA. Famous for its BBQ and smoked meats.
Route 928 to Santa Cruz , Liberia and beyond
South to Marbella, San Juanillo, Ostional and Nosara.
Pizza Express! Playa Junquillal and around the area.Order: +(506)89761031
Playa Negra
Arguably Costa Rica's best surf destination with world-class right-hand barrels and the occasional left-breaking waves, Playa Negra is a surfers paradise. Surfable at all tides and all seasons, swells here are consistent yearlong. Although best suited for intermediate and expert surfers because of the reef break, there's a good spot for beginners south of the main break where you can hone your skills. For more info about surfing Playa Negra, click here.
Los Pargos, the laid back Tico town at Playa Negra just a few kilometres north of Casa Bella Tortuga, has a number of great eats, coffee and tours.
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1. Road to/from Casa Bella Tortuga (10 -15 min drive...can be a bumpy ride with a few river crossings so best with 4X4).
2. Hotel Playa Negra. Restaurant & bar on the beach. Sunset drinks!
3. Cafe Corazon-Great organic coffee roasted in Los Pargos and cultivated in CR. Delicious for lunch or breakfast. And be sure to make a reservation for the very popular Sunday smoke house featuring their famous smoked meats and BBQ. We also feature Costa Rica's Corazon coffee at the Casa.
4. Marvel Mini supermarket.
5. Piko Negra. SODA with good pizza.
6. Road to Playa Avellanas (15 min) & Playa Tamarindo (45 min)
7. La Vida Buena-Great pizza. Big Menu. Combo of SODA and int'l dishes.
8. Cafe Playa Negra-Diverse menu. Boho Chic. Famous for its ceviche.
9. Pargos Adventures. Surf Shop and Tours.
10. Jalapeño Eatery & Market-Organic & fresh. Great smoothies & burritos.
11. Villa Deveena-One of the best gourmet experiences in Guanacaste. Exceptional food, wine selection and service...something special!
12. Cafe La Ventana. - Natural foods cafe, bar and catering
14. Road to Paraiso (10 min and to Casa Bella Tortuga 15 min).
15. Mycelium​-A new vegan & gluten-free restaurant (across from Jalapeños, not yet shown on the map) offers breaky, lunch, gelato, cocktails and dinner...their food is a work of art. If you're a foodie this restaurant is a must.
Los Pargos
