Best beach in Guanacaste province of Costa Rica?

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Kool-Aid Jammers

In El Salvador Security remains, by far, the number one preoccupation of Salvadorans. In 2006, the government reported 3,906 homicides, up from 3,779 in 2005, or the equivalent of 57.2 violent deaths per every 100,000 people (this compares with just a handful of murders per 100,000 inhabitants in New York City). This confers upon El Salvador the dubious distinction of ranking amongst the worldâ€™s most dangerous countries. Moreover, the official homicide figures are believed to be understated.
http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8616598

The U.S. Embassy and the Department of State consider El Salvador a critical crime-threat country.

By the end of 2005, El Salvador earned the dubious distinction of having the highest per capita homicide rate in the Western Hemisphere. The trend of increasing homicides has continued into 2006, with 42 more homicides recorded during the first four months of this year than in the equivalent period of 2005.

Security officials at the Embassy emphasize that serious crimes can and do occur in all regions of El Salvador and all neighborhoods of the major cities. The presence of privately hired "neighborhood guards" in the more affluent sections of San Salvador does not always represent a deterrent to criminals.

In the first months of 2006, Embassy-related American citizens were the victims of the following crimes:

-- The spouse of an Embassy employee was the victim of armed robbery while walking in an affluent residential area in Cumbres de Cuscatlan.

-- Peace Corps volunteers were the victims of armed robbery at a popular tourist location.

-- A U.S. official on temporary duty at the Embassy was robbed by a machete-wielding assailant on a popular beach.

-- Another official was victimized when his vehicle was broken into and valuables were stolen from it while it was parked during business hours in the parking lot at Price Smart in the Cumbres de Cuscatlan section of greater San Salvador.

-- Several Embassy employees or their dependents were the victims of credit card "skimming" while using their credit cards at major retail outlets, restaurants and hotels in San Salvador. The RSO pointed out that waiters or other employees at these establishments can quickly "skim" the cards using small readers attached to their clothing. The information obtained from the card then can be sold and eventually used for large purchases at locations around the world.

Recent violent crimes in which U.S. citizens were not victimized but that occurred in areas of San Salvador frequented by Embassy employees and their family members include:

-- The drive-by shooting of Salvadoran police officers near the Galeria shopping mall on Paseo Escalon;

-- An attempted kidnapping near the Princess Hotel in the Zona Rosa;

-- A series of carjacking/kidnappings near the Malibu Restaurant on South Boulevard in Santa Elena. The victim in each of these crimes was an unaccompanied woman who was entering her vehicle during hours of darkness;

-- A murder near the Multiplaza shopping mall adjacent to the Pan American Highway during the late night hours;

-- A series of armed robberies in which the victims were operating motor vehicles stopped for a lengthy traffic light on La Mascota Avenue in the Escalon district;

-- A series of armed robberies in which the victims were operating motor vehicles stopped for a traffic light near the Feria International and were waiting to make a left-hand turn into the Zona Rosa;

-- The armed robbery of a pedestrian walking along the sidewalk near La Capilla in San Benito;

-- The disposal of more than half a dozen bodies of murder victims along the "new road" from behind Price Smart in Cumbres de Cuscatlan to the Comalapa highway. Because the bodies were left along the road at night when traffic was light, the RSO strongly advised Embassy employees to avoid using this four-lane, divided, well-constructed thoroughfare during hours of darkness.

A nonviolent crime that is becoming more prevalent in affluent residential areas in San Salvador involves "home invasions" or the burglarizing of residences during broad daylight by individuals posing as delivery men to gain access to a home. The RSO encouraged Embassy employees to instruct their domestic staffs to be suspicious of unexpected deliverymen and to admit only people whom the head of household has announced would be arriving at the residence.
http://sansalvador.usembassy.gov/consular/english/news/2006/0206.html

Violent crime including armed robbery, banditry, assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, and carjacking is common, including in the capital, San Salvador. Downtown San Salvador is dangerous, particularly at night. At all times avoid wearing jewellery and using expensive cameras, video cameras or portable music players. Avoid travelling alone and after dark as security risks associated with violent crime are heightened after dark. Victims have been seriously injured when resisting perpetrators.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/01/15/elsalv6931.htm

Over 2 million Salvadorans live in the U.S. , 60% are illegal and 57% have been imprisoned, are in the MS13 gang and have committed another crime.

thebigcasado

Well if you are looking for a place to get away from it all there are some beaches just north of Play Potereo. Playa Penca, Playa Preita and Playa Pan de Azucar (Sugar Beach). There is a place called villas estival that is right on the playa preita beach it is the only development on the beach and is not even
really a hotel but a group of houses available for rent.

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/playa-potrero-costa-rica/hotel/villas-estival.htm

the other posters are right Playa Conchal and Playa Grande are great as well both are about a 20 minute drive from Playa Preita.

Playa Avenellas is great as well:

http://www.anywherecostarica.com/playa-avellana-costa-rica/travel.htm
there is a nice little hotel there called Cabinas Las Olas- not a resort at all but nice private bungalows with direct beach access.

Cabinas Las Olas:
http://www.anywherecostarica.com/playa-avellana-costa-rica/hotel/cabinas-las-olas.htm

I hope this helps.

manuch

Well the problem is that you want a clean beach without major resorts and urbanization in Guanacaste, but is really hard to find something like that nowadays. If you still decide something in Guanacaste I would suggest Playa Avellanas, is really beautiful close to Tamarindo, yet is not that crowd.

I would also recommend something next to Guanacaste in Nicoya, probably 3 hours from there, Playa Santa Teresa or MalpaÃs.

However, instead I would highly recommend you to visit the Caribbean, Puerto Viejo, Punta Uva and Manzanillo are still free of major urbanization and I think are some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.

Derek D

playas conchel is gorgeous white sand beach with clear water, rocks off to the right which features great snorkeling opurtunites. playas motapalo is great too which is right down the road frommy house off the congo trail towards the canopy tour..that there is rarely anyone there and its a huge beach .

Tony Camonte

Well, if you really want undeveloped, there is Playa Nancite and Playa Naranjo in Santa Rosa national park. Now, they are 20km from the park entrance, with no public transportation, although some chance of hitch hiking, and nothing but rustic camping facilities. Also I think access is maybe restricted during sea turtle season.

Living in CR

The best beach is subjective, it depends what you like. The cleanest beach I know is Playa Grande; it's a National Park and to protect sea turtle smoking is prohibited on the beach. If however you're looking for clean, undeveloped, secluded beaches, my ideal beaches, then I like Playa Real (a.k.a Bahia de los Piratas, or Prirates Cove. I've lived at the beach for more than 4 yrs now, and I recommend staying at a centralized location that you can visit various beaches. Depending on length of stay and budget, I recommend either Playa Flamingo, Brasilito or Grande.

Pura Vida

conchal beach, white sand, blue water, beautiful place to spent the time

FRaNN Strummer (Wise Monkey)

You'll love playa conchal because of its white sand, you gotta go there

Johnny T

i'd have to agree with the others here, playa conchal is probably nicest white sand beach in guanacaste, as most of the other beaches are that darker volcanic sand. Me and a couple buds rented some dirtbikes and found some awesome small un-named beaches along the coast but i wouldn't even know how to find them again. depends on what ur lookin for, privacy, party people, surfing....if surfing u must check out witches rock, but tamarindo is better if you're a begginer and want smaller waves. pura vida

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