Central America
Costa Rica
Province of Guanacaste
Playa Conchal
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Playa Conchal
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Playa Conchal

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Playa Conchal
4.5
About
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
72 within 3 miles
Papaya Restaurant
500
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Healthy • Costa Rican
Masala Indian Restaurant Brasilito
107
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Indian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
El Oasis Bar & Restaurant
55
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • Seafood • Central American
Soda Brasilito
218
0.6 mi$ • Latin • Seafood • Central American
Cocina de Mercado
14
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • International • Mediterranean
Latitud 10° Norte
17
0.5 mi$$$$ • Thai • Fusion • South American
La Casita del Pescado
117
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • Seafood • Central American
Patagonia Del Mar
225
0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • International • Sushi
Ander's Restaurant
249
0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • Seafood • International
Soda el Coco
107
0.6 mi$ • Latin • Seafood • Central American
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Attractions
16 within 6 miles
Brasilito Beach
115
0.6 miBeaches
Playa Flamingo
100
2.6 miBeaches
Potrero Beach
294
Bodies of Water • Beaches
Playa Mina
45
1.7 miBeaches
Marina Flamingo
16
2.8 miMarinas
Las Baulas National Marine Park
262
National Parks
Costa Rica Yoga Center
20
Sports Camps & Clinics
Playa Danta
90
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Beaches
Playa Dantita
46
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Beaches
Monday Moonlight Market
3
2.7 miFarmers Markets
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See what travelers are saying
  • Amy M
    San Diego, California49 contributions
    Beautiful and peaceful beach
    We love to spend a day at Playa Conchal when visiting either Tamarindo or Playa Grande. The beach is beautiful and on a nice peaceful bay. Towards the end of the beach are some rocks that the kids have fun snorkeling around if it’s not windy . Many times there are locals who will rent easy ups and chairs for the day, which is really nice since it’s a bit of a walk from either end to have to carry chairs and umbrellas . There is always food and drinks being sold - really good blended drinks with fresh fruit (with or without alcohol). On our most recent visit we rented jet skis for a couple hours and it was a great place for the kids to ride around. We parked in Brasilitos in a pay lot and then walked over.
    Visited November 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written February 5, 2023
  • Jan H
    Covington, Washington7 contributions
    Visit to Playa Conchal
    The best time to visit/walk the beach is sunrise. Beach is empty and beautiful at this time. Shells are on the northern end of beach and as you walk south turns to clean sand with a few shells. Rember take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but foot prints. We stayed near Playa Brasilito and walked to Paya Conchal. During the day there is a steady stream of visitors heading south to Playa Conchal.
    Visited March 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 7, 2023
  • Cyrena L
    Arvada, Colorado115 contributions
    The perfect beach
    This beach is gorgeous! Perfect for young kids as the water is warm, not choppy, and gradually deepens. Snorkeling was good! We saw many fish and even a sting ray. We loved it so much we went back everyday we were in the region.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written July 12, 2023
  • Trisha M
    15 contributions
    Sunday Funday Beach Day
    Beautiful, beautiful beach! Incredibly clear water and lots of gorgeous shells to look at. It was a bit crowded when we went, but it was also on a Sunday afternoon, so that may just be a day to try to avoid!
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 23, 2023
  • Tim A
    1 contribution
    Best Beach Massage
    This is a big shout out to Kaylee, Jose, and Sara who provided the best beach massages we’ve ever had at a beach resort. They are friendly, non-persistent, and respectful of “no thank you”. That and the fact that they keep their beach area tidy is what attracted us to them in the first place. If you pop by, give them a pura vida from Tim (Tin) and Wendy. I will reserve my full review of the Westin Reserva Conchal for the end of my stay, however, let me say that for the past 12 days, they have exceeded our expectations.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 21, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,405 reviews
Excellent
941
Very good
310
Average
113
Poor
25
Terrible
16
fnct
Succasunna, NJ799 contributions
Why would you go to this beach?
Jan 2020
I don't get it. The beach is not very long and it is busy with hawkers and tourists. You have to pay to use the bathroom. The shell beach is just broken sea shells that are ground into shards that are unpleasant to walk on.

