Playa Hermosa travel guide
Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica: where to stay, eat and play
A calm, laid-back beach village in Guanacaste, just 20 minutes from Liberia Airport, and one of our favorite beach towns in the country.
By Sarah & Thomas, calling Costa Rica home since 2016
Best Time
Dec to Apr
From LIR airport
About 20 min
Best Airport
LIR
Temperature
Hot: 75 to 92°F
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Our take
Who Playa Hermosa is for
Playa Hermosa is one of our favorite beach towns in the country. We come here about once a year and always spend about a week at a condo on the beach. The calm beach is perfect for days when you just want to relax, the town is a great jumping-off point for tons of activities, and it’s so close to the Liberia Airport.
One thing to keep in mind: There are two Playa Hermosas in Costa Rica. This one is in Guanacaste, and the other is near Jacó. Double-check when booking!
How long to stay: Three days or more. You could easily make it your home base for a week, with lots of activities within an hour’s drive.
Playa Hermosa or Playas del Coco?
Choose Playa Hermosa if…
You want a calm, quieter beach for swimming, families and relaxing, with a few beachfront restaurants.
Choose Playas del Coco if…
You want a busier town with more restaurants, nightlife and tours within walking distance.
Our take
They’re only about 10 minutes apart, so it’s easy to stay in Hermosa and pop over to Coco.
Getting there
Getting to Playa Hermosa
From Liberia Airport
Only about 20 minutes on one main highway and a few well-maintained side streets. An easy drive for everyone.
From San José it’s about 4 to 5 hours. Take toll Route 27, then Route 1 to Liberia (watch the constantly changing speed limit), and Route 21 past the airport. Plaza Limonal is our go-to break.
For more info:
Rental car
Rent a car if you plan many day trips on your own. If you’ll mostly relax or take tours with transportation, you probably won’t need one.
Taxis and shuttles
From Liberia Airport, a taxi is easiest (fits four or five people plus luggage). Coming from further away, use a shared shuttle on Bookaway with code SARAHMC5 for 5% off.
Where it is
Playa Hermosa is in northern Guanacaste near Liberia Airport, just south of the Papagayo Peninsula and just north of Playas del Coco.
Good to know: Adobe has an office in Liberia and delivers free within 12 miles, so you can rent a car for just part of your trip.
Weather
Playa Hermosa weather and best time to visit
Dry season (Dec: Apr)
Warm, sunny and dry, usually 75 to 92°F. By February everything turns brown, and there are sometimes forest fires in March.
Rainy season (May: Nov)
Afternoon showers become regular from May, with a “little summer” break in July. September and October are the rainiest.
Daytime
75 to 92°F
Sunrise / Sunset
about 5:30 AM / about 5:30 PM
Rainiest months
Sep and Oct
Our tip
Our tip: In the rainy season, ignore the forecast. It often predicts rain all day, and that’s just not true. Get up early for the best part of the day.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Playa Hermosa
Hotel Bosque del Mar
Our #1 · High-end · Beachfront
Our high-end choice in Hermosa is right on the beach, with a nice pool and excellent rooms and staff.
Villa del Sueño
Garden · Pool · Breakfast
A nice garden property close to the beach, with a pool and breakfast included.
Hotel El Velero
Beachfront · Pool · Restaurant
Right on the beach and perfect for relaxing with an ocean view. Pool and restaurant on site.
Papagayo Golden Palms
Garden · Beach access · Pool
The real draw is the garden property that backs up to the beach. Clean, nice rooms and a pool.
Great for families
Villas Sol and Condovac sit on the hill right above the beach. Both are technically timeshare communities, but you can rent them like a hotel or vacation rental. They’re a little dated, which keeps prices reasonable, and you get your own space and kitchen plus resort perks like pools, entertainment, a beach shuttle (the hill is steep) and beach chair rentals. It makes your trip super easy, with Liberia Airport close by and lots of Guanacaste to explore from here.
Villas Sol
Family-friendly · Kitchens · Pools
Villas Sol has some bigger units with their own space to spread out. We stayed in a three-bedroom villa with its own pool. You also get the main pool, evening entertainment and a shuttle down the hill to the beach. Read our Villas Sol review.
