A guide to the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica

Read our guide to the gorgeous Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica where Dahlia Nahome of Costa Rican Vacation is lucky enough to live all year round. Dahlia visited Costa Rica on her travels and couldn’t bring herself to leave the deserted beaches and beauty of the area where she now lives with her family.

Seven months ago my husband and I decided to sell our flat, put everything in storage, give up our jobs and go on an adventure with our two children. The aim was a round the world trip calling at Costa Rica, New Zealand, Tonga and Australia.

We chose Costa Rica because we had visited parts of it five years previously before having children. We loved it and knew we wanted to come back to spend a little more time here. What we didn’t expect was to fall in love with it so much that we ended up cancelling the rest of the trip and have since settled here, in Hermosa on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Since living here we have had some truly brilliant travel experiences. So good and off the beaten track that we want to share them with people who are thinking of coming to the Nicoya Peninsula, which is on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Best time to visit the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica

High season runs from November to April, which is the dry season or summer in the Nicoya Peninsula. There is very little, if any rain but you will find back to back glorious hot sunny days, unbelievable sunsets and clear night star filled skies. When I say hot, it gets pretty damn hot by April, so should you come at this time at year be prepared for some tremendous sweating and I would hugely recommend staying somewhere with air-conditioned bedrooms.

May through till November is the wet season or winter here. It is true, there is rain. Some days lots of rain but if this doesn’t bother you, it is also, in my opinion, the best time to come to these parts and the cheapest and quietest.

Fantastic Beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica

OK, it’s important to say that Nicoya is one of the more difficult places to get to in Costa Rica. Hard but so very worth it. Forbes magazine voted one of our beaches in their top 10 in the world and our beaches were also voted the number one destination in Central and South America on Tripadvisors 2010 travellers poll.

I cannot describe the quality of these beaches. I’ve spent lots of time all over Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia and trust me, have been to some pretty special places but this part of the world is a hidden gem that so far, only A list celebs and surfers have made the effort to get to. Some of my pictures should help show this but some days you feel as thought they are your very own private beaches, even in the high season, because there is hardly anyone else on them.

There are also some incredible rock pools which you can either sit, swim or snorkel in during mid to low tide. Two local favorites are at the southern most tip of Hermosa beach, which opens up like a massive swimming pool when the tide is drawing back and the other is half way between Hermosa and Manzanillo. You can’t miss it. These are a favorite with the kids and make for some incredible photographs.

If you enjoy running or jogging as I do, there is nothing more inspirational than bare foot running on the beaches here. I am a London girl and still cannot believe the views I have everyday to motivate my legs to keep on going.

Adventure activities on the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica

Map Pais, Santa Teresa and Hermosa have some of the best surf in the world too and there is another little hidden surf spot round the tip of the Peninsula (during the rainy season only), in a little sleepy spot called Cabuya. Not many people know to surf there. It’s more famous neighbor Santa Teresa gets rave reviews but it’s a hidden little gem for surfing at certain times of the year. The list of activities to do here whether single travelers, families with young children, or couples / group of friends is long but here’s my tips for finding the best of them:

Surfing

Surfing (obviously) but you can have lessons with some exceptionally talented surfers / teachers. One such teacher is Jofrey Garcier, who can be reached at + 506 8877 4139. He is based out of Map Pais but will often teach at Hermosa and Playa Carmen dependent on the surf. He is the local surf champion and has been surfing since the age of about six. His English is fantastic and costs about $45 for a two hour private lesson.

Horse-riding

There is also horse riding along golden sandy beaches for miles and miles and miles. You can even take a sunset ride along Montezuma beach on the full moon and ride back by moonlight – I did it five years ago and it is really special. Rides are easy to arrange and cost about $50pp for a 2 hour ride when you book through tour companies on the main drag but take care to ask for a horse that is ‘tranquilo’ or calm to ride. For people looking for something a little less touristy around the Santa Teresa area, try taking the unique horse tour through Costa Rican Vacation.

It takes you through a 5000 acre private beachfront cattle farm just north of Manzanillo. A family owned and operated ranch protecting one of Costa Rica’s most important watersheds including key turtle nesting habitat and the Caletas-Ario National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy a natural landscape of rivers, mountains and beaches accompanied by local cowboys maintaining local customs and traditions culminating in a delicious cooked meal or BBQ prepared with local fresh ingredients.

Zip Line

Another great activity for those not scared by heights, is the zip line canopy tour in Mal Pais. I did it with my sister in law a few months ago and I was utterly petrified as we were taken through the safety tips and practice zip line. Once in the air, it was exhilarating.

Quad biking and 4 x 4

One last tip is my favorite little secret but is only really possible to get to in the dry season. You take a quad or 4x4x up Manzanillo beach, drive up towards the Bongo River, crossing a few low rivers on the way. A little way before the Bongo, you can take a little dirt road off the beach and head inland. This takes through amazing farm lands and eventually you hit a cross road.

On your left is La Perla. It is a small bar which only serves beer and whisky and is run by a local family with some very strange looking dogs. For a piece of the real Costa Rica – this is a gem.

Yoga and more

There is yoga, nature walks through protected ancient rainforest parks, quad driving, sports fishing, mountain biking, animal sanctuaries, baby turtle sanctuaries, every Saturday there is an organic food market on the beach in Santa Teresa, amazing restaurants with awesome views of the Pacific, good shopping with artisan products made by talented local artists… the list goes on and on and I have recommendations on all of them. There is something for everyone here. Come and visit soon.

More glorious places to visit in South America

Relaxing in the rainforest at the Tambopata Ecolodge – in Peru
A beach paradise at Cabo Polonio and Valizas in Uruguay

Thanks to my guest writer Dahlia Nahome of Costa Rican Vacation for sharing the gorgeous part of Costa Rica where she lives – you can check out her website for more information and inspiration to plan your holiday there.

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