The most beautiful pink sand beach Costa Rica, Playa Flamingo is located in Guanacaste province, in the Nicoya Peninsula, 4 and a half hours drive from the capital of the country, San Jose.

One of the most interesting Costa Rica beaches lies on the famous Gold Coast of Costa Rica from the Pacific coast, not the Caribbean coast, and is a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.

Among the plethora of black sand beaches Costa Rica from the Pacific Coast, Flamingo Beach stands out with its unique color of sand and the beautiful scenery that surrounds it.

Pink sand Playa Flamingo, one of the most fascinating Guanacaste Costa Rica beaches is 1.5 kilometers long and its beautiful white sand beach has pink shades under certain light so that is why it is called Flamingo beach.

In some parts of the beach, there are palm trees under which you can put your tower and spend the entire day on one of the best beaches in Costa Rica.

Right near one of the most beautiful pink sand beaches Costa Rica there is a small community known as Flamingo town where you can find many restaurants, shops, and hotels, specially designated for tourists.

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Playa Flamingo the most beautiful pink beach Costa Rica

You can find in the area all the amenities you need for a beach holiday and also a wide range of activities and day tours that will keep you busy for many days on the row.

Best time to visit Playa Flamingo, the pink sand beach Costa Rica

The best time to go to this place is during the dry season, from December to April when there is no rain and the temperatures are around 25 to 30 degrees Celsius ( 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit).

Even though this is the best time for bathing, the colours of the forest are less intense because of the lack of water, so if you want to see the beauty of the rainforest, then May to November is the best period.

Another minus for visiting Playa Flamingo during the dry season is the prices which tend to explode as the crowds are everywhere.

If you are a beach lover, then definitely have to visit Costa Rica during the dry season, no matter how high the prices go. I can guarantee you many days of sun and heat, with no rain or clouds in the sky.

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Playa Flamingo area

Where is the pink sand beach?

The town of Flamingo itself is a small beach town with not many interesting attractions or diverse culture, ranked by traveler as one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica.

That is why I say that renting a car is a great idea, as you have the mobility and freedom to explore the surrounding area.

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Just 5 minutes to the north of one of the best pink sand beaches Costa Rica is the Potrero town, a larger town with a very interesting mix of citizens: tourists, ex-pats and locals.

Around this vibrant community you can find some very beautiful beaches like Playa Penca (don’t confuse it with Playa Penca near Playa Hermosa Guanacaste), Playa Prieta, Playa Danta and the small beach Playa Dantita, all ranked as the best swimming beaches in Costa Rica.

Playa Flamingo Beach of Costa Rica- pictures of Costa Rica beaches

On the southern part of Playa Flamingo is Brasilito, located just 10 minutes drive, a small town with a more authentic vibe with fishing boats lined on the sand, a beautiful square and a soccer field right on the beach.

If you go further to the south you will find Playa Conchal, which is a more developed place with many all-inclusive resorts and a wide variety of guesthouses and a great surf beach, ranked among the best beaches in Guanacaste.

30 minutes drive from Playa Flamingo is the beach town of Tamarindo, one of the largest towns in the area, known everywhere in the world as a beautiful surf spot.

Further in the area, you can find the Punta Uva beach as well as Playa Grande, Santa Teresa beach, Puerto Viejo and further there is Manuel Antonio National Park.

Weather in Flamingo Beach

Guanacaste, the region of Costa Rica where lies the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica is located happens to be the driest and the hottest part of Costa Rica.

The dry season or peak season lasts from December to April and sometimes the first part of May and during these months it is so hot and there is no rain at all, that many trees lose their leaves.

For this reason, the dry season is perfect for beach holidays and is generally preferred by those of you looking to perfect their tan, read a book on a sunchair, and listen to the ocean.

Those of you who want to explore a little bit of the beauty of Costa Rica prefer to go to Guanacaste in the shoulder season, meaning the months of May and November, when there are small quantities of precipitation, but enough to make the trees go green again.

Best things to do around Flamingo beach

This pink sand beach Costa Rica is a great place for a beach holiday with your family with its turquoise waters, extremely soft sand and relatively small waves.

This laid back beach is located in a small bay that protects the area from the strong ocean currents and the big waves.

A large number of hotels and restaurants make this place a great location for spending your next holiday in a Latin American country.

Stay safe while you travel

But besides the popular beach, there are plenty of other interesting activities you can do in the area and I drop below a list with the most exciting ones.

Catamaran Cruise

The most beautiful pink sand beaches Costa Rica is also the starting point for a beautiful tour of the Guanacaste coastline.

The nearby shores are full of coves and points and there are plenty of places where you can do snorkelling over the coral reefs or why not swimming in a calmer cove.

Beaches of Costa Rica Flamingo Beach

It is a great place to observe the beautiful whales and giant sea turtles in their natural environment.

The trip usually lasts for half a day and the tour operators usually organise two trips a day: one in the morning and another one in the afternoon.

During the dry season, the afternoon trip generally offers amazing views of the sun setting in the sea.

Dive near the Catalina Islands

Right near this pink sand beach Costa Rica is a rocky island known as the Catalina Islands, great places for scuba diving as near the rocky shore lives a large number of colourful fishes and other small marine creatures.

Try sea kayaking

Kayaks can be rented directly from the beach or from the town and going on a calm sea with a kayak is quite a unique experience.

If you are a professional and want to experience a little bit of ocean power, then head up to the northwestern part of the peninsula for a little adventure.

Ocean sport fishing

Half-day tours for sport fishing leaves every day from the Playa Flamingo area and is one of the most interesting adventures as these waters hold more than 40 world records.

