Pacific vs Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica: Which to Visit

Costa Rica might be small, but it packs in two completely different worlds. The Pacific coast is known for golden-sand beaches and fiery sunsets. The Carribean brings lush rainforests and raw natural beauty.

We’re Sarah and Thomas, the couple behind Costa Rica Vibes. We’ve been living in San José since 2016 and regularly travel to both coasts to keep our guides up to date (and to sneak in a little fishing and hiking). After nearly a decade of exploring every corner of the country, we’ve gotten a real feel for what makes each side shine.

In this guide, we’ll help you decide whether Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast or Caribbean Coast is the better fit for your trip. This guides covers when to go, where to stay, what to do, travel costs, weather, transportation, and which coast best suits your travel style. Plus, we give you our opinion on which coast is really the best.

Top Places to Visit on Both Coasts

Pacific Coast

If you picture Costa Rica in your head, you are probably imagining golden beaches, surfers riding the waves, and striking sunsets. That pretty much sums up the Pacific Coast.

This side of the country has the most developed tourism scene. You’ll find luxury resorts, boutique hotels, yoga retreats, beach bars, and some of the best adventure oppportunities in Central America.

Here are some must-visit destinations:

• Papagayo Peninsula: Home to high-end resorts like the Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria, secluded beaches, and world-class golf and spas.
• Tamarindo: Surf town energy with tons of restaurants and nightlife.
• Nosara: A peaceful yoga-meets-surf haven with dirt roads and sunset beach walks.
• Santa Teresa: A trendy beach escape known for its waves, cafes, and relaxed vibe.
• Manuel Antonio: Home to Costa Rica’s most famous national park and beautiful beaches.
• Uvita & Dominical: Whale watching, waterfalls, and lush jungle meets ocean.
• Corcovado National Park: One of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

We created a map of this coast to help you get your bearings. ⬇ You can also open it in Google Maps here.

Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean Coast is about slow mornings, reggae beats, and rainforests that practically spill into the sea. It feels a little wilder, a little more local, and completely unique compared to the rest of Costa Rica.

This side of the country is less developed, which is part of its charm. You’ll trade beach clubs for family-run sodas, boutique lodges tucked in the jungle, and beaches lined with palm trees instead of resorts.

Top Places to Visit on the Caribbean Coast:

• Puerto Viejo: A colorful beach town with an Afro-Caribbean vibe, great surf, and lively nightlife.
• Cahuita: Home to Cahuita National Park, where coral reefs and sloths coexist just steps from the sand.
• Tortuguero: A maze of canals filled with wildlife — and one of the world’s best places to see nesting sea turtles.

💡 Pro tip: The Caribbean coast is best enjoyed at a slower pace. We suggest flying into San José and renting a car with Adobe Rent a Car for the 3- to 4-hour drive to Puerto Viejo or Cahuita. If you’d rather skip the driving, shared shuttles and private transfers are available too.

We created a map of this coast to help you get your bearings. ⬇ You can also open it in Google Maps here.

Best Time of Year to Visit Each Coast

Costa Rica’s weather can be tricky because the Pacific and Caribbean coasts have completely different climates.

The Pacific follows a somewhat clear dry and rainy seasons. However, the Caribbean kind of just does its own thing and is often hard to predict.

But, let’s go through each one….

Pacific Coast

The seasons on the Pacific Coast can be broken down like this:

• Dry Season (December to April): Expect sunny skies, minimal rainfall, and higher prices due to peak tourist season.
• Green Season (May to August): Lush landscapes return, with daily afternoon showers and fewer tourists.
• Wet Season (September to December): Frequent rain and cloud cover, though occasionally, you might experience surprisingly good weather.

I think each season has its pros and cons.

The dry season is great for escaping the cold weather if you live in the northern hemisphere and want some warm weather. However, it is peak tourism season. That means the country can be very crowded and everything is more expensive.

Also, towards the end of the dry season, the landscape starts to dry out a lot and doesn’t look as nice.

I personally like the green season from May until August. Everything turns lush and green again, there are fewer tourists, and prices go down.

However, by then you won’t really need to escape the cold in the north and this time of year means that you will likely have afternoon rain showers between about 2PM and 4PM.

The wet season is not the best time to visit the Pacific Coast. The weather can be very unpredictable and you could occasionally have completely wet days. However, this is a very cheap time to visit.

Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean Coast has completely different weather than the Pacific Coast.

• Dry Season (August to October): The best time for sunny and hot days with very little rain. August is also prime turtle nesting time in Tortuguero.
• Rainy Season (the rest of the year): Rain is heavy, often at night or in the early morning, clearing up by midday.

The best time to visit the Caribbean coast is between August and October. This is considered the dry season. We have had very good luck with completely sunny days during that time of year.

That being said, if there is a tropical storm passing through in the autumn you can obviously expect some stormy weather. Costa Rica actually very rarely gets hit by any tropical storms or hurricanes (like once every few years).

During the Caribbean rainy season, it can rain hard! However, usually, it rains at night and in the early morning. It seems to typically stop by midday. 

This coast is somewhat difficult to predict though. We once spent over a week in Cahuita in April and didn’t have any rain the entire time. We also recently spent 4 nights in Cahuita in May and also had no rain.

Honestly, i think you kind of just have to go for it when it comes to the Caribbean and hope for the best.

Best Things to Do on Both Coasts

There is just so much to do on the Pacific that it is difficult to narrow it down! Here are just some of our favorites.

• Hike at Corcovado National Park. Corcovado National Park is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. It is possible to do a day hike here or spend a night or two inside the park. You can find out more with our guide to Corcovado National Park. 
• Check out the whale’s tale at Marino Ballena National Park. During low tide, it is possible to walk out on a jut of land into the ocean in Uvita. From above this jut of land looks just like the tale of a whale. We created a guide to Marino Ballena National Park to help you plan your visit. 
• Hike at Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio National Park is the most popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. You can see tons of wildlife here within a condensed space. Plus the beaches are really nice. We have a complete guide to Manuel Antonio National Park for you.
• Go surfing at one of the many great surfing beaches. Costa Rica is a super popular surf destination. Some of the best surf beaches are Dominical, Santa Teresa, Nosara, Samara, and Tamarindo.
• Do some sport fishing. The Pacific coast is a great place for fishing! There are various fishing options depending on your budget. We created a complete guide to fishing in Costa Rica to help you out. 
• Go snorkeling. There are several great places to snorkel on the Pacific coast. It is always possible to take a tour with a boat out to some good spots, but if you would like to stick to a budget you can always just bring your own snorkel mask and swim out from shore. 
• Relax at a beach bar. There are some amazing beach bars on the Pacific coast. Our two personal favorites are Lola’s near Tamarindo and Banana Beach Bar in Santa Teresa. We also have a complete guide to all our favorite beach bars in Costa Rica.
• Watch the sunset. There isn’t any bad place to see the sunset on the Pacific. You will have an amazing view no matter where you go. We like to find a restaurant on the beach or on the cliffs and watch the sunset while eating dinner. Sunset occurs around 5:30 pm year-round. 
• See baby sea turtles make their way into the ocean. The best place to see sea turtles is at Ostional beach near Nosara. 
• Go swimming. The beaches in Costa Rica are great for swimming. The water is always the perfect temperature. Just as someone before swimming, there are rip currents at several beaches. 

Top Things to Do on the Caribbean Coast

• See sea turtles in Tortuguero. Between July and November, it is possible to see big momma sea turtles come to shore to lay their eggs. To view this unique experience you will need to set up an evening tour with a registered guide.
• Go on a wildlife canoe ride. Head out on a guided canoe from Tortuguero National Park and you are sure to spot tons of wildlife. These canoe trips tend to occur early in the morning (around 6am) when the animals are the most active.
• Hike Cahuita National Park. Cahuita National Park is our favorite national park in Costa Rica. We created a complete guide to Cahuita National Park to help you out. 
• Party in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo is a popular destination with backpackers. If you are interested in doing some partying, there is a great nightlife scene here. 
• Visit the nice beaches near Puerto Viejo. Just south of Puerto Viejo are a bunch of very nice beaches. Our favorites are Punta Uva and Playa Manzanillo.
• Head down to Bocas del Toro, Panama. The Panama border is about 45 minutes south of Puerto Viejo. From there you can easily get to Bocas del Toro, Panama. Bocas del Toro is a collection of small islands that feel like literal paradise with bright turquoise waters. We have a complete guide to Bocas del Toro to help you out. 
• Watch the sunrise. Sunrise happens around 5:30 am every day. Our personal favorite spot to watch the sunrise is on Playa Negra in Cahuita.

