Forming part of Las Baulas National Marine Park, this beach gets its name from its great size. It stretches south to the Tamarindo estuary, site of a large mangrove swamp (the Tamarindo National Wildlife Refuge) that can be toured by boat to check out the flora and fauna. Playa Grande is particularly popular with surfers, as well as visitors wishing to observe nesting giant leatherback turtles. This Blue Flag beach is also great for sunbathing, walking and swimming.
Grande Beach
Playa Grande is located on the Pacific Northwest of Costa Rica and over the last year, its nearly private 5 kilometer white sand beach has become a terrific place to-unwind and discover the wonders of nature. Playa Grande boasts several hotels, private housing options, a mini-super and numerous dining establishments. Activities abound in this laid-back community. From horseback riding tours, guided wildlife tours to taking a water taxi over to Tamarindo , Playa Grande is a must see in Costa Rica.
Playa Grande is a not just a tranquil spot perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature, it is one of the cleanest and most eco¬-friendly areas in the whole of Costa Rica. Travel + Leisure, a popular travel magazine-, rated Playa Grande beach in the Top Five "Best Beaches of Costa Rica”. The beach and Bay of Tamarindo are part of the Marine National Park "Las Baulas" and has received the coveted " Ecological Blue Flag " for its pristine environment.
The beach at Playa Grande is where the leatherback turttle comes to lay eggs. Experts consider this nesting beach to be one of the most important 'in the Occidental Pacific. This sea turtle can mensure up to 2,5 meters and weight 700 kilos. Unlike other turtles this species has no hard shell but rather a back leather skin with ridges running lengthwise .The leatherback and some pacific ridley turtles, take over the beach from mid April. They dig their nests one meter deep, and lay their eggs and cover the pit with sand, returning once to the sea. After 60 to 90 days, the hatchlings emerge and immediately make their way to the water.
Along the treacherous path which measures only a few meters, they are easy pray for crabs, seabirds and various mammals, which means only a few of them are able to survive the first days of life
Guided nocturnal tours begin at beachfront entrance to the Las Baulas National Marine Park with a park ranger. Small groups walk silently down the beach with the stars and the moon to light the way. It will not take long before coming upon an enormous creature slowly emerging from the surf. Imagine how far turtles have traveled to finally come ashore on this seclude beach. Then it begins the hour-long nesting ritual that can be observed from beginning to end. This wonderful experience will be something always remembered.
For surfers, Playa Grande is a beach break with perfect left and right peaks that can hold waves up to the almost double-overhead. It is a very consistent break. Playa Grande almost always has fun, ridable waves and usually catches more swell than Tamarindo. In the high season, the weather pattern known as the Papagayos forms from November to May and is unique to Northern Guanacaste. It consists of a daily 10-15 mph offshore wind, brilliant sunshine, no rain and an average temperature of 86f (30c). Even during the "Green season" (June-October), the wind stays offshore until noon and then a refreshing rain fall typically follows later in the day.
Nature lovers can explore the Tamarindo Estuary which covers more than 1200 acres of purely salt-water jungle and is the heart of the Tamarindo Wildlife sanctuary. Under the protection of the Costa Rica National Park System, it is the only one type and magnitude in this hemisphere.
The wildlife density is especially high during the dry season when the rest of the countryside is too dry to provide adequate shelter.
The American crocodile and the giant leatherback turtle, Costa Rica's two largest wild animals, are found in the sanctuary. There are still small patches of reasonably intact dry lowland forest around the periphery of the sanctuary. This type of forest is now almost extinct. Here you can find a variety of wildlife including the endangered howler monkey, anteaters, raccoons, and bird as diverse as spectacled owls and the back headed trogon (our version of the splendid quetzal). Predatory birds, like ospreys and hawks abound at mid¬day.
When visiting the Northern Pacific, make Playa Grande a destination.
Costa Rican Beaches 
