Guanacaste · Costa Rica — Where the sunset is a daily event.
GOLD COAST
Fifty kilometers of Pacific coastline where surf towns, five-star kitchens and howler monkeys share the same golden hour. This is the magazine — and the concierge — for Costa Rica's Gold Coast.
Curated with The Costa Rica Experience — private, local, unhurried.
- 300+ days of sun
- 45 min from LIR airport
- Nicoya Blue Zone
- 50 km of Pacific coast
The coast
One coastline. Every kind of golden.
From Papagayo's calm coves to Nosara's endless lefts, the Gold Coast packs an improbable amount of life into one sunny corner of Costa Rica.
Adventure on tap
World-class surf at Tamarindo, Avellanas and Nosara, sport fishing out of Flamingo's marina, waterfalls and volcano hikes a day-trip away.
A food scene that surprises
Beachfront ceviche sodas, wood-fire kitchens and chef's tables in Tamarindo and Las Catalinas — the Gold Coast eats far above its size.
Community with a conscience
Local NGOs, kids' surf programs and beach-cleanup crews keep this coast generous. We cover them — and show you how to pitch in.
300+ days of sun, one long golden hour
The driest, sunniest coast in the country — which is why the sailboats, the surf camps and the best sunset restaurants all ended up here.
Now in the journalDestinations
The must-visit stops on the Gold Coast.
Four towns, four personalities — all within an hour of Liberia's international airport.
Let's make you feel amazed
See all guides
Surf & nightlife
Tamarindo
The coast's lively capital: learn-to-surf waves, sunset bars and the best restaurant mile in Guanacaste.
Marina & villas
Playa Flamingo
White sand, a world-class marina and hillside villas with the coast's most photographed sunsets.
Turquoise & tradition
Conchal & Brasilito
A shell-sand beach with swimming-pool water next to a working beach village — the coast's best double act.
Surf & wellness
Nosara
Jungle-backed beach breaks, yoga shalas and a slow-living scene that made it famous worldwide.
Experience of the week
Don't just see the Gold Coast. Live it.
Horseback at low tide, Tamarindo estuary
Ride the wet sand at dawn where the estuary meets the sea — herons, empty beach, and a guide who grew up on these horses.
Come see it in person — Trip planning by The Costa Rica Experience — local, licensed, unhurried.
Beyond the beach
Iconic sights within a day trip.
Río Celeste & the waterfalls
Sky-blue water pouring through rainforest — the day trip that turns visitors into repeat visitors.
Cloud-forest hanging bridges
Walk the canopy above the treetops — monkeys, sloths and a climate change of scenery in ninety minutes.
Scarlet macaws & wildlife
Macaws over the palms at dawn, howler monkeys as your alarm clock — the coast's residents with feathers.
The Gold Coast journal
Stories worth the flight.
Beaches, restaurants, adventures, culture and the people making this coast better — covered by locals who live it, three times a week.
When the vacation isn't enough
Own your slice of the Gold Coast.
Most people leave. Some check the listings on the flight home. When you're ready, two smart doors in:
nya.cr
NYA — Crystal Lagoon residences
A resort-style community around Guanacaste's crystal lagoon, minutes from Conchal. Modern residences built for lock-and-leave ownership.
Discover NYA
c21beachproperties.com
Vacation rentals that pay their way
Century 21 Beach Properties curates homes and condos that already perform as vacation rentals — own the place you love visiting.
Browse rental propertiesPostcards from guests
What a week here does to people.
Sarah & Mike
Austin, TX — first visit 2025
“We came for a wedding in Tamarindo and spent the flight home checking real estate listings. The sunset sail sealed it.”
The Bergmans
Toronto — family of five
“Our guide knew every soda, every tide pool, every monkey tree between Flamingo and Nosara. Best-organized trip we've ever taken.”
Danielle R.
Denver — solo traveler
“I surfed at sunrise, ate like royalty at noon and watched macaws from the pool at five. Explain to me why I live anywhere else.”
Plan your scouting trip
Don't miss the chance to live the Gold Coast.
One conversation with our concierge partner turns a someday-trip into dates on a calendar — flights, villas, boats and reservations handled.
thecostaricaexperience.com
Say pura vida
Tell us what your perfect week looks like.
Surf mornings or spa afternoons, chef dinners or ceviche in a plastic chair — tell us the vibe and we'll point you to the right people, places and dates.