Playa Potrero is located along the northwest Pacific coast of Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica. Surrounded by rolling hills and lush tropical vegetation, it’s a beautiful beach sweeping around Potrero Bay. While located right next door to the far more popular Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero has continued to fly under the radar of most travellers to Costa Rica.
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The town of Potrero Beach is quite unassuming and quiet, making it the perfect place to relax away from the busier beaches of Guanacaste. It has a nice combination of vacation rentals, beachfront restaurants, and essential amenities so that you won’t feel too far away from anything. Yet, this small fishing village makes for the perfect base for exploring neighbouring beaches and enjoying the lapping waves of Playa Potrero.
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How to Get to Playa Potrero
Being close to other beach towns on the Guanacaste coast, Playa Potrero is very easy to reach.
By Car
Playa Potrero is located just 40 km or a 1-hour drive from Liberia International Airport, the closest international airport if you take the most direct route on Route 911 (known locally as Monkey Road). This is a recently improved road, but it’s still skinny in places and impacted by seasonal flooding, so it’s best to leave it for the dry season only.
The more common way of driving to Playa Potrero from Liberia is to approach the beach from the south via Playa Flamingo. This route is 66 km long, takes around 1 hour 15 mins, and is accessible all year round.
From San Jose International Airport, the drive is around 258 km or almost 4 hours.
By Bus/Shuttle
For budget travellers, there are public buses that leave San Jose three times per day for Potrero via Playa Flamingo. The journey takes around 6 hours.
From Santa Cruz, you’ll find several public buses departing every day, taking about 2 hours to reach Playa Potrero.
There are also shared shuttles from San Jose to Potrero, with a couple of departure times per day. It costs around $59 per person.
Parking at Playa Potrero
There’s no formal parking for Playa Potrero. However, for those with a rental car, you can simply park on the side of the main road (Route 911), running through the small village of Potrero. This means you’ll have only a short walk from your car to the beach, so ensure you lock your vehicle and don’t leave valuables lying around on the seats.
Facilities at Playa Potrero
Playa Potrero, Costa Rica, is divided into two different areas. The southern part of town, closer to Playa Flamingo, is known as Surfside and is mostly made up of vacation rentals and private residences on the beach, along with some great restaurants.
The northern end of the beach is the original local township. This is home to several little snack stalls, sodas (local restaurants), and some smaller hotels. Otherwise, on the sand, you won’t find many facilities, but the palm trees lining the bay offer some shade for those wanting to relax.
Things to Do at Playa Potrero
From spectacular sunsets to fishing tours, there are plenty of things to do at Playa Potrero and the surroundings.
Go for a Paddle
Since the bay is sheltered, the water is fairly calm with gentle waves. You’ll see people trying different water sports, including stand-up paddleboarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, or even small sailboats that can be rented from the Costa Rica Sailing Center right in the middle of the beach.
Watch the Sunset
Potrero Bay is known for beautiful sunsets because of its position facing out to the Pacific Ocean. The Costa Rica Sailing Center has one of the prime locations for sunset watching on the beach, along with a bar for cocktails or other drinks.
Otherwise, you can also go for a sunset walk along the sand or even a sunset cruise on one of the catamaran tours leaving from the sailing center.
Snorkelling and Scuba Diving Tours
Potrero is very close to the Flamingo Marina which is the launching point for diving tours to the Catalina Islands or Las Catalinas, just a 30-minute boat ride from shore. The rocky, uninhabited islands are one of the best diving spots in Costa Rica, home to all kinds of marine life including whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and manta rays, which are plentiful in the rainy season.
Try Sportfishing
Playa Potrero has a reputation amongst avid anglers for its sportfishing off the coast. Fisherman reel in record-sized fish, so it’s no surprise fishing is incredibly popular in the area.
Travellers can head out on a half or full-day excursion on the open sea with local charters offering fishing tours from the nearby marina or sailing center.
Visit Other Nearby Beaches
While Playa Potrero may not be the most scenic beach in Guanacaste, there are several beautiful beaches in close proximity. Just south of Potrero is Playa Flamingo, one of the most popular white sand beaches on the Pacific Coast. Even further south, you can also visit the pretty Playa Conchal for its clear water and sand filled with shells.
Otherwise, to the north, you can explore Playa Prieta, Playa Penca, and Danta Beach. It’s the perfect destination for day trips of beach hopping in the Potrero area.
FAQs
Can you Swim at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero is ideally located on a calm and protected bay. This makes it a very tranquil beach with small waves, perfect for swimming. However, with limited lifeguard services, ensure you keep an eye on children or weak swimmers.
Can you Fish at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero is a great fishing destination. While you can throw a line in off the beach, it’s even better if you choose to join a fishing charter from the marina or sailing center. On these offshore adventures, you’ll have the chance to catch bigger species, including Wahoo, Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, and Yellowfin Tuna.
Can you Surf at Playa Potrero?
Playa Potrero is not the best place for surfing because of its protected waters. There are rarely any surfable waves in the bay, so you’ll have to take a short trip up the coast for better surf. Try heading to Playa Grande for a beach break for all levels.
Is Playa Potrero Safe for Families?
Visiting Potrero is a fantastic idea for families. The calm waters in the bay make it ideal for paddling and playing in the dark sand. It’s also far less crowded than nearby beaches, making it a more relaxing day out with the kids.
READ NEXT: Best Things to do in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Where to Stay near Playa Potrero
From vacation homes to beachfront villas, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from in Potrero Beach.
Mid Range/Budget Hotel: Villas Pura Vibra
This quaint mid-range villa complex is located just back from the beach. It offers double and triple villas with their own private patios overlooking the garden and pool. Each villa feels a bit like your own private beach house, with basic but comfortable furniture and decorations. The owners are extremely welcoming, plus it has a bar and lounge. Prices are from $150 per night.
Luxury Hotel: Bahia Del Sol Hotel
This crowd favourite on Playa Potrero is a 4-star beachfront resort. It features lots of dark wood, lush greenery, and earthy yet modern decorations in the spacious rooms and suites. It also features an outdoor pool, hot tub, onsite wellness center, gourmet restaurant and swim-up bar. They have a strong commitment to sustainability and can be classified as a responsible eco-hotel. Prices are from $240 per night.
Where to Eat: Best Restaurants near Playa Potrero
The Beach House Bar and Restaurant
On the southern end of the beach, this colourful beach shack has prime views of the bay, perfect for sunset drinks and local Costa Rica food. Open every day from 11 am onwards; it’s generally difficult to snag a table with some of the best fish and chips on the coast, drawing plenty of beachgoers. You’ll also find happy hour drink specials every evening at sunset.
The Shack
An institution in Potrero, The Shack is a laid-back restaurant located on the main street in Surfside, just a short walk from the beach. The casual open-air place offers non-fuss local meals, including Mahi Mahi tacos, chicken fajitas, breakfast burritos and ceviche. Every night, they have happy hour, along with live music and open mic nights throughout the week.
Bar y Restaurante Las Brisas
On the far northern end of the beach, this local restaurant is one of the most popular places for seafood in Playa Potrero. From mahi mahi to red snapper, fish is the highlight along with sunset cocktails served with an outstanding view of the bay in front.
The Bottom Line
While not the prettiest beach in Costa Rica, Playa Potrero does have plenty going for it. With its ideal location close to some of the most famous beaches in Guanacaste, the beach town offers a more laid-back destination to spend a few days exploring the wonderful activities along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
READ NEXT: Guide to Visiting Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
