Playa Avellanas: Costa Rica’s Best Kept Secret

We really needed a Sun, Surf and Sand kind of holiday this winter and Playa Avellanas boasted long stretches of white sand beaches and a less touristy feel. Located just south of Tamarindo in the Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica, we took a gamble on this lesser known area of Tamarindo. An hour and a half drive from Liberia Airport, we were intrigued by the budget friendly accommodations and surfer vibes of this little hamlet tucked along the pacific coast.

You won’t find many blog posts or a ton of information on Playa Avellanas- most U.S tourists flock to places like Tamarindo, Playa Flamingo and Nosara but we were looking for something off the beaten path and Playa Avellanas delivered! We are tempted to keep this secret gem to ourselves and preserve the chill, relaxed vibe but decided that we wanted to share this hidden secret in case someone else is looking for just this type of beach destination. When searching accommodations and tours, be careful- Playa Avellanas is often lumped into Tamarindo and general Guancaste destinations. To learn more about planning a budget-friendly trip to Costa Rica- check out “Budget-Friendly Costa Rica: 7 nights for less than $1500 per person”.

Introduction:

Playa Avellanas is a small, laid-back village located about 20 miles south of Tamarindo and roughly 52 miles from Liberia Airport (officially Guanacaste Airport — renamed to avoid confusion with the country of Liberia). While the airport itself is relatively small, we found the customs process to be well organized and efficient, taking about an hour from start to finish.

During immigration, officials will ask to verify both your passport and your accommodations, so it’s helpful to have those details easily accessible. Once through customs, we opted for a private airport transfer to Playa Avellanas, which made the journey seamless and stress-free. Our driver met us directly in the pickup area, and communication throughout the process was easy thanks to WhatsApp. Many vendors use this for communication, we highly recommend downloading this free app for texting and communicating with local vendors and tour companies.

We booked with CR Travel & Tours, and the experience exceeded all our expectations. The vehicles were brand new, the service was incredibly professional, and Juan proved to be an invaluable resource throughout our trip. Beyond simply getting us from point A to point B, he shared local insights, helped us navigate the area, and was genuinely one of the highlights of our Costa Rica experience — a truly wonderful human.

The journey took about an hour and a half- we encountered some traffic (mostly two lane roads) and the road into Playa Avellanas is “paved” but the going is slow. You’ll encounter a good deal of pot holes and places where you will need to wait to cross over some bridges. Our driver, Juan, was absolutely fantastic and stopped off at a local grocery so we could stock up on some essentials- he even came in with us to help with translation and offer some recommendations! Prices were less expensive than some of the other grocery options closer to the airport and we found the experience a lot of fun! We always love to visit local grocery stores when we travel and we felt safe and the fruit etc. was so fresh and delicious! The first morning we picked up some pastries at French Lab – amazing choice for coffee and a quick bite!

Many travelers recommend renting a car when visiting Costa Rica, and it’s easy to see why — having your own vehicle offers greater freedom to explore multiple destinations at your own pace. That said, car rentals come with additional considerations. Most companies require mandatory third-party liability insurance, along with a sizable deposit, both of which can significantly increase the overall cost. These requirements vary widely by company, so it’s important to read the fine print and compare carefully.

Road conditions can be unpredictable, and hazards are common, which helps explain the need for added coverage. If you do plan to drive, we recommend taking it slow and sticking to daylight hours whenever possible.

In Playa Avellanas, however, we found that renting a car wasn’t necessary — one of the many perks of choosing this destination. We walked everywhere, from the beach to local restaurants, with ease. There’s essentially one main road through Playa Avellanas, and we felt comfortable walking along it, even after dark. The roads are coated with molasses to keep the dust down, and the sweet scent became one of those small, sensory details that forever reminds us of this special place.

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Where To Stay in Playa Avellanas

One of the biggest draws to Playa Avellanas is the absence of large resorts lining the shoreline. The beach itself is expansive — stretching nearly five miles from end to end — and feels refreshingly open and uncrowded.

At the northern end, you’ll find the area’s two notable resorts: JW Marriott and Hacienda Pinilla. Playa Mansita, home to the JW Marriott, offers slightly calmer surf, while Hacienda Pinilla sits atop a rocky outcropping that creates dramatic coastal scenery. Both are absolutely worth the walk if only to experience the scale, views, and laid-back atmosphere these properties manage to maintain despite their size. Both offer restaurants overlooking the sea!

Hacienda Pinilla also features spacious villa-style accommodations, making it a great option for travelers visiting with extended family or larger groups. Both resorts provide direct beach access and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean — and notably, they are the only accommodations we found in the area with true beachfront access. That said, Playa Avellanas is wonderfully walkable, and there are plenty of excellent places to stay just a short stroll from the sand. Check out “Where To Stay In Playa Avellanas” for more details and inspiration!

