Playa Buena — Attraction in Sardinal

Great beach. Things to know: -- Go at high tide if you want to swim with a sandy bottom, hip to chest deep. There is a barrier of rock that shows at low tide, but at high tide it serves to break the waves a good bit before the nice sandy-bottom swimming hole. -- Go at low tide if you want there to be substantial beach area to be able to lay or sit on (this beach area is what becomes the sandy bottom swimming hole at high tide), OR if you want to snorkel. (more snorkel info below) -- Maria and others give massages on portable massage tables tucked up underneath the trees with clean linens and oil. Prices are quite agreeable (better than any of the spas in the towns, for sure) and yet it really is a VERY good massage. Maria. God bless Maria. -- There are stacks of lounger chairs that belong to the resort, but they don't mind other people sitting on them. -- As others have mentioned, bring your own food and drinks, and you do have to walk down a path from where you park your car in order to access the beach. -- SNORKELING. Please see the photo I have attached to see where the snorkeling is best. We went to the Left/ West side of the rock barrier thinking that since there were more rocks over there, there would be more sea life. Nope. Minimal life other than awful sea urchins and the water is sandy and murky. This area is marked with an X in the photo I have uploaded. Go to the Right/East side of the rock barrier (circled in the photo). There are some brain coral, but mostly small rock out-croppings and lots of life even between these areas. We saw puffers, angel fish, snowflake eels, lots of smaller fish we don't know the names of, trumpet fish, juvenile damselfish, a few seemingly lost Sargent majors, and a small stingray (so be careful where you set your foot down, and shuffle when in doubt). We liked this spot, but we did hear from our dive master the next day that they think Ocotal beach is better...

Located 30 minutes from Liberia Airport, this tiny yet stunning beach is a must-see destination for those looking for less touristy beaches in the Guanacaste area. The waves are calm, basically feels like a huge pool with warm water. It’s perfect for bathing and snorkeling. As soon as you step in the white sand, you can tell that not many people go there. Your feet sinks in the sand a little bit but it’s so soft it just hugs your feet. You will find a lot of hermit crabs and howler monkeys around and the view is spectacular. Drive about 1 km up the road from the Occidental Papagayo Hotel until you reach the end of the road. There is nothing around besides trees, cliffs, the sound of the ocean and wildlife. After passing this viewpoint (150 meters), you will find a path to your right side. Walk down the hill and you will find yourself stumbling onto a gorgeous beach. Also, at the entrance of the path you can walk out over the cliff and get a breathtaking panoramic view...

Best beach in the area. We drove to 3 other beaches, all very pretty but a very steep and uneven hike, not great for kids or elderly folk. Playa Buena on the other hand was perfect! It was still a little bit of a walk, but there was a paved walkway which made it much easier to get to. The water was also incredibly calm and clear. Additionally, if you really wanted to, you could get a 40 minute massage on the beach by a vendor for $20. I recommend you bring your own food and drinks as there’s nowhere there to eat. There are restaurants in town that are just 7 minutes away if you plan on eating...