The views are nice and you can see the sunset. That is true everywhere along the pacific coast of Costa Rica.

If your not staying at the Westin which backs up to this beach, you need to walk in about 15 minutes from a parking area in Brasalito. If I was a guest at the Westin Resort and this was my beach that I am paying $500 a night for, I would be less than pleased.

Your best off paying $4 to park in the soccer field in town. They will watch your car. It is right along a strip of shacks that represent the shopping district and restaurants. You walk toward the beach and then talk the beach walk for ten minutes or so. This is not Conchal. You will be approached by folks looking to sell you excursions etc. They are harmless.

When we were there a few weeks ago, are walk included swarms of yellow and black marked snakes that washed up on the beach. Many dozens of them as we walked along. Found out later that these snakes inhabit these waters and they had come out because the water turned cooler. They are poisonous, but I was told they avoid you in the water. When we walked back to the car, a team of men were gathering the snakes using tongs. They take the venom to make anti-venom for more dangerous snakes in the same genetic family.

As you near the Conchal beach you will see more vendors selling hand made crafts and you will walk up a dirt incline into a pass through trees that are lined on both sides by locals sitting on rocks staring at you wanting to sell you something or rent you a chair.

You come out to the Conchal beach. circa hippie 1963, huts selling junk, people hawking drinks and massages.

Who wants to go in the water, on the other side of the breaker, just saw snakes coming out of the water. Stayed 10 minutes and headed for ZZZZ hills.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ankismile
Sankt Augustin, Germany152 contributions
Perfect for young kids!
Dec 2019 • Family
First time saw a beach made of broken sea shells. Beach is not too steep, so perfect for kids to enjoy in water. We went their on weekend, so was very busy. People tried to catch you to sell chairs and canopies. The full body massage for 10$ for 30 mins was an awesome deal. And cold coconut water helps you keep your cool in the heat..
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan O
2 contributions
Nina Massage at Playa Conchal
Jul 2021 • Couples
*Nina Massage* 5 stars, incredible!

My fiancé and I loved our massages from Nina y Nina (mother/daughter). Look for them between the beach/ocean and the Westin Hotel under the trees. They are situated around other massage tents, but trust me these two are worth a visit. Our first day we saw somebody else, then they found us the second day. After that we were hooked and went back to Nina Massage every day. We’ve had many professional massages in resorts, spas, etc. They were just as good if not better, we went with a “strong” massage, and it was very firm. They also do relaxed and medium if you like less. I’d recommend bringing your towels from the hotel, as that’s what we did. But they also had their own clean linens and alcohol spray.

At the time of the review, they charge $20 / per hour per person. Which was the going market rate with all the massage tents. I also encourage tipping on top of that if you like your massage!

