There was a time when many beaches in Costa Rica remained “undiscovered” and “secret” , hidden away from tourists and protected by nature, without access roads, signs, or anything that will give away their location.

Nowadays with technology and the availability of information it is very difficult to keep anything a secret, especially when it comes to paradisaical beaches. Yet, there are a few small beaches that although are known to locals, are not usually mentioned in tourism brochures, sometimes these are located very close to other more popular touristic places that gather all the attention.

We will let you in five of these “secluded” beaches in the Guanacaste area, which if you are up for adventure and want to get away from the crowds are great alternatives for your vacation time in Costa Rica:

Playa Naranjo: This one might not be a secret to locals; Naranjo beach is located within the Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste, it extends for 6.6 kilometers and it’s a protected area because it is a nesting site for sea turtles during the months of August through December. The beach offers great surfing conditions particularly in the area known as “Roca Bruja”, Witch Rock. Getting to Playa Naranjo is an adventure on its own, the “road” there is in bad conditions so getting an experienced local to drive you there might be the best option, if you decide to go on your own, beware that there is no cell phone signal, if you get stuck here you may be in trouble. There is a park ranger always in the area, and they will charge you if you want to enter the camping area. No buildings, no houses, nothing, just the park ranger station.

Playa Hachal: Also located in the Santa Rosa National Park, Hachal beach is part of the Murcielago sector, the 6km beach features white smooth stones instead of sand, as with Naranjo beach it is of difficult access, only recommended during the dry months (December-April).

Playa San Miguel: Located close to Punta Islita, south from Samara, this small beach is beautiful and peaceful, with only one rental house in the place (Sand Dollar Cove), there are a few restaurants about a 5 minute drive from the beach, but aside from this, is all green forest.

Playa Coyote: Close by to Playa San Miguel, Playa Coyote is as secluded as it gets, quiet, and with spectacular views this is a great place for swimming and there is even a small area in the south where surfers can find good conditions to practice. Camping is an option here.

Playa Junquillal: Located 20km south of Tamarindo beach, Junquillal is a 3km pristine beach, perfect for surfers, but also for families just wanting to have fun in the sun. There are a few hotels in the area, but in general it doesn’t get too much visitation.