Pacific vs. Caribbean Hotels

Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury resorts in Guanacaste to budget-friendly hostels in surf towns like Jaco.

If you are looking for a great luxury resort, this is the coast you want to be on.

Caribbean Coast

On the Caribbean side, you’ll find charming eco-lodges, boutique hotels, and affordable guesthouses, particularly in areas like Puerto Viejo and Cahuita.

Restaurants and Cuisine Comparison

Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast features traditional Costa Rican fare with an emphasis on seafood. Beachside restaurants serve fresh fish, ceviche, and local dishes like “casado.”

Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean coast is known for its Afro-Caribbean cuisine, with dishes infused with coconut, spices, and fresh seafood. Try the “Rondon” or “Patacones” for a true taste of the Caribbean.

Check out our guide to Costa Rican cuisine for all the must try dishes

Pacific vs. Caribbean Costs

Typically, the Pacifc Coast is more expensive than the Caribbean Coast. This includes restaurants, hotels, and some activities. Rental car prices will be the same throughout the country.

Keep in mind that Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. For a mid-range hotel you can expect to pay between $70 – $120 a night on the Pacific Coast. On the Caribbean Coast this will be more like $50 – $100 a night.

If you would like to visit the Pacific Coast and want lower rates, prices tend to go down a lot during the rainy season. Plus, there is less demand so you will have more options of finding a budget friendly spot.

How to Get To Each Coast

There are two international airports in the country. These are the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) which is located just outside of San Jose and the Liberia International Airport (LIR) located just south of Liberia.

The Juan Santamaria International Airport is centrally located in the country. From here, you can drive to the Caribbean Coast in about 3 hours and can get to the nearest Pacific Coast beach town (Jaco) in about 1.5 hours.

The Liberia International Airport is located in the northwest corner of the country on the Pacific Coast near the Nicaragua border. I do not suggest visiting the Caribbean Coast if you fly in to this airport, unless you have two weeks or more in the country and plan on making several stops. It will take about 6 hours to drive from the airport to the Caribbean.

This airport is already located in a beautiful corner of the country. It is best to explore the nearby Pacific beach towns and possibly head inland to the jungle towns of Monteverde or La Fortuna.

Want to Visit Both Coasts?

It is definitely possible to visit both coasts on your trip. We would suggest a minimum of a two-week stay in Costa Rica if you plan to visit both coasts. It’s just a lot of driving to go to both sides and to actually spend the time to enjoy each area. Also, there are several places in the middle of the country which we suggest exploring as well (La Fortuna & Monteverde). 

If you do opt to visit both coasts we suggest doing this route: San Jose -> Cahuita or Puerto Viejo -> Tortuguero -> La Fortuna -> Monteverde -> Pacific beaches of your choice. 

One of my Costa Rica goals is to watch the sunrise on the Caribbean and watch the sunset on the Pacific in one day. I grew up near Boston. It would never be possible for me to watch the sunrise on the Atlantic and then drive to the Pacific for the sunset. I just find it so cool that Costa Rica is small enough that you could actually do that.

Anyway, if you are weird like me and think this sounds cool, it is definitely doable. I’d suggest watching the sunrise in Cahuita and then heading to Jaco for the sunset (it’s the closest Pacific beach). The drive will take about 5 hours.  

Our Opinion on Each Coast

It is hard for us to say that the Costa Rica Pacific side or Caribbean side is better than the other. We suggest making your decision based on the things you want to do and the projected weather for the time you are visiting.

Most people do not visit the Caribbean coast. The Pacific beaches are definitely far more popular because they are typically white sand beaches and the infrastructure for tourists is more built up. 

The thing we love about the Caribbean is that it has such a unique vibe that you won’t find in the rest of Costa Rica. There is an Afro-Caribbean vibe in the towns here and it is just so fun!

We typically tend to visit the Pacific coast more than the Caribbean because there is more to see (and it’s better for fishing and that is how Thomas makes all travel decisions in life). 

No matter which coast you opt to visit you are bound to have an amazing time!

Conclusion: Pacific vs. Caribbean Coast

In conclusion, both the Pacific and Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica have their pros and cons. Deciding the best destination for your trip really depends on the time of year and your particular travel style.

If you have any questions about the Costa Rica Pacific side or Caribbean side just leave them in the comment section below. We are always happy to help you out!

You Might Also Like: