Playa Hermosa Costa Rica: A Family-Friendly Beach Town

Playa Hermosa Weather

The weather here is typically the warmest and driest in the country.

Here is a month-by-month breakdown of what you can expect.

January: This area experiences dry conditions with temperatures typically ranging from 75°F to 88°F. January may have some breezy days.

February: Warm and dry weather continues, with temperatures averaging between 75°F and 90°F. Everything starts to get brown and dried out after several months of no rain.

March: Expect consistently sunny days with temperatures ranging from 77°F to 92°F. Dry conditions continue. Sometimes there are forest fires.

April: The dry season starts to transition, with temperatures between 75°F and 88°F. There might be occasional short afternoon rain showers.

May: The beginning of the rainy season sees temperatures ranging from 73°F to 85°F. Afternoon showers become more regular.

June: Temperatures hover between 72°F and 84°F, with increased rainfall. Showers are common in the afternoons and evenings.

July: Amidst the rainy season, temperatures range from 71°F to 82°F. There might be occasional breaks in the rain during a “Little Summer.”

August: A wet month, with temperatures between 70°F and 81°F. Rainfall is consistent and can be heavy.

September: One of the rainiest months, expect temperatures between 70°F and 80°F. Daily downpours, especially in the afternoons, are common.

October: Continuous rain characterizes October, with temperatures averaging between 69°F to 79°F. Rain often starts earlier in the day and can be prolonged.

November: The rainy season begins to taper off, with temperatures from 70°F to 82°F. Occasional showers persist but become less frequent.

December: The dry season returns, with temperatures between 72°F and 86°F. The weather dries up, and clear skies set the stage for another nice season in the coming months.

Even with all that info, you just never really know here though. Sometimes we will have rain all day during the rainy season and other times we will have several days of no rain at all.

We suggest getting up early and enjoying the morning before the rain rolls in. The sun usually rises around 5:30am and I must admit, it is the best time of the day. 

Check out our guide to Costa Rica Weather by Month for more info

Pro Tip: If traveling during the rainy season just ignore the weather forecast. They often predict rain all day and that is just not true. 

Flights to Playa Hermosa

The easiest way to get here is by flying into the Liberia International Airport. From the airport, it is only about a 20-minute drive to the town.

If coming from San Jose the drive will take you about five hours.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, we suggest using Skyscanner. We consistently find the best rates through their website.

Check out our guides:

• Liberia International Airport: Guide to Arrivals and Departures
• Renting a Car from Liberia Airport
• Liberia Airport Area Hotels

Transportation to Playa Hermosa

From either the San Jose or Liberia Airport, there are a few different ways you can get here.

These are:

Transportation in Playa Hermosa

The town is somewhat divided between the beach area and the main road with a grocery store and some restaurants. If you are staying on the beach, there are a few good restaurants that you can easily walk to.

Personally, we like to have a rental car for getting around so we can take day trips. 

One option is to rent a car for only a few days of your trip. Adobe has an office in Liberia and will deliver your car to you for free within 12 miles of their office.

So, you can easily have it dropped off at your hotel. 

The Playa Hermosa Beach

The Playa Hermosa beach is the perfect place for swimming, taking a beach walk, relaxing, or participating in water sports.

The best way to access the beach is by staying at one of the nearby hotels and walking to one of the entrances. Additionally, there is a parking lot and occasionally street parking spots are available. You will likely need to pay a few dollars for someone to watch your vehicle at these spaces.

On the beach, there is a roped-off swimming area and the water is usually very calm. Definitely check the current conditions and make sure a blue flag is flying before getting in the water.

Just a warning, there are occasionally stingrays in the water here. They won’t typically bother you, but stings have been known to happen sometimes.

Also, watch out for jet skis. They typically take off from the beach here and are sometimes completely irresponsible.

Things to Do in Playa Hermosa

There are so many things to do in the surrounding area. A few of our favorite activities are:

Some other fun things to do include:

Go Deep Sea Fishing

Are you ready to enjoy some world-class fishing on the Pacific Ocean? Plan a sport fishing tour! 

We suggest a half or full day trip with Captain Roberto on his Boston Whaler. While out you might catch mahi mahi, tuna, grouper, and snapper. 

Plus you can keep what you catch and they are happy to arrange for a nearby restaurant to prepare everything for you. 

Visit Rincon de la Vieja

Rincon de la Vieja National Park is located north Coco and is a great place to spend a day hiking.

You can go with a guide, but you are also able to pay to enter the park and hike on your own.

Rincon de la Vieja is also a great place to enjoy a combo tour with tons of fun adventure activities such as zip lining and rafting. 

⤷ Arrange Your Fun-Filled Day Tour Here

Go Beach Hopping

Tired of Playa Hermosa? Check out all the other beautiful beaches nearby!

Playa Panama is just north of Playa Hermosa or we also like to drive to the Gulf of Papagayo and enjoy the nice beaches there. 

Go Fly Fishing

We highly recommend this fun day trip with Captain Estaban on his 14’ NRS inflatable outboard rafts along the Tempisque and Corobici rivers. 

During the trip you will target Rainbow and Striped Bass, Machaca (Mini Tarpon), and Snook.

