Playa Potrero is positioned alongside the northwest Pacific coast of Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. Surrounded by rolling hills and luxurious tropical vegetation, it’s an attractive seaside sweeping round Potrero Bay. Whereas positioned proper subsequent door to the much more common Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero has continued to fly underneath the radar of most travellers to Costa Rica.
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The city of Potrero Seaside is sort of unassuming and quiet, making it the right place to loosen up away from the busier beaches of Guanacaste. It has a pleasant mixture of trip leases, beachfront eating places, and important facilities so that you just received’t really feel too distant from something. But, this small fishing village makes for the right base for exploring neighbouring seashores and having fun with the lapping waves of Playa Potrero.
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How you can Get to Playa Potrero
Being near different seaside cities on the Guanacaste coast, Playa Potrero could be very simple to achieve.
By Automobile
Playa Potrero is positioned simply 40 km or a 1-hour drive from Liberia Worldwide Airport, the closest worldwide airport in the event you take probably the most direct route on Route 911 (recognized regionally as Monkey Street). It is a just lately improved highway, but it surely’s nonetheless skinny in locations and impacted by seasonal flooding, so it’s finest to depart it for the dry season solely.
The extra frequent method of driving to Playa Potrero from Liberia is to method the seaside from the south by way of Playa Flamingo. This route is 66 km lengthy, takes round 1 hour 15 minutes, and is accessible all 12 months spherical.
From San Jose Worldwide Airport, the drive is round 258 km or nearly 4 hours.
By Bus/Shuttle
For price range travellers, there are public buses that depart San Jose 3 times per day for Potrero by way of Playa Flamingo. The journey takes round 6 hours.
From Santa Cruz, you’ll discover a number of public buses departing each day, taking about 2 hours to achieve Playa Potrero.
There are additionally shared shuttles from San Jose to Potrero, with a few departure instances per day. It prices round $59 per particular person.
Parking at Playa Potrero
There’s no formal parking for Playa Potrero. Nevertheless, for these with a rental automobile, you possibly can merely park on the aspect of the primary highway (Route 911), operating by means of the small village of Potrero. This implies you’ll have solely a brief stroll out of your automobile to the seaside, so make sure you lock your car and don’t depart valuables mendacity round on the seats.
Services at Playa Potrero
Playa Potrero, Costa Rica, is split into two totally different areas. The southern a part of city, nearer to Playa Flamingo, is named Surfside and is usually made up of trip leases and personal residences on the seaside, together with some nice eating places.
The northern finish of the seaside is the unique native township. That is house to a number of little snack stalls, sodas (native eating places), and a few smaller lodges. In any other case, on the sand, you received’t discover many amenities, however the palm timber lining the bay provide some shade for these eager to loosen up.
Issues to Do at Playa Potrero
From spectacular sunsets to fishing excursions, there are many issues to do at Playa Potrero and the environment.
Go for a Paddle
Because the bay is sheltered, the water is pretty calm with light waves. You’ll see folks making an attempt totally different water sports activities, together with stand-up paddleboarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, and even small sailboats that may be rented from the Costa Rica Crusing Middle proper in the course of the seaside.
Watch the Sundown
Potrero Bay is thought for stunning sunsets due to its place dealing with out to the Pacific Ocean. The Costa Rica Crusing Middle has one of many prime areas for sundown watching on the seaside, together with a bar for cocktails or different drinks.
In any other case, you can too go for a sundown stroll alongside the sand or perhaps a sundown cruise on one of many catamaran excursions leaving from the crusing middle.
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving Excursions
Potrero could be very near the Flamingo Marina which is the launching level for diving excursions to the Catalina Islands or Las Catalinas, only a 30-minute boat trip from shore. The rocky, uninhabited islands are the most effective diving spots in Costa Rica, house to every kind of marine life together with whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays, that are plentiful within the wet season.
Attempt Sportfishing
Playa Potrero has a fame amongst avid anglers for its sportfishing off the coast. Fisherman reel in record-sized fish, so it’s no shock fishing is extremely common within the space.
Travellers can head out on a half or full-day tour on the open sea with native charters providing fishing excursions from the close by marina or crusing middle.
Go to Different Close by Seashores
Whereas Playa Potrero is probably not probably the most scenic seaside in Guanacaste, there are several beautiful beaches in shut proximity. Simply south of Potrero is Playa Flamingo, one of the crucial common white sand seashores on the Pacific Coast. Even additional south, you can too go to the beautiful Playa Conchal for its clear water and sand crammed with shells.
In any other case, to the north, you possibly can discover Playa Prieta, Playa Penca, and Danta Seaside. It’s the right vacation spot for day journeys of seaside hopping within the Potrero space.
FAQs
Are you able to Swim at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero is ideally positioned on a peaceful and guarded bay. This makes it a really tranquil seaside with small waves, excellent for swimming. Nevertheless, with restricted lifeguard companies, make sure you regulate youngsters or weak swimmers.
Are you able to Fish at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero is a good fishing vacation spot. When you can throw a line in off the seaside, it’s even higher in the event you select to affix a fishing constitution from the marina or crusing middle. On these offshore adventures, you’ll have the possibility to catch larger species, together with Wahoo, Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, and Yellowfin Tuna.
Are you able to Surf at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero will not be one of the best place for browsing due to its protected waters. There are not often any surfable waves within the bay, so that you’ll should take a short trip up the coast for better surf. Attempt heading to Playa Grande for a seaside break for all ranges.
Is Playa Potrero Protected for Households?
Visiting Potrero is a incredible concept for households. The calm waters within the bay make it best for paddling and enjoying at the hours of darkness sand. It’s additionally far much less crowded than close by seashores, making it a extra stress-free time out with the children.
READ NEXT: Best Things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The place to Keep close to Playa Potrero
From trip properties to beachfront villas, there are many lodging to select from in Potrero Seaside.
Mid Vary/Funds Resort: Villas Pura Vibra
This quaint mid-range villa complicated is positioned simply again from the seaside. It gives double and triple villas with their very own personal patios overlooking the backyard and pool. Every villa feels a bit like your personal personal seaside home, with primary however comfy furnishings and decorations. The house owners are extraordinarily welcoming, plus it has a bar and lounge. Costs are from $150 per night time.
Luxurious Resort: Bahia Del Sol Hotel
This crowd favorite on Playa Potrero is a 4-star beachfront resort. It options plenty of darkish wooden, lush greenery, and earthy but fashionable decorations within the spacious rooms and suites. It additionally options an outside pool, scorching tub, onsite wellness middle, gourmand restaurant and swim-up bar. They’ve a powerful commitment to sustainability and may be categorised as a accountable eco-hotel. Costs are from $240 per night time.
The place to Eat: Greatest Eating places close to Playa Potrero
The Seaside Home Bar and Restaurant
On the southern finish of the seaside, this vibrant seaside shack has prime views of the bay, excellent for sundown drinks and native Costa Rica meals. Open each day from 11 am onwards; it’s usually tough to snag a desk with a few of the finest fish and chips on the coast, drawing loads of beachgoers. You’ll additionally discover pleased hour drink specials each night at sundown.
The Shack
An establishment in Potrero, The Shack is a laid-back restaurant positioned on the primary avenue in Surfside, only a quick stroll from the seaside. The informal open-air place gives non-fuss native meals, together with Mahi Mahi tacos, hen fajitas, breakfast burritos and ceviche. Each night time, they’ve pleased hour, together with dwell music and open mic nights all through the week.
Bar y Restaurante Las Brisas
On the far northern finish of the seaside, this native restaurant is among the hottest locations for seafood in Playa Potrero. From mahi mahi to purple snapper, fish is the spotlight together with sundown cocktails served with an impressive view of the bay in entrance.
The Backside Line
Whereas not the prettiest seaside in Costa Rica, Playa Potrero does have loads going for it. With its best location near a few of the most well-known seashores in Guanacaste, the seaside city gives a extra laid-back vacation spot to spend a couple of days exploring the great actions alongside the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
READ NEXT: Guide to Visiting Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
