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Sealife & Nightlife in Playa del Coco, Costa Rica
By day, Playa del Coco is a known as great Costa Rica vacation spot for diving and snorkeling — By night, notorious for its lively party scene.
Getting to Playa del Coco (Beach of the Coco)
Situated just 30 minutes from Liberia, Coco Beach is hands down the most easily accessible shoreline to reach from an international airport (LIR) – just 20 minutes by car. Such a convenient location has put Coco on the map as a popular vacation spot – both for Costa Ricans and visitors alike.
Things to do
This dark sand beach is a lot longer than it looks. Playa del Coco takes about a half hour to walk from end to end at a good clip. On the northern side you’ll find a small waterfall that grows after a strong rain. The rocks jutting out into the Pacific Ocean are perfect for snorkeling, where you’ll see tropical fish, moray eels and the occasional white tip reef shark all coexisting in harmony.
Second only to Isla del Coco (no relation) in Costa Rican scuba diving, Playa del Coco offers arguably the most amazing and consistent underwater views in Costa Rica. Best of all – the season lasts pretty much all year round. And less than two hours south of Playa del Coco, you’ll find the giant manta rays of Islas Catalinas, and an hour and a half north the bull sharks of the Islas Murcielagos.
Playa del Coco is home to extranjeros, or foreigners, from all corners of the globe. The worldly influences are evident in the cuiseine here. You can get the most unbelievable breakfast burritos at Laura’s House to succulent sushi at Coco Palms. Despite the fact that Playa del Coco’s nightlife revolves around just a handful of bars, the nightlife scene is notorious, especially on special occasions like Halloween and New Years.
Sunset sailing cruises depart from Playa del Coco daily, and include activities like snorkeling and kayaking. Trips include a romantic sunset dinner with wine. Additionally, sport fishing is prime in this area – year round you can expect to find big game like mahi mahi, mackerel and tuna.
For the best sunbathing in the area, head south to Playa Octotal – a quiet, Guanacastecan treasure with spectacular sunsets. Here you’ll also find a beachside restaurant called Father Rooster, which is widely regarded as the best eating establishment in town. To the north, Playa Hermosa’s dark stretch of sand is very rarely crowded and home to Costa Rica’s first government approved artificial reef project, Condofish.
