The wind was so strong that we had to put the camera tripod back into its pack just after setting it up. Flying the drone was also out of scope due to the wind. Then, did our early morning expedition to Playa Avellanas go in vain? Not really. Sometimes disconnecting from tech equipment can help you connect better with nature. So we held hands and walked on the beach, feeling the soft sunlight on our skin and the strong wind brushing our hair.
Playa Avellanas is a favorite beach among the locals, but it is still hidden from the common tourist radar of Costa Rica. Located less than an hour’s drive away from the popular Tamarindo town, Avellanas in rural Guanacaste presents an oasis of tranquility.
Things to do at Playa Avellanas
There are plenty of ways you can enjoy this beach in northern Guanacaste, depending on your interests. Here are some of our top recommended things to do in Playa Avellanas.
Walk on the Avellanas Bridge
If you follow any Costa Rica travel based Instagram account, chances are good that you would have come across aerial shots of pretty people lying on a wooden bridge surrounded by tropical dry forest. That bridge is called Puente Avellanas, or Avellanas Bridge in English.
This is a bridge made with wooden planks laid one after another at an elevated height over marshlands where mangroves grow. The forest is part of a mangrove reforestation project, attempting to overcome the destructive impact of the 2012 earthquake that left all the mangroves to die.
Take a walk on this fragile wooden bridge. Observe the barren branches of the trees on either side play silent spectators to your red carpet walk on the Puente Avellanas. To avoid the presence of other visitors, we went there early in the AM and got to see an abundance of birds. We spotted several aquatic birds like herons, pipers and storks on the marshlands and a bunch of parakeets and raptors flying over the empty branches of the trees.
After a certain point on the bridge, there is a notice stating that only guests are allowed past this point. Respect the rule and do not trespass. The remainder of the bridge leads to the hotel, Cabinas Las Olas.
Directions to access Puente Avellanas
From the main entrance point of Playa Avellanas beach, after walking on the beach towards north for less than a hundred meters, you will notice a patch of forest with interestingly shaped trees growing on the beach. Take right from here and walk into the forest. In a minute, you will discover the entrance to the Avellanas Bridge. You can also find the bridge on Google Maps.
Alternatively, you can park near Cabinas Las Olas and take the bridge from the hotel to the beach. But we would recommend grabbing a bite or a drink at their restaurant, if you are going to use their private access bridge to the beach.
Stroll on the Avellanas Beach
With the light sand beach stretching over miles, it is a delight to take a stroll on Playa Avellanas. With not much of human induced development on the beach, you are accompanied mostly by tropical forest on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.
We walked along Playa Avellanas both early in the morning and during sunset, and got to see the beach in different lights. Literally as well as figuratively. In the morning, you will mostly find surfers and one or two professional surf photographers in an otherwise deserted beach. As the day progresses, more people start flocking at the beach, with a mix of crowds, solo, couple and family travelers. But even when there are several people at the beach, you can still find an exclusive piece of Playa Avellanas all to yourself.
Watch Sunset at Playa Avellanas
With the vast open sky hovering over the ocean and the beach, you can watch some terrific sunsets here at Playa Avellanas. As you bask in the golden hour sunshine by the ocean, watch the silhouettes of surfers catching the last waves of the day, with the backdrop of a fiery sky.
We visited Avellanas during the dry season month of March and every day got clear skies, where the perfect orange ball dropped in to the distant horizon beyond the blue ocean. I can imagine how these sunsets would look more dramatic during the rainy season when the clouds would play their parts painting the canvas of sky.
If you love beach sunsets like us, you may enjoy reading about our experience of watching 6 incredible sunsets in Koh Lanta, Thailand a few years ago.
Beachfront Dining at Lola’s Avellanas
When we want to add some colors to our sunset sagas, we like to hang out at a beach bar, sipping on colorful tropical drinks. A cool spot for such sunset hour drinks at Playa Avellanas is the Lola’s Restaurant. With casual seating arrangements and a hammock on the beach, it is a great place for beachfront dining.
