I dipped my feet in the soft white sand. Sitting on a tree log, my eyes were fixated on a young surfer trying to catch big Pacific waves. But my mind wandered from the nearby blue and orange umbrellas popping up on the beach to contemplation about what lies beyond the distant ocean horizon. Even on a busy beach day at Playa Carmen, Costa Rica, I felt a sense of calm.
A favorite among surfers, Playa Carmen is one of the best beaches of Santa Teresa in the Nicoya peninsula. In this article, you will find everything you need to know to plan your visit to Playa Carmen.
How to reach Playa Carmen, Costa Rica
Playa Carmen lies midway between Malpais to the south and Santa Teresa to the north. It is a long stretch of white sand beach. You can reach the beach via different access roads.
The access road to the main part of the beach starts at the junction of Calle Carmen and Las Piedras road. Take the narrow road that goes towards the beach. You can put Restaurante Playa Carmen as the destination on Google Maps. This is a paved road. There is a parking lot. If it is full, you can park your vehicle on one side of this road. Remember not to keep any valuables in the car.
There are two other beach access roads that are narrower and not well paved. One is opposite The Bakery and the other is opposite the supermarket Super Ronny’s #1.
If you need to know how to reach Carmen and Santa Teresa from other parts of Costa Rica, read our posts about planning your trips:
Liberia to Santa Teresa: For traveling from Liberia
Puntarenas Ferry: For traveling from San Jose, using the ferry.
Best time to visit Playa Carmen
Costa Rica has two seasons, rainy/ wet/ green and dry. But the climate varies largely from one region to another.
In the Santa Teresa region, dry season runs from December until May. During these months, expect warmer temperatures and sunny days. Imagine your perfect days of sun, sea and sand at Playa Carmen during the dry season.
During the rainy season months of May to November in Santa Teresa area, you can still get sunny mornings with tropical showers later in the day. The nature is greener and fresher, there are lesser tourists and the hotel and tour prices drop, thus making rainy season a good time too to visit Playa Carmen. During the wet season, the swells at the ocean are also bigger which attract enthusiast surfers.
So, any time of the year can be good for a visit to Playa Carmen, Costa Rica. You just need to choose your activities and set your expectations right about the weather. We had visited in the month of December and got clear sunny days everyday, with some drizzle for a bit one afternoon.
Things to do at Playa Carmen, Costa Rica
Playa Carmen is widely popular among the visitors of Nicoya. During peak tourist season, you will find a lot of people on the beach. But you can still find a sweet spot for yourself on the beach to spend a whole day at Playa Carmen doing things you like to do.
Surf
Big rolling waves and lack of rocks at Playa Carmen make this beach a popular surfing spot. Although we do not surf, or have yet to learn surfing, we love to watch surfers play with the waves, and could watch them for hours.
Swim
It is hard to pass on the temptation to swim in the ocean when the water is warm and the day is bright and sunny. But remember to follow the instructions and safety warnings, the waves at Playa Carmen are quite big.
Lounge
Get your beach blanket and beach umbrella, and spend a day lazing on the beach at Playa Carmen. Or if you are like us, skip the accessories and embrace the sand and the sun.
Watch Sunset
The western coast of Nicoya peninsula gets to see some stunning beach sunsets. Playa Carmen is no exception.
On one of the days, we grabbed some beer from the supermarket, took the second beach access road, parked by the beach and watched the orange sky turn dark as the evening descended.
Restaurants near Playa Carmen
Carmen and Santa Teresa have vibrant dining scenes, with restaurants of different global cuisines lining the street. When you are visiting Playa Carmen, consider popping by one of these restaurants.
Restaurante Playa Carmen: Beachfront restaurant on Playa Carmen. Go here for a relaxed atmosphere. Sip on your drink while watching the surfers catch big waves.
The Bakery: Go here for delicious desserts, cafe menu and cool casual atmosphere. During peak tourist seasons, prepare to stand in line to get in. By the way, let me emphasize again on their delicious desserts!
Final Thoughts on Playa Carmen, Costa Rica
Whether you surf or not, include a visit to Playa Carmen in your list of top things to do in Santa Teresa. Swim in the ocean, lounge on the beach, watch a sunset and have a meal in one of the quirky restaurants in the area. Playa Carmen, Costa Rica checks all the boxes of a perfect dose of sun, sea and sand. Are you ready to get yours?
Read about other surfing beaches in Costa Rica:
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