If you are lucky you might catch a huge tuna, mahi-mahi or a snapper, take a quick photo with your catch and release it into the ocean.

Each year in July there is a fishing tournament that takes place in Playa Flamingo and fishermen from all over the world come to try their luck here.

Rafting on Rio Tenorio

If you are looking for a little adventure after many days of perfecting your tan on this beautiful pink sand beach Costa Rica then head to Rio Tenorio, a very fast river from the area, perfect for a rafting session.

This beautiful river flows along the jungle directly to the ocean and is a great destination for a day trip from Playa Flamingo, especially if you have a rented car.

Santa Rosa National Park

This Costa Rica pink sand beach is located right near the Palo Verde protected area and the first park from the country, Santa Rosa National Park with a total surface of almost 50.000 hectares.

On your tour across the park, you will encounter many animals and birds, as this park is home to more than 120 species of mammals, 260 species of birds and more than 105 different types of amphibians.

Coatis, jaguars, more than 10.000 different species of insects and beautiful leatherback turtles can be spotted here too if you are lucky.

The forest is more beautiful and animated during the rain season, but the dry season clears the paths that link waterfalls with beaches and towns with jungle.

Fishing for fun

The Flamingo area is a very popular place among those looking for sportfishing as its rocky islands and beautiful bays are home to a wide range of fishes.

You will find in these waters marlins, mahi-mahi, tunas, mackerel, snapper, roosterfish, and many other beautiful tropical fishes that delight your eyes with their interesting colors.

The best time of year to go fishing in this part of Costa Rica is from May to November, when is the rainy season because of the wind and the currents that attract many fishes in these waters.

Relax at Flamingo Marina

This part of Guanacaste suffered many transformations in the last years and it was completely rebuilt and expanded and today it has 175 slips, a beautiful conference center, and a luxury hotel with many restaurants and shops around.

The first phase of the project is about to be finished by the end of 2021, so if you are in the area you should pay a visit to this place to see its potential and modern refurbishments.

Hotels near Playa Flamingo

One of the most beautiful pink sand beaches Costa Rica offers a large variety of hotels and private condos where guests can set their camp and explore the area.

Our top choices are:

• Margaritaville Beach Playa Flamingo Costa Rica is the typical Costa Rican resort environmental friendly with a diving centre and an on-site restaurant
• 360 Splendor Del Pacifico Residences Playaflamingo Costa Rica, a beautiful beach residence with an infinity pool and wonderful views of the ocean
• Casa Chameleon Hotel Las Catalinas Playaflamingo Costa Rica is an adults-only hotel with an on-site restaurant, a beautiful garden and outdoor swimming pool, large and clean rooms some of them featuring a private pool

Places to eat in Flamingo Beach

Playa Flamingo is an extremely popular place, full of bars and restaurants where you can find a wide range of international and local dishes.

We selected the best places to eat from the area so that you pick your favorite one without losing a lot of time and effort.

Surf Box

Surf Box is a small cafe located right on the main road that serves just some delicious breakfast and lunch, a favorite place among local surf communities from the area.

You will find here sandwiches, tacos, salads, and bowls, all healthy choices for the hungry surfers and visitors.

My favorite one is the Cuban Sandwich which was among the best sandwiches  I have ever had and I also recommend the fruit smoothie combos, extremely fresh and delicious.

Coco Loco

Within walking distance from the beach, Coco Loco is a beautiful restaurant extremely popular among tourists and visitors and very crowded during the peak season.

Make sure you book a table here at least once during your stay as the food is delicious and you can even hear the ocean waves that close it is.

They serve sandwiches, risotto, and other dishes but my favorite one was a mahi-mahi sandwich served with a good cocktail and a natural juice made from fresh fruits.

Amigos Taco y Beer

Tacos, burritos, and bowls of all kinds can be found at Amigos Taco y Beer, as well as a wide range of slow-roasted meats and veggies.

The place is located on the North Ridge right next to Super Flamingo market and besides the tacos and burritos, you will find here canned local beer and some cocktails to accompany your meal with.

FAQ

Where is the pink sand beach in Costa Rica?

Playa Flamingo Beach is the most beautiful pink sand beach from Costa Rica and is located in Guanacaste province, right in the Nicoya Peninsula just 4.5 hours drive from the capital city of San Jose.

Does Costa Rica have pink sand?

Although most of the beaches in Costa Rica are black sand beaches and white sand beaches, this tiny country from Central America has one of the most beautiful pink sand beaches in the area, the Flamingo Beach.

This rare pink sand beach is stunning not only because of the color of the sand but also because of the little inlets and coves that give a green color to the water of the Pacific Ocean.

What is the prettiest beach in Costa Rica?

Most of the beaches from Costa Rica are extremely beautiful because of the soft sand beaches, turquoise waters and the vicinity to the jungle, but Playa Flamingo stands out.

Together with Playa Conchal and Manuel Antonio beach, Playa Flamingo forms the trio of the prettiest beaches from Costa Rica, the country with the richest biodiversity in the world.

Is it safe to swim in Costa Rica?

Most of the beaches from Costa Rica has strong currents and big waves so not all the beaches in Costa Rica are perfect for swimming.

Costa Rica is famous among surf lovers but there are a few beaches where the currents are gentle and you are safe to swim; one of these beaches is Playa Flamingo.

Conclusion

The beautiful pink sand beach Costa Rica, Playa Flamingo is a great destination for those of you seeking a calm and relaxing atmosphere, breathtaking sceneries and to be close to nature.

You will find here a calm ocean, very soft sand and lots of activities to have fun with your beloved ones.