VR Beachwalk Avellanas

We ultimately chose VR Beachwalk Avellanas for its affordable pricing, beautiful pool area, and spacious two-bedroom villa with a kitchen — a setup that felt ideal for a relaxed, beach-focused stay. At first glance, the layout seemed a bit unconventional, but after spending five nights there, we quickly realized how thoughtfully designed it actually is, with several surprisingly practical benefits.

You enter the villa through a small outdoor courtyard furnished with a table and chairs. This space became one of our most-used areas — perfect for drying towels and bathing suits, thanks to a built-in hanging towel rack that proved incredibly useful. There is also an open outdoor shower perfect for rinsing off the sand and a surf board rack for storing your board.

To one side of the courtyard, a sliding glass door leads into a queen bedroom with an attached kitchen. The kitchen is compact but well equipped, with all the essentials: a coffee maker, blender, toaster oven, a single-burner cooktop, and a full-size refrigerator with freezer. While it’s not designed for elaborate meals, it’s more than sufficient for simple lunches, smoothies, or an easy pasta dinner. The villa also included basics like salt and pepper, plates, cups, and utensils — small touches that made settling in effortless.

On the opposite side of the courtyard is the second queen bedroom with its own attached bathroom. The shower is an outdoor-style shower accessed through a sliding door — fully enclosed and private, but open to the elements. If you’ve never experienced an outdoor shower, it can feel a bit surprising at first. That said, with Playa Avellanas’ fine sand sticking to everything, the setup was incredibly practical. We happen to love outdoor showers — the cool breeze, the sound of nature, and the feeling of salt washing away — but it’s definitely a personal preference and worth noting for first-timers.

A Note For Families:

The two bedrooms are separated by the private outdoor courtyard and you can lock the sliding door from the outside with a key. With that said, I am not sure I would feel comfortable leaving young children in the opposing bedroom alone as the rooms were fairly sound proof. A baby monitor could be useful if you are planning to travel here with small children.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. By booking through this link you help to support our site.”

The pool area at VR Beachwalk is gorgeous and a perfect way to relax and get a little respite from the beach. Comfortable loungers and clean, modern pools ( there are two, one on either side) make this a great place to come back home and whip up a lite lunch poolside with a good book! We spent most of our late afternoons by the pool- some fresh water and shade were helpful after full mornings on the beach! Sometimes there were other families sharing the space with us but we found the resort fairly quiet and others were respectful of one another.

VR Beachwalk Avellanas offers a breakfast included offering or you can purchase breakfast for $13 per person for the mornings you prefer. We booked with breakfast included and boy were we glad we did! Your breakfast is served at a little oasis of a restaurant called La Cabane at the end of the short road. This became our absolute favorite place to start and end the day! You’ll order and be served a custom made breakfast in the most delightful ambiance. The Chef Thibault and his brother Robin have created such a unique, fun and utterly delicious dining experience! Eating here was a highlight of our trip to Playa Avellanas and a MUST-EAT destination!

What to See and Where to Eat

Accessing the beach in this area can be a little tricky at first, but once you know the route, it becomes second nature. There is one main road into Playa Avellanas that runs roughly parallel to the coastline. If you’re driving in from Tamarindo, you’ll pass Hacienda Pinilla first. Continue along the bumpy road until you spot La Cabane and a small convenience store on the right. The next right-hand turn leads directly down to VR Beachwalk.

Just before that turn, you’ll notice a narrow dirt road straight ahead — this is the route we used daily to access the beach. While reviews mention varying walking times and distances, this side road turned out to be the quickest option, though not necessarily the easiest.

The walk takes about ten minutes through dry forest terrain and includes a few muddy patches, as well as a crossing over the estuary. It’s manageable for most able-bodied travelers but may not be ideal for anyone with mobility challenges. Along the way, we occasionally passed locals, always exchanging friendly “¡Hola!” and “Buenos días.”

Once you cross the estuary, you’ll see the river flowing into the ocean — a beautiful spot for birdwatching and taking in the natural surroundings. During our stay, the water was never higher than waist-deep at high tide, but it’s worth noting that levels can rise during the rainy season. Plan accordingly, take your time, and enjoy the walk — it’s all part of the Playa Avellanas experience.

If you prefer a less adventurous access point, you can also walk the .8 miles down the road to Lola’s- a beachside restaurant boasting American fare with great cocktails and direct access to the beach. There is also a parking lot at Lola’s with “parking attendants” and you will need to pay a small fee to park here. This is a more crowded area of Playa Avellanas and although super fun to experience – this will always be the most crowded area of the beach. We loved having a quieter, more natural area of beach access and our walks out and back to the beach felt like we had discovered our own tropical oasis!