Don’t think twice and get one, it’s a great experience. I recommend going in the morning when it’s not hot. They start around 07:30am.
Written July 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aida O
3 contributions
Beach massage
Jan 2022 • Couples
Mary and Mirijan highly recommended for beach massages 👍they are the best , the best quality of massages and the best price. Safe , clean and they are really focused on the part of the body need extra attention. Well done girls and thank you very much to make me feel amazing after your massages.
Written January 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthew A
Reading, PA109 contributions
One of the most beautiful beaches you’ll see
Jan 2020
Playa Conchal is dreamy. We parked at adjoining Brasalito, for $8 for all day, and walked down to Brazilito Beach and over to Playa Conchal, as there is no direct road up to it. There are a couple of fancy resort type places nestled in back behind the dunes, but you don’t see them from the beach. The sand is white and made up of lots of tiny shells and crushed shells, hence the name. If you walk 2/3 of the length of the beach (maybe a half mile) you go beyond the area when vendors approach you selling Knick knacks and beyond the are of people trying to sell you massages or wave runner rentals. You find yourself away from most of the people on a white sand beach with turquoise water most often associated with the Caribbean rather that the Pacific. It’s stunning. If you get hungry you can walk back down to the vendors or back to Brasilito to a number of restaurants on the beach. We did see a few rays swim by, as well as a venomous yellow bellied sea snake. Anyway. If you walk toward the far end you can find howler monkeys in the trees, of course Iguana are everywhere. We hiked up through the jungle at the far end of the beach to a “mirador” or lookout which was pretty high up. No one else was around. There is a parking lot all the way at the far end of this bay that appears to be used exclusively by locals and is not accessed from Brasilito. At some point, although in the same bay, they stop calling it Playa Conchal and it’s got some different name.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yeshko
34 contributions
A must-see
Aug 2021
If you are in Tamarindo area and don’t visit the Conchal Beach, you are missing a day of serenity at the most beaitiful beach of that area. I wish I could add my own pictures in this review, because the picture you see is not really showcasing the beauty of it. We went again the next day. It is 20 min taxi-ride for $15 or so.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg S
Sammamish, WA5 contributions
Holiday Vacation Adventure
Dec 2019 • Family
The Westin and Guanacaste region was a perfect fit for our family of five. We reserved two adjoining rooms. The property was beautiful and lush and well maintained. Lots of monkeys during our early morning walks! Not a big fan of the all inclusive concept but this Westin does it right. The buffet was really good and much better than expected based on some of the posts I read before taking the trip. It is true you should make dinner reservations early in the week as the prime times do get booked. The serving sizes tend to be small so order accordingly. We used room service a couple times; once upon our late arrival to the resort and again in the morning before the excursions we took. It wasn’t that great but met our needs for those situations. Maid service was very good and we never felt uneasy about our safety or belongings. Room safes are provided. The pool was large but an inefficient design. No beach view at the pool. The beach is just a just short walk. Tamarindo is about 30 minutes away and good for a half day visit for shopping and or dining on the beach. We didn’t go at night but heard that is fun if you are more into the nightlife scene. Many of the excursions are a 1.5 to 2 hour drive into the mountains. We did two different excursions and both were well worth making the time. Great stay and highly recommend. Pura Vida!
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caitlin
Grafton, MA1 contribution
MASSAGE IS A MUST
Jul 2021 • Family
Ask for Kelly and Sarah on the beach! I had a massage with two different people but Kelly was the best. My family member had Sarah twice and loved her both times. You may feel pushed away because the massage ladies harass you, but I promise the massage is not something to skip out on! $20 for one hour is a great rate, and quite frankly one of the best massages I’ve ever had. Thank you Kelly and Sarah!
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula D
142 contributions
A relaxing day at the beach
Feb 2021 • Couples
We went to Playa Conchal, the sand is not smooth because of the shells, but it was good. You just have to be careful when you walk. Some people were snorkeling. Eric help us with setting a tent, the chairs and the food, which was very good. The piña colada is refreshing but it does not have so much liquor. I got a massage on the beach and it was great it cost $20. I will say that this is not wheelchair accesible, because you have to park and then walk a little less than a mile on the sand and up and down a small mountain. It’s not hard at all and if you have things to carry, there are locals that will bring them to you for a small fee. You need to bring cash. There is a bathroom but you have to pay to use it.
Written February 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hercules9
Sedona, AZ29 contributions
Kenya for Professional & detailed Massage on the Beach
Nov 2021
Looking for a massage on the beach, well there are many offering their services. There were three of us who loved Kenya and she did a great thorough job. Kenya charges $30 for an hour massage and she'll work you according to your desires. Both of mine were deep tissue , but the second one was so intense (per my request), I almost had to tap out. She identifies tight muscles and works them out. Kenya is personable and professional. We strongly recommend her and she'll also offer a 1.5 hr. massage. She is just outside the exit from the Westin pool area. Thank you Kenya... Pura Vida! Gregorio
Written December 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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