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Las Baulas Marine National Park: Beaches and Estuaries to Explore

Travel summary for Las Baulas Marine National Park, Guanacaste: Free entrance, parking varies from free to ₡2,000. 4x4 not needed. Best time to go: December to February. Packing list: water shoes, sandals, beverages, snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, swimsuit, and sand blanket

Located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Las Baulas Marine National Park is an an important site for wildlife conservation. This park is dedicated to safeguarding the leatherback, green and black turtles that lay their eggs on its beaches namely Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas and Playa Langosta. In addition to these beaches, there are three estuaries found within the park with one being a RAMSAR site due to its ecological importance. Other beaches in Las Baulas Marine National Park include; Playa Pacifica and Playa Carbon which offer different coastal environments for visitors to explore.

Getting to Las Baulas Marine National Park

Las Baulas Marine National Park is located 285 km (177 miles) from San José and 68 km ( 42.2 miles) from Liberia Airport. Whether you are traveling from Liberia or San José, your first destination should be Tamarindo.

The park is divided into two sectors by Tamarindo. The northern sector includes Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas, Playa Carbon and the Estero de Playa Ventanas and Tamarindo. The southern sector consists of Playa Langosta, Playa Pacifica and the Estero de Playa Langosta. Both sectors offer various entry points. All these key locations/routes are marked on the tourist map at the end of this article which will enable you find your way around the park better during your visit.

Entrance to the north sector of Playa Grande with parked cars, a person walking, and beach access signs under a clear sky
Playa Grande – Main Entrance and Parking

Northern sector

By Car

From Tamarindo it takes about 30 minutes driving 16.5 km (10.3 miles) to get to Playa Grande.  
Playa Grande has several accesses to the beach, so you can choose where you want to access it from If you go through main access, you can park car in a designated area right in front of beach. At this main access, it’s very common sight for locals offering themselves to watch over your car for a fee of ¢2,000.

If you want to visit Playa Ventanas, it’s a 10-minute drive going 2.3 km (1.4 miles) after passing through main entrance of Playa Grande. You will need to drive all the way to end of road and park there. This area is more secluded and offers a more peaceful experience.

By Public Transportation

There are no bus services from Tamarindo to this sector of the park. All buses to this area leave directly from downtown Santa Cruz. This means taking a bus from Tamarindo to Santa Cruz and once there take the bus to Playa Grande. This whole trip would take approximately 2 hours. However there are other options that could help you out.

You can take a road taxi or an uber from Tamarindo to Playa Grande or Playa Ventanas, which will cost you between ¢11,000 and ¢13,000 per trip. Another option is using a water cab to cross estuary from Playa Tamarindo to Playa Grande. Water cabs operate from 8 am until 5 pm with prices varying between ¢1,000 up to $5, depending on where you take the water cab from and supply/demand etc. You can take the water taxi either directly at estuary itself or from Grateful Hotel

Entrance to the south sector of Playa Langosta with a two-lined street, informational signs, and a wooden fence under a clear sky
Playa Langosta – Main Entrance and Parking

Southern sector

By Car

To get to southern sector it’s only a short drive of 1.5 km (1 mile) going after Tamarindo towards playa langosta. You will have to park on the street, just be careful not to park in front of a garage.

Taxi and Uber also available from Tamarindo to Playa Langosta which will cost you between ¢2,000 and ¢3,000.

By Public Transportation

There is no direct bus to Langosta from Tamarindo.
As Tamarindo is a very touristic area, all buses arrive and depart from this area.

Entrance Fee & Opening Times

Las Baulas National Marine Park is available all year round from six in the morning until six in the evening. Nevertheless, while it’s sea turtle nesting season spans from October to February, the park closes at 5 p.m., one hour earlier. The closing time applies equally to each sector of this park but with much attention being given towards Playa Grande sector.

Entering the park is free for every sector; hence you can enjoy the beaches and most estuaries without any cost. The only activity that incurs a cost is the Tamarindo Estuary Tour, that lasts for two hours and costs $35 per person.

Sign for Las Baulas Marine National Park featuring a green sea turtle illustration, with quotes in Spanish and English: 'La naturaleza es un espectáculo que se desarrolla frente a nosotros.' and 'Nature is a show that plays in front of us.' - Aristotle.

Access to Beaches

Las Baulas Marine National Park has four beaches, each with different access points.

Playa Grande

Playa Grande has multiple access points, one of which is the main one visible from the public street, across a small parking area that leads you to the beach. Another way in is located in front of the RipJack Inn hotel and a 70 mts (229 ft) path takes you to the beach. Through Palm Beach Estates there is also an entryway by a 100 mts (328 ft) path.

Wide view of Playa Grande beach with smooth sand, gentle waves, and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
Playa Grande

Playa Ventanas

There are two ways to reach Playa Ventanas. One is through a public road that ends with no exit where vehicles can be left as well, and the other access is through Playa Grande, which can be reached walking from there.

Playa Carbon

Playa Carbon can be accessed through Playa Ventanas during low tide only; there are no other access routes.

Empty Playa Ventanas beach with smooth sand, gentle waves, and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
Playa Ventanas

Playa Langosta / Playa Pacifica

To get to this beach you walk about two minutes through a small forest following a 100 mts (328 ft) path. The trail is clearly marked and well-maintained. Playa Pacífica on Langosta’s south side can be accessed through Hacienda Pinilla or by crossing the estuary; it’s recommended to cross the estuary during low tide and dry season but beware of crocodiles.

View of Playa Langosta with waves crashing on rocky shorelines, sandy beach, and a clear blue sky.
Playa Langosta

Things to Do at Las Baulas Marine National Park

Surf

The beaches at Las Baulas Marine National Park have strong currents and offer good waves for surfing. Among surfers Playa Grande is famously known for its awesome waves and it’s recommended for experienced surfers and strong swimmers.

Next to Playa Grande, Playa Ventanas offers similar surfing conditions although its waves aren’t as strong; it can be a good alternative if you’re looking for slightly calmer waters.

Also being a surfing beach, surfers need to be cautious of rocks in this location at Playa Langosta.

Boats anchored in the water near Tamarindo, with a sandy shoreline, trees, and a clear blue sky

Tamarindo Estuary Tour

The Tamarindo Estuary Tour offers an opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat while cruising along. During the tour, you may see birds, monkeys, crocodiles among others while learning about mangrove ecosystems and their importance towards environment.

Different companies offer estuary tours at different prices, but you can go directly to the booth and book a tour for $35 per person.

Walking through the Beach

Walking along the beach is a great way to enjoy the landscape of Las Baulas Marine National Park.

Playa Grande is the longest beach in the park stretching 3.8 km (2. miles) from end to end; if you’re still feeling energetic you can continue walking to Playa Ventanas which has a length of 1.13 km (0.7 miles) or if you want to explore even further a 630 mts (2,066 ft) walk will take you to Playa Carbon known for its unique black and white sand.

Playa Langosta runs 1.18 km (0.7 miles) from Punta San Francisco which marks its division with Tamarindo, until the estuary. The southern side of Playa Langosta called Playa Pacifica extends 1.26 km (0.8 miles) beyond the estuary.

When hiking, be cautious around marshes as they are home to crocodiles; it’s best not to cross them, especially during the rainy season.

Beach scene showing the division between Playa Grande and Playa Ventanas with a large rock formation on the left, a person walking on the sand, and the ocean under a clear blue sky

Best Time to Go to Las Baulas Marine National Park

The best time for visiting Las Baulas Marine National Park is during dry season, especially December, January, and February when there is a nice breeze and temperatures are more comfortable.

Guanacaste is Costa Rica’s hottest and driest province; during March and April –the hottest months of the year– temperatures can surpass 38°C.

When it comes to rainy season trips, mornings are the most ideal time to go as rain usually falls in the afternoon.

Two spiral seashells partially buried in the sand at Playa Grande

Tips for Visiting Las Baulas Marine National Park

  • Shoes: Preferably water shoes or sports sandals with closed toes. There are rocky parts at the beach, and sometimes the sand can be very hot during certain hours of the day.
  • Gear: Bring a small backpack to carry towels and a mat for sitting on the sand. Also pack some snacks and drinks. Sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and mosquito repellent should not be forgotten.
  • Clothing: Dress in light summer clothes.
  • There are no stores, restaurants, or vendors on these beaches, so bring everything you need for the day. Neither public showers or restrooms.
  • If you prefer less crowded beaches, avoid visiting on weekends, New Year’s Eve, and holidays. If you do visit on these dates, arrive early to secure parking.
  • Turtles lay their eggs on these beaches so please take all your garbage with you when you leave and follow the nesting season schedule.
  • The number of nesting turtles have gone down because leatherback turtles are endangered. Guided tours are not available during nesting season so be careful if someone offers it to you.
  • Be aware of crocodiles in the estuaries. Check your surroundings and avoid crossing them, especially during the rainy season.

Las Baulas Marine National Park Tourist Map

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