South Pacific Beaches

Playa Tortuga:

�       Wild beauty beach almost untouched by human being. Spectacular sunsets and panoramic view on the mountains.
�       Nice beach for walking. Swimming not advisable as it is near the mouth where the river enters the ocean. Dangerous undertows and turbulence.
�       To your right is rock cliff and the Tortuga River and to your left you see the Balso River and beach until the Terraba River.

Entrance: Free

How to get there: As being part of the protected vaste mangrove area Terraba �Sierpe

Playa Tortuga is in constant change. After the last rainy season a river cut off the acces through our trail. Ask the reception on how to get to Playa Tortuga  as changes occur so fast that they can tell you the best way to get to this beautiful beach.

Info about the beach: Once one of the most prestigious beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Tortuga was virtually destroyed by hurricane Mitch in 1998. Now, in 2001, Playa Tortuga is recapturing much of its beauty.

Playa Tortuga translated as turtle beach, is approximately 1� kilometers long, stretching from the River Terraba to the cliffs of Ventanas.There is very little shade to be found at Playa Tortuga, due to this it is advisable to visit the beach either before or after noon, providing tide times permit this, as there are rivers to cross to access parts of the beach.(see reception for daily tide times).

Playa Ventanas:

�       600 meters of sandy beach, framed by rock cliffs and caverns. On low tide visit the splendid and mysterious caves.
�       Beach for great swimming and �bronsear�. Picnic area under the palmtrees.

Entrance: Free. If you go by car to Playa Ventanas we advise you to park your car at the house where Avel and Flor live. Parking costs 350 colones per hour.  

How to get there: Drive or walk north (left when you leave Hotel Villas Gaia). 1.5 km north of hotel Villas Gaia you will see a sign for Playa Ventanas. Go left downhill. If you are by car you can park your car on the �finca� and walk through tthe finca to the beach. You can also park your car on the top of the hill, but here is not much space and theft has been reported here in the past. By foot you have to cross the hill and then go down again.

Info about the beach: Playa Ventanas is so called due to the window, in Spanish �Ventana�; like the caves situated to the north of the beach. The beach is lined with palms providing adequate shade. Playa Ventanas is a safe place to swim and explore and can be accesed at low tide exposing about 600 metres of sand scattered with driftwood. The special attraction on this beach are two nice caves where the waves flow through. You can only walk into these caves during low tide. Watch out for the wood that comes with the waves.

You can buy a coconut at the house on the finca for 100 colones. Allthough it is actually called �pipas�(the inside of the coconut) what you buy. Have a nice chat with Avel and Flor, the local people that live here. They speak only Spanish. At this finca you will find different kinds of flora and fauna. For example: la ceiba, apple trees, ginger roja, coconut trees etc.

Playa Pinuelas:

�       Nice and calm bay. Most of the boats choose this bay to go out to open sea. This beach is especially for fishermen.

Entrance fee for National Ballena Marine Park $ 6

Please keep your ticket, because it allows you to visit all the other different beaches part of Ballena Marine Park on the same day.

How to get there: Drive 2,5 km north (left when you leave the Hotel) and you will see a sign Playa Pinuela. Go left downhill and you can park your car just in front of the beach.

Info: Playa Pinuela is named after a small palm found in this region and Playa Pinuela marks the first beach inside the National Park of Ballena

There is little sand on this pebble beach but it does offer plenty of shade and adequate parking overlooking the beach Playa Pinuelas is also a safe beach for swimming.

Fisherman often use this beach in which to bring their boats and are generally seen to the far south of the beach near the rocks.

There is the chance to take a boat from here either snorkeling or fishing

Playa Ballena  (Main entrance to the National Ballena Marine Park):

�       Right in the heart of the National Park.
�       Rocky beach ideal for walking and spotting wildlife. You can at least walk 15 km without seeing a single human being
�       Entrance to Playa Arco, a secluded beach, only accessible with low tide.

Entrance fee for National Ballena Marine Park $ 7

How to get there: entrance by car, 8 km north of Hotel Villas Gaia, marked by sign, arriving to small, parking lot and guardhouse where you will be asked to sign in and pay the entrance fee. Walk 50 metres to beach.

Info: The Park consists of 5,375 marine hectares and 110 terrestrial hectares. The park was created in 1989 and established itself as the first marine park in Latin America

The park protects its beaches, estuaries, mangroves, cliffs, islands, rocky shoals, the point at Uvita and the surrounding reef, the park covers 13 km�s of coast line from Uvita point to Pinuela beach.

The park also protects the islands set a few miles off shore namely Isla de Ballena y Las Tres Hermanas home to among others the magnificent frigate birds.

Playa La Colonia:

Entrance fee for National Ballena Marine Park $ 7

�       2 km sandy beach at low tide.  
�       Walking is possible along the beach to the north, through Playa Bahia until Playa Uvita. Approximately 5 km.
�       Some shade on beach, forest area just above beach high tide line.

How to get there: entrance 12 km north of Hotel Villas Gaia.  Marked by sign.

1 km, good road until beach where your can park your car close to the sand.  Also a small road running alongside the beach.

Playa Uvita:

�       Beautifull and well known beach close to services; bars, restaurants etc.
�       Long stretched beach. Great swimming!
�       Some shade on beach, shady area just above high tide mark.

Entrance fee for National Ballena Marine Park $ 7

How to get there: entrance 15 km north of Hotel Villas Gaia, marked by sign on highway. Road will take you near the small town of Uvita, and then to the beach. Beach marked by sign on highway. Parking available at the entrance.