A Note About Lola’s:

Lola’s is very well known and the central hub of Playa Avellanas even though it’s located on the far south end. The food was good, with a wide variety of food options and geared towards the American tourist. A great bar area and plenty of tables and chairs, it appeared that a lot of people hunkered down and made Lola’s their home base. Offering a wide variety of activities, including Yoga and Surf lessons- Lola’s can provide all you need for your beach vacation. Named after their resident pig- Lola, ( R.I.P.- she passed away) -it’s a great place for kids and the only available place to rent chairs and umbrellas on Playa Avellanas. Ava and Ave (their new resident pigs) wander the property looking for scraps and a scratch behind the ear! The vibe is very casual and people wander up from the beach for a cocktail and we saw large groups coming and going. We expected to spend a lot of time at Lola’s but ultimately found La Cabane more our speed. You can find out more about Lola’s here: https://www.lolascostarica.com

Surfing

Many come to Playa Avellanas for the surfing- both beginners and experts flock to Playa Avellanas for the variety of waves and the gorgeous scenery. There are multiple options for Surf lessons or renting a board but we recommend Avellanas Surf School located at Lola’s. It’s incredibly convenient and Lola’s is a great spot to grab a bite to eat after an hour playing in the surf. We do not recommend just renting a board unless you are an experienced surfer. The under tow was quite fierce and waves reached pretty high in multiple locations. We recommend the mouth of the estuary for small children for calmer waves and a less threatening experience.

Where To Else To Eat:

We were really lucky to experience such amazing food while we were in Playa Avellanas. Besides Lola’s and La Cabane- we also loved a little French bakery called French Lab. We had some of the best croissants and desserts here and quick counter service make it very easy to grab something to go! They are newly opened and we hope they continue to grow- some good sandwiches to go on their homemade breads and croissants would be a great addition to their quaint little cafe.

We also loved Las Esquinas – a community focused collaboration with a few food truck style eateries, some boutique shops and fun playground for the kids! Every Friday night they host a market with music and some street vendors and we found the atmosphere relaxing and inclusive.

Day Trips and Excursions:

If you are feeling a little restless and looking for something else to do other than lay by the beach or pool, sip cocktails from a beach chair or surf- you can check out a variety of Day excursions or add on a few days to your beach vacation to discover Costa Rica’s versatility. We did plan a day excursion to snorkel Las Catalinas Islands located just north of Tamarindo. The Eastern Pacific Ocean is not calm and lapping- this snorkel trip required good swimming ability and some Dramamine! You can see the excursion we booked below- the staff were fantastic and we saw a good amount of wildlife including a shark! Water conditions were rough and we recommend the wet suit and to take dramamine a few hours BEFORE you embark- I was very glad I remembered!

After our excursion, we had the opportunity to explore a few other beaches, eat in a Soda and experience what is best described as a Costa Rican rodeo! Juan at CR Travels and Tours provided all our transportation for the day and it was fun to get a little change of pace and explore a few other areas of the Guanacaste Region. We walked Playa Conchal and fell asleep listening to waves lap against the shore. We even got to see more howler monkeys here! Juan recommended a local Soda where we had a traditional Costa Rican Lunch and spent a few hours in Santa Cruz at their annual festival.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. By booking through this link you help to support our site.”

Adding Onto a 5 Day Beach Vacation:

We decided to add on a few days in the forest in hopes of seeing some wildlife and seeing the “jungle” and its incredible bio-diversity. We found 5 nights just the right amount of time to relax, recharge and get our tan on in Playa Avellanas. It’s tough to sit on the beach for more than 3-4 days and it was nice to break things up with a day on the water. The closest major Nature destination to Liberia Airport is Rincon de la Vieja National Park. An often underrated park compared to Manual Antonio, La Fortuna, Arenal and Monteverde- Rincon de la Vieja has a lot to offer for a few days of adventure. Only a 2.5 hour drive from Playa Avallanas versus the 3.5-4 hour drive to La Fortuna- we really enjoyed our few days at Rincon de la Vieja. See more about our experience at Hacienda Gauchipelin here.

If we were to do this itinerary again, I would add on 2 more days and do a full 4 days in La Fortuna and include La Leona Waterfall. You’ll spend a good part of the day traveling there and back which is why we skipped it this time but 10 days would be the perfect amount of time to do Playa Avellanas and La Fortuna with a stop off at La Leona. There are many alternative day excursions in and around Tamarindo to explore as well if you prefer to stay closer to this area of Guanacaste.

explore some Alternative excursions from Playa Avellanas

In Conclusion:

Playa Avellanas gave us exactly what we were craving — sun, surf, simplicity, and a slower pace that allowed us to truly unwind. From quiet mornings walking dusty roads scented with molasses, to long beach days, incredible meals, and unexpected adventures just beyond the shore, this small coastal village proved that Costa Rica doesn’t have to be crowded, complicated, or extravagant to be unforgettable. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed beach escape, a surfer’s paradise, or a thoughtfully balanced itinerary that blends rest with exploration, Playa Avellanas offers a rare kind of magic. It’s the kind of place that stays with you — not because of how much you did, but because of how it made you feel. And honestly, we’re already dreaming about when we’ll be back.