Condovac La Costa
Family-friendly · Kitchens · Resort perks
A hillside resort with condos in different sizes, pools and activities on site. It’s a bit dated and not fancy, but it’s comfortable, easy and good value, especially for families.
See hotels near Liberia Airport →
Our pick
Rent a beach condo
We always stay a week in a beach condo here. The Sol y Mar condos are right on the beach with pool access, like Sol y Mar 4C (sleeps 6, big balcony and grill).
For a villa, Casa Picapiedra sleeps 8 and has an infinity pool with coastal views.
For more options, we suggest VRBO. Browse Playa Hermosa rentals on VRBO →
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Things to do
Things to do in Playa Hermosa
Our favorite
Take a catamaran sunset sail
Snorkeling, sunset views, food and drinks on the water. It’s one of the best ways to see this coast.
Good to know
The water here is usually very calm, which makes for smooth sailing and great snorkeling.
Fishing
Go deep-sea fishing
World-class fishing right off the coast. You might catch mahi-mahi, tuna, grouper and snapper.
Our pick
Book a half or full day with Captain Roberto on his Boston Whaler. Keep your catch, and they’ll arrange a nearby restaurant to cook it.
Day trip to Rincón de la Vieja
Hike on your own, or book a combo with zip lining, horseback riding and tubing at Guachipelín.
Swim at Llanos de Cortez
An impressive, family-friendly waterfall you can swim under. Easy to do on your own with a car.
Go beach hopping
Playa Panamá is just north, and the beaches on the Gulf of Papagayo are beautiful too.
Visit Diamante Adventure Park
Zip lining, hanging bridges, paddleboarding and an animal sanctuary. Get the day pass with lunch (no hotel transport).
Palo Verde river safari
Take a boat tour through Palo Verde National Park to see crocodiles, birds and more.
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Where to eat
Where to eat in Playa Hermosa
Ginger
Nicest in the area · Fair prices
Definitely the nicest restaurant in the area, with fresh ingredients and quality food. The prices are very reasonable for the quality.
Aqua Sport
Beachfront · Sunset drinks
Not the best food ever, but our go-to for a cocktail and the sunset on the beach.
Roberto’s
Seafood · Ocean view
The perfect seafood and fish spot with a nice view of the ocean.
Buzzed Monkey
US-style BBQ
When you’re craving pulled pork, brisket or hot wings.
Che Sirloin
Steak · Burgers
Our favorite place around for beef, from burgers to steak.
Practical stuff
Good to know before you go
Good to know
Packing for Playa Hermosa
Sun protection
This is notoriously one of the hottest areas in the country. Bring UV shirts and SPF 50.
Snorkel
Some beaches around here are great for snorkeling because the water is so calm.
Bug spray
For once the sun goes down.
Travel insurance
Always a good idea. It’s not just for injury, but for theft, trip interruptions, and lost luggage. We use Heymondo.
Good to know
Safety
Playa Hermosa is generally really safe. Your biggest concern is petty theft.
Getting around
Getting around Playa Hermosa
If you stay on the beach, a few good restaurants are within walking distance. We like having a car for day trips.
Rental car
Rent a car for just a few days, and Adobe will deliver it free to your hotel from their Liberia office.
Taxis and tours
Taxis are easy from Liberia Airport, and many tours include hotel pickup.
FAQ
Playa Hermosa FAQ: your questions
Which Playa Hermosa is this?
This guide is about Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste, near Liberia Airport. There’s another Playa Hermosa near Jacó on the Central Pacific coast.
Is Playa Hermosa good for swimming?
Yes. The water is usually very calm, and there’s a roped-off swimming area. Check for a blue flag first.
How far is Playa Hermosa from Liberia Airport?
About 20 minutes by car.
Is Playa Hermosa worth visiting?
Yes! It’s one of our favorite beach towns: calm, relaxing and a great base for day trips around Guanacaste.
How many days do you need in Playa Hermosa?
Three days or more. It makes a great home base for a full week.
Is Playa Hermosa safe?
Yes, it’s generally really safe. Just watch out for petty theft and don’t leave things in your car.
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