Forbes just named Guanacaste, Costa Rica one of the best places to visit in 2026. As locals who live, work, and host guests across this coast, here's our honest take on where to stay — and what makes each town different.
Guanacaste's Gold Coast stretches along Costa Rica's Pacific shore, a string of beach towns each with its own personality. Some buzz with surf schools and sunset bars. Others move at the pace of a golf cart. The trick to a great trip is matching the town to the way you actually want to vacation.
Below are our hand-picked rentals in each of the five best beach towns. These are properties we personally manage and vet.
Quick note: Now that Forbes has put Guanacaste on the global radar, peak season is filling up faster than ever. If a property below catches your eye, book sooner rather than later!
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1. Tamarindo — Where All the Action Is
Tamarindo is the energetic heart of Guanacaste. Tons of restaurants, a coffee shop on every corner, a real nightlife scene, and one of the best beaches in the world to learn to surf. Spend your mornings in the water, your afternoons café-hopping, and your evenings at a beachfront sunset bar. If you want everything within walking distance — with the option to do a lot or a little — this is home base.
Where to stay in Tamarindo
Cloud Nine — Best for groups, friends' trips, and celebrations. Spacious layout with room to gather and exceptional views.
Matapalo 501 — Best for couples, remote workers, and longer stays. A more refined option with all the convenience of Tamarindo.
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2. Flamingo — Upscale, Boating-Focused, and Stunning
Flamingo is Guanacaste at its most elevated. A brand new marina, high-end restaurants, and one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the country. Days here look like sport fishing or sunset sails out of the marina, dinner at a waterfront restaurant, and long afternoons on what locals consider the prettiest stretch of sand on the coast. The pace is slower than Tamarindo, the views are bigger, and the experience feels like a step up.
Where to stay in Flamingo
Casa Azura — Best for families and groups who want space and amenities. The kind of villa that makes the trip feel like an event.
Flamingo Cove 10 — Best for couples who want the view. Elevated, private, and built around watching the Pacific.
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3. Playa Potrero — A 1950s Beach Town Vibe
Potrero is reminiscent of a 1950s beach town — laid back and easy. It's flat, so you can get around by golf cart or bike. Fun local restaurants, a great brewery, and one of the calmest beaches for swimming in the entire region — glassy enough most mornings to paddleboard or kayak right off the sand. This is the pick if you want to actually slow down.
Where to stay in Playa Potrero
Villa Verde — Best for groups who want room to breathe. Generous indoor-outdoor living for multi-family trips.
Villa Ballena — Best for large families or groups. A peaceful retreat that captures everything we love about Potrero.
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4. Playa Langosta — Tamarindo's Quieter, Upscale Side
Langosta is the quieter, more upscale side of Tamarindo — close enough to walk to everything, far enough to escape the crowds. The beach has great tide pools at low tide (perfect if you have kids), though it's rockier than Tamarindo's main beach. This is the move when you want the convenience of Tamarindo but the calm of a residential beach community — sunset walks on a near-empty beach, with dinner in town just minutes away.
Where to stay in Playa Langosta
Peninsula 29 — Best for families and couples who want luxury without the noise. The setting alone justifies the trip.
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5. Playa Grande — A True Surfer's Paradise
Playa Grande is a true surfer's paradise — consistent waves, a strong yoga and wellness scene, and a more natural, laid-back feel overall. It's also one of the last protected leatherback turtle nesting beaches in the world. Long empty stretches of sand at sunrise, surf sessions through the day, and casual dinners at local surf-town restaurants by night. The insider's pick for travelers who want fewer crowds and more nature.
Where to stay in Playa Grande
Casa Aguila — Best for surf trips and couples. Big views, quiet at night.
Villa Brisas — Best for families and wellness-focused trips. Space to spread out and recover after the water.
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Not Sure Which Town Is Right for You?
Every town on this list is great, but they're great for different reasons. If you'd like a personal recommendation, send us a quick message with your travel dates, group size, and what you're looking for. We'll match you to the right town and the right property, and we can often offer direct booking rates better than Airbnb.
Get a personalized rental recommendation
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Falling in Love With One of These Towns?
Most of our clients started exactly where you might be right now, a vacation in Guanacaste that turned into "could we actually live here?" If one of these towns is pulling at you, we'd love to show you what owning a piece of it looks like. From beachfront condos in Flamingo to surf homes in Playa Grande and turn-key rental investments across the coast, our team lives and works in every one of these towns.
No pressure, no obligation, just a real conversation with people who know the market from the inside.
Explore Guanacaste real estate → | Schedule a discovery call →
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See you in Costa Rica!
— Sarah Breitlander
