We cover these beaches, as well as the town, in our Potrero post. Potrero is more spread out and has several different beaches to discover. Just five minutes north is the town of Potrero, which has a mixed community of locals, expats, and tourists. With one, you can find a different feel in every direction. Since Flamingo doesn’t have much local culture, those wanting to explore a bit may want to rent a car. These can be rented in town and are a lot of fun! The main street going through Flamingo Most amenities are located in one general area, so you’ll see lots of people getting around by golf cart. Besides the beach, there are several great restaurants, a grocery store, some shops, and plenty of activities to keep you busy (see below). While small, Playa Flamingo has everything you need. The southern end is typically less busy, but a popular restaurant called Coco Loco (see Restaurants section, below) can draw a crowd around lunchtime and sunset.

This is because it’s an easier walk from nearby accommodations, including condos and the Margaritaville Beach Resort. The northern end of Playa Flamingo is usually the busiest. The waves are generally small but can be powerful at times, so use caution when wading in.

It has a slight pink hue in certain light, hence the Flamingo name. The sand along Flamingo Beach is a light, white color. You’ll be fine as long as you don’t touch them, and if you are worried, there are beach chair and umbrella rentals available too. Sap from the leaves, bark, or fruit can cause a skin rash and blisters. Beware, though, that some of these are manchineel trees, a type of poisonous apple. Along the upper part of the beach, you’ll find some shrubby trees that provide a little shade. The beach at Flamingo is only about one mile long (1.5 km) but is the perfect spot to dig your toes in the sand and relax. Inland along the main road (Route 180) are a few other restaurants, hotels, and homes dotted into the landscape among farm fields and forest. On the northern corner of town, a large marina (currently being expanded) sits protected behind a rocky point. The central area remains just pristine beach. Instead, each hilly end of this beach has been built up with condos, hotels, vacation rental homes, shops, and restaurants. But Flamingo has no real town center and the land behind its beach is sheltered from development because of a large mangrove forest. Most destinations are either set back from a main beach or centered around a downtown square or soccer field. Playa Flamingo has a different setup than other towns in Costa Rica. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose is about five hours away.Īll roads getting to Playa Flamingo are relatively flat and paved. The closest major airport is Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, about one hour away. Playa Flamingo is located in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province along the northern Pacific coast. In this post, we’ll share everything you need to plan a visit to Playa Flamingo.

Famous for its small sandy cove, this highly developed beach town provides travelers with high-end amenities and stunning sea views. This, essentially, is what to expect in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. A beach umbrella flutters with the sea breeze. Your condo or vacation rental sits perched on a rocky point nearby. Imagine laying on a fluffy white-sand beach, backed by quiet mangroves.

Playa flamingo costa rica all inclusive