Playa Conchal, Costa Rica; A Beach Made of Shells

The Costa Rica beaches are called 'playas' that is the Spanish word for the beach. These Costa Rica beaches are considered to be the world's most heavenly and exotic beaches.

What makes the Costa Rica beaches exclusive is the variety. There are rocky beaches as well as sandy ones. You will also find Costa Rica beaches with a border of palms. The sand of the Costa Rica beaches ranges from golden and gray to black and even pink. You may even find vast stretches of white sandy beaches too. The picturesque coastline of Costa Rica can be a feast for the eyes.

Playa Conchal issituated only two kilometers far from Playa Brasilito. This amazing beach is also a stones throw away from the famous Playa Flamingo and Tamarindo. Together with Playa Brasilito, this beach is separated by a rocky headland known as Punta Conchal, which gets its name from the sand found here that is composed of hundreds of millions of tiny crushed shells.

It looks as if you are walking on normal sand, but when you look down, you discover in astonishment that the shiny white sand is actually made of tiny crushed shells! Playa Conchal is a tropical beach in every aspect. Beautifull shells, green scenery, hot sun and the best, the water. It's only when swimming in Playa Conchal when you trully undestand why this beach is so special. The crystal clear water of the sea is so soft, it feels like swimming between layers of silk.

What is more, the water in this beach area is so clean, you can see all the little fishes swimming next to you. That makes Playa Conchal a favourite spot for divers and snorkelers, especially around the corners rocks and cliffs of Brasilito.

This four kilometer beach stretch is accessible by air from San Jose to Tamarindo Airport, from where you can take a 10-minute taxi ride into town. Still, you can also get here by taxi from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, but it is around a 45-minute drive. If you love traveling, you can enjoy a lovely scenic drive from San Jose to Playa Conchal, which takes around 4 hours.

The impressive resort of Paradisus Playa Conchal is situated close to the beach and it is one of the best hotels on the coast, offering a fantastic array of marine life on display that you can enjoy and even swim with the many tropical fish that dwell here and catch a glimpse of stingrays that swim in the area. For the more adventurous, deep seas fishing, scuba diving, and other water sports are offered as well.

If you get tired of the beach, Playa Conchal is also close to several national parks and natural reserves and nearby there is a small estuary as well. Surrounded by a number of cattle ranches, Playa Conchal also has quite a few areas where one can camp out and sleep under the stars.