Lola’s is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, so you can also plan for breakfast or lunch here. You can check out their food and drinks menu here. We have not tasted their food yet, but we tried couple of their cocktails, both were very good.
The restaurant gets its name from the namesake resident pig Lola who used to be a favorite among visitors. But sadly, she passed away in 2020. However, they now have two young pigs, Ave and Ana, who sometimes hang out near the restaurant. So, you may get the chance to meet these young ones when you visit Lola’s restaurant.
Surf the Waves at Avellanas
Even though Playa Avellanas still remains a secret compared to the rest of the tourist trails of Costa Rica, this beach has been popular in the surfing community for years. Enthusiast surfers from all over the world come here to experience awesome surf breaks. There is even a point called Little Hawaii known for its great surfing.
We do not surf ourselves. At least not yet. But we love to watch the surfers balance their body and mind on a surfboard on the waves. If you are interested in surfing lessons, check out the many surf schools in the Avellanas area.
Read about other surfing beaches of Costa Rica:
Facilities at Playa Avellanas
There are no organized facilities at Playa Avellanas. But here are couple of important details to help you plan a perfect beach day here.
Parking
Playa Avellanas does not have any dedicated guarded parking spot. You can park your vehicle on the road leading up to Lola’s restaurant. The earlier you arrive, the nearer your parking spot will be to the beach.
Like many other places in Costa Rica, one or two local guys offer to keep a watch on your car in exchange for a tip. They usually work during the day, so you will not get this service in the early morning or late evening hours. It is your choice how much you want to tip, but most visitors usually pay a few hundred colones.
Remember to lock your car and not leave any valuables that attract unwanted attention.
Restrooms
There are no restrooms or showers at Playa Avellanas. If you absolutely need to use restrooms, the restaurants Lola’s and La Purruja on the beach are your best bets. So plan your meals and beach times accordingly.
How to reach Playa Avellanas
The best way to reach Playa Avellanas is by driving. There is no public transport connecting this part of Guanacaste with the other nearby towns.
Connected by Ruta 152, the nearest big town from Avellanas is Tamarindo, about 19 km/12 miles away.
From Liberia airport, the fastest way to reach Avellanas is to take Ruta 21, Ruta 160 and Ruta 928, despite the slightly longer distance (84 km/52 miles).
From San Jose airport, the distance is 250 km/155 miles and takes about 4.5 hours to reach, if the traffic is not bad.
The roads leading to the Avellanas area, after crossing the town of Paraiso, are not paved and are often filled with potholes. However, you do not need a 4X4 to reach the beach, especially in the dry season. But we do recommend a high car with good ground clearance for a comparatively comfortable ride on the bumpy stretches.
The main entrance to Playa Avellanas beach is next to Lola’s restaurant. You can find it on Google Maps and put this as the destination.
Final Thoughts on Playa Avellanas, Costa Rica
Playa Avellanas is growing fast in popularity, especially among the locals. But it has managed to retain its rustic charm. If you are a surfer exploring Costa Rica, put this beach in your list of top places to visit. If you are a non-surfer who enjoys long stretches of uninterrupted light sand beach with no concrete development in the vicinity, this beach is for you too.
Surf or swim, grab a chilled beer or feast on some seafood, walk on the beach or sit silently on the beach leaning on to your partner’s shoulder. Experience in your own way the delightful beach of Playa Avellanas, a beautiful open secret in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
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As usual nice description of the entire trip. I don’t precisely remember if I had visited this beach. However the hanging wooden plank bridge was not explored by me. The entire episode attracts travel lovers.
If you visit the bridge, please stop and have food and drinks at cabinas las Olas (the hotel/bar/restaurant) you go through to access it.
The owner maintains the bridge out of his own pocket and so many people use it without ever supporting the establishment.
Pura Vida
Hi MB, yes that is what we recommended in the post :-). Pura vida!