It’s so fun! 

Just note that you will need a rental car or taxi to get here. The trip does not include transportation from the Hermosa area. 

Book Your Fishing Trip Here

Go Horseback Riding on the Beach

Take a private horseback riding tour along the beach. This is fun to do in the evening while the sun is setting. 

Visit Diamonte Adventure Park 

This adventure park is located not too far from Hermosa and has some really fun activities such as zip lining, hanging bridges, paddle boarding, animal sanctuary, and more!

We suggest booking the all-access day pass to really enjoy all that they have to offer. 

Just note that this activity does not include transportation from your hotel. 

Visit Llanos de Cortez Waterfall

This is an impressive nearby waterfall that you can swim under. It is the perfect family-friendly day trip.

If you have a car, this is something you can easily do on your own. Check out our Llanos de Cortez guide for more info.

Expand Your Coffee Palette

Take a coffee-tasting tour and learn all about Costa Rica coffee beans and tastes.

Rent a Jet Ski

It is not unusual to see locals on the beach renting out jet skis.

Restaurants in Playa Hermosa

A few of our favorite places are….

Aqua Sport: I wouldn’t say this place has the best food ever, but it is still our go-to spot in Hermosa when we want to have a cocktail and watch the sunset on the beach. In other words, expect basic food, but a chill place to hang out with some beachfront drinks. 

Ginger: Definitely the nicest restaurant in the area with fresh ingredients and quality menu options. The prices are also extremely reasonable considering the quality. 

Che Sirloin: The best place around for beef, from burgers to steak. 

Buzzed Monkey: The place to go when you are craving some US style pulled pork, brisket, hot wings etc. 

Robertos Bar & Restaurant: The perfect seafood and fish spot with a nice view of the ocean. 

Playa Hermosa Hotels

Villa del Sueno: This is a good place to stay with a nice garden property close to the beach. There is a nice pool on the property and breakfast is included. 

Hotel El Velero: Located directly on the beach, this is the perfect place for relaxing with an ocean view. There is a pool and restaurant on the property. 

Papagayo Golden Palms: The nice garden property that backs up to the beach is the real draw here. The rooms are clean and nice and there is a pool on site. 

Villas Sol Hotel and Resort: A resort that also features vacation rentals. It is possible to book an all-inclusive stay here.

Hermosa Vacation Rentals

We always love renting a home or villa for our vacation in Costa Rica. This gives you more privacy and allows you the flexibility to cook your own meals.

Note: We try to only ever suggest places with good cancellation policies, but always double-check before booking.

Condos

Sol y Mar Condo 4C– Three bedroom condo that sleeps 6 guests. This is a ground level condo with large balcony area and outdoor grill. All condos have pool access and are directly on the beach. 

Sol y Mar Condo #2 – A 3 bedroom 3 bath condo that has everything you would need for a comfortable stay. 

Sol y Mar Condo #3 – 3 bedroom/ 3 bath condo on the beach in Playa Hermosa. 

Villas

Casa Picapiedra – A 4 bedroom villa that can sleep up to 8 guests. There is a nice infinity pool with coastal views. 

Casa Manana – A 4 bedroom villa that can sleep 8 guests. There is a nice outdoor area with pool and grill. 

Playa Hermosa Safety Tips

Playa Hermosa is generally really safe.

Your biggest safety concern should be petty theft. To combat that we suggest:

• Keep your valuables secure and refrain from openly displaying expensive items. 
• Don’t leave things in your rental car and always park in secure lots.
• Dressing in a relaxed way will also help you blend in.

If something happens, the emergency number in Costa Rica is 9-1-1. You should be able to get a police officer that speaks English if you need.

Also, always purchase travel insurance. It doesn’t just cover injury, but also helps if things get stolen. Our go-to travel insurance company for Costa Rica is a company called Heymondo. They are great!

Their comprehensive plans offer 24/7 assistance, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, lost baggage coverage, assistance in case of medical issues, as well as the option to add-on adventure activity coverage. 

↳ Get Your Travel Insurance Quote

Packing for Playa Hermosa

If you are planning to spend most of your time at the beach we suggest bathing suits, sun coverage, a snorkel (some of the beaches around here are great for snorkeling because the water is so calm), and bug spray for once the sun goes down.

This is notoriously one of the hottest areas in the country so really go strong on that sun protection including UV protecting shirts and SPF50 sunblock.

We Love:

• Hydro Seal Blister Bandages
• Teva Men’s M Voya Flip Flop
• Teva Womens Voya Flip Flop
• Columbia Bora Bora Sun Hat
• Sun Bum Cool Down Aloe Vera Lotion
• Hero Microfiber Towel
• Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen
• LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

Check out our Hermosa Packing List on Amazon for all the essentials. 

Our Opinion on Playa Hermosa

Playa Hermosa is one of our favorite beach towns in the country. As I mentioned above, we come here about once a year and always spend about a week at a condo on the beach.

We love this area because the beach is great for days when you just want to relax, but the town is also a good jumping off point for TONS of fun activities.

Plus, the proximity to the Liberia Airport makes it easily accessible.