Tamarindo, Playa Grande
Map of Playa Grande :
[ Hyperlinks on the map are marked in orange color ]
Playa Grande is only a shell's throw away from Tamarindo but it feels worlds apart from its neighbor in the south.
Vacationers here are mostly eco-tourists and surfers who wish to escape the crowds enjoying instead tranquility, nature attractions and perfect surf.
The beach of Playa Grande is a mile-long crescent of fine, white sand backed by a coastal vegetation which the constant ocean breeze
has shaped into a conical form.
Walking bare-foot you sink deeply into the soft sand. Avoid however to walk on the upper part of the beach
as you might destroy turtle egg layings.
The beach of Playa Grande forms part of the National Park Las Baulas which protects Costa Rica's most important nesting
site of leatherback sea turtles.
Construction in Playa Grande is set back from the beach to conserve the shoreline and at night lights must be shielded so that
turtles are not disturbed.
The neighborhood of Playa Grande is mainly composed of foreigners who use their luxury villas only for vacations.
A scattering of tranquil hotels and restaurants cater to eco-tourists or those who come for the surf — Playa Grande boasts
one of the best surf breaks in Costa Rica.
See » Surf in Tamarindo and surrounding beaches
Swimming however is not advisable as strong rip currents can draw even experienced swimmers into the open sea.
A short walk north of Playa Grande is another pristine beach in a small bay:
Playa Ventanas which offers tidepools for a safe and lazy bath.
On the north end of Playa Ventanas is a rocky point backed by a wooded promontory: Cabo Velas, Costa Rica's
utmost western point. At low tide you can walk from Playa Ventanas along the beach to the next cove, the black-sand
beach of Playa Carbon surrounded by dramatic beach wilderness and caves in the rocks.
Playa Grande: Las Baulas National Park
Las Baulas National Park seeks to protect one of the world's most important nesting sites of the leatherback sea turtles. Leatherbacks are the world's largest reptile, growing to over 2 meters in length (7 feet or more) and weighing up to 600 kilos. (See in the Wildlife Guide: Sea turtles)
Leatherback Sea Turtle on Playa Grande
These gentle giants of the oceans are on the brink of extinction. Egg poaching and encroaching development threatens their nesting spots, but the major culprit for their rapid decline are commercial shrimping vessels and long-line fishing boats in whose nets the turtles drown. Therefore, the larger portion of the national park isn't terrestrial: 22,000 hectares of the ocean in front of Playa Grande form part of Las Baulas National Park.
Most turtles nest on Playa Grande October through February. During that time of the year, after dusk visitors are only allowed on the beach with a guide.