Playas del Coco, Near Papagayo
Playas del Coco is a quiet fishing village at the heart of Costa Rica’s famous Gulf of Papagayo. This is a large, calm body of water in the northwest part of the Guanacaste Province. This area is known for outstanding sunny weather, several marinas and golf courses, high end resorts, and a handful of upscale residential projects.
What to See & Do
There’s plenty to do in the area, so much so that you really do not need to go far to enjoy a full, authentic Costa Rican experience. So if you are suffering from FOMO (fear of missing out), do not worry! We will be sure you get a proper taste of what Costa Rica has to offer during your time with us. We offer a handful of activities and can arrange a wide variety of area tours.
When to Visit
What is generally considered the best time to visit is Costa Rica’s summer season, which runs roughly from mid-November to early May. That’s the period when we generally see the least rainfall. But there are also several blocks of very good weather during “green season”, most famous of which is the veranillo or “little summer, that tends to occur in late June or early July. Temperatures average around lows of 72 degrees and highs of 90 in most months (22 to 33 Celsius), making it an ideal beach destination.
Misconceptions about Green Season
There’s a general misconception that “green season” = rainy season. Rainfall in the dry tropical forest of Costa Rica is a funny thing — it can absolutely pour for 1 hour and be absolutely lovely for the entire rest of the day. And the amount of rainfall produced in that short period can be incredibly intense, the weather that immediately follows is serene, beautiful and perfect for vacation. The upside of visiting during green season is that the flora and fauna is in full bloom, lush, green and radiant. For many locals, the best time to travel internally are the very start and end of green season, when the landscape is green. That tends to occur in early May and late November. The absolute rainiest part of the year is September and October. Even then, average rainfall days are 17 and 16, respectively. So your odds of seeing rain, even in the “wet” months are about 50/50.
Area Rainfall
See more on Coco area weather here.
Popular Questions
Are you on the beach?
Villa Buena Onda is not on the beach. We are located on the hills of Coco, with amazing views of the Papagayo Gulf. We are a 8 minute ride to Coco by car. We offer a scheduled transportation for an extra amount.
How far is the beach?
By car, Coco is a 8 minute ride. Playa Hermosa is a 15 minute ride and Playa Ocotal 15 minutes. We can provide transport to all nearby beaches.
Can I walk to the beach?
Downtown Coco is an easy, 35 minute walk (3km / 2 miles) on mostly flat roads.
Read more about our common questions.
Drive Times to Other Popular Locations:
| Point of Interest | Category | Drive Time | Notes |
| Four Seasons Resort | Hotel | 45 min | One of the top golf courses in the region, large marina |
| Hotel Rio Celeste Hideaway | Hotel | 2 hrs | Very interesting and unique hotel property |
| La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano) | Volcano | 3 hours | Perhaps the most iconic site in Costa Rica |
| Las Catalinas | Beach | 45 min | Unique planned beach town, mediterranean design |
| Liberia airport (LIR) | Airport | 27 min | Fastest and most convenient way to visit the area |
| Liberia | City | 45 mins | Closest city to Villa Buena Onda |
| Llanos de Cortes Waterfalls | Waterfall | 1 hour | Off beaten path site, large waterfalls in a secluded spot |
| Monteverde | Mountains | 2 h 45 min | Quaker founded town in the cloud forest |
| Numu Brewing Co. | Beer | 30 min | These guys brew good beer and offer a nice tour |
| Palo Verde National Park | National Park | 1 h 30 min | See giant crocs and wetland birds: ibis, spoonbills, storks |
| Playas del Coco | Beach | 8 mins | Closest beach to Villa Buena Onda |
| Playa Conchal | Beach | 1 h 35 min | Home of Conchal Resort, another good golf course |
| Playa Flamingo | Beach | 1 h 40 min | Marina is jumping off point for many water based tours |
| Playa Hermosa | Beach | 15 min | Very nice beach that’s super close to VBO |
| Playa Nosara | Beach | 2 h 40 min | Popular beach with yoga fans and surfers |
| Playa Ocotal | Beach | 15 min | Dark sand beach that’s different than anything you’ve seen |
| Playa Panama | Beach | 20 min | Quiet beach spot, near hotel Mangroove |
| Playa Potrero | Beach | 50 min | Sleepy fishing village |
| Playa Tamarindo | Beach | 1 h 30 min | One of the best known beach towns in the area |
| Poor Calzon Beach | Beach | 20 min | Fantastic, hidden beach very close to VBO |
| Rincon de La Vieja National Park | National Park | 2 hours | Hot springs, mud baths and a taste of cowboy culture |
| Rio Perdido Lodge | Hotel | 1 h 25 min | Excellent complement to VBO, an adventure/nature lodge |
| San Jose airport (SJO) | Airport | 3 h 40 min | Costa Rica’s capital city and largest airport |
| Santa Rosa National Park | National Park | 1 h 30 min | Less visited, gigantic National Park |