Why the comparison matters
When guests staying at Casa Bonita Beach ask about beaches, they usually have the same question: which one is right for our group today? The answer depends on what the group wants. Not all three beaches serve the same purpose, and understanding the difference saves a lot of time and sets the right expectations.
Hacienda Pinilla has access to several beach areas. The three that guests visit most frequently are Playa Bonita (the closest, a 5-minute walk from the villa), Playa Avellanas (home of the Beach Club and the famous surf break), and Playa Langosta (dramatic and wild, great for walks and sunsets). Here is how they compare.
Playa Bonita: tide pools, snorkeling, and sunsets
Best for: snorkeling, tide pool exploring, sunset walks, wildlife spotting.
Not for: open-water swimming, young children in the water without supervision.
Playa Bonita is the beach that surprises guests most. The shoreline is rocky with reef formations that make casual swimming difficult, but at low tide those same formations create a natural lagoon that is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Guanacaste coast. Guests have reported lobsters, sea turtles, parrotfish, and a range of reef fish in water that can be knee-deep in places. It is entirely wild and unhurried. Full guide: Playa Bonita at low tide.
The sunset from Playa Bonita is exceptional. The beach faces west, the rock formations create a dramatic foreground, and on most evenings the group has it almost to themselves. This is the beach for the final-night walk. It is also the route that connects, via a short coastal hike, to the JW Marriott and from there to the Beach Club.
Playa Avellanas: the Beach Club, Little Hawaii, and the full day out
Best for: surfing, spending the full day out, pool swimming, dining on the beach, large groups who want service.
Not for: quiet solitude, casual open-water swimming without surfing awareness.
Playa Avellanas is the community's most developed beach, and for good reason. The surf break called "Little Hawaii" is consistently ranked among the top ten beaches in Central America and draws surfers from around the world. The waves are not for beginners in peak season but the concierge can arrange lessons with instructors who know how to work with groups of mixed ability.
The Beach Club on the north end of the beach is the best place to spend a full day out. Infinity pool, beachfront restaurant and tiki bar, spa treatment rooms, sun loungers, ocean views, and full food and drink service. Entry is approximately $10 per person. Most groups visit at least two or three times during the week. Stay in Tamarindo's Hacienda Pinilla guide has a detailed breakdown of Beach Club facilities.
Playa Langosta: wild coastline for long walks and serious surfers
Best for: long walks, photography, sunset watching, intermediate and advanced surfing.
Not for: families looking for calm shallow water, anyone wanting beach amenities.
Playa Langosta is the most dramatic of the three. Rocky outcroppings alternate with stretches of wild sand, and at certain tides the beach has a cinematic quality that rewards the walk. There are no facilities here, no Beach Club, no food service. That is part of the appeal. It is the beach for a long morning walk before breakfast, or a late afternoon when you want to see the coast as it is without infrastructure around it.
The surf at Playa Langosta rewards intermediate to advanced surfers, especially during green season when the Pacific swells arrive. During dry season the conditions are calmer. The concierge can advise on conditions when you are here.
Which beach for which day
A working week of beaches
- Morning after arrival: Playa Bonita walk and tide pool explore. Get oriented. See the coastline. Check the monkeys on the way.
- First full beach day: Beach Club at Playa Avellanas. Settle into the loungers. Let the group do their own thing. Lunch at the tiki bar.
- Surf lesson day: Playa Avellanas. The concierge arranges instructors. Beginners to intermediates, all levels.
- Low tide morning: Playa Bonita for snorkeling. Check the tide chart the evening before. This is the one most guests remember longest.
- Quiet walk day: Playa Langosta. Go early. Bring water. No facilities.
- Last evening: Playa Bonita for the sunset. Walk back to the villa for the chef dinner.
Want help planning beach days for your group?
Tell us your dates and we can check the tide windows for low-tide snorkeling and suggest the best timing for each beach.
