Playa Herradura is a coastal town of the Central Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica. It is located about 4 kilometers north of Jaco. It was a small and quiet beach some ten years ago mostly visited by campers and Ticos. Playa Herradura was an unknown paradise. It has a super black sand beach with aqua green waters and a palm tree lined coastline. Playa Herradura is today a tourist hotspot on the Northern Puntarenas coast. This place is an ideal for those who want to escape from the crowd of Jaco; this beach has flourished into a much traveled holiday destination.
Even with its several touristy projects Playa Herradura still does not attract as many visitors as Jaco does, making it a great place to slip away. With a camping ground nearby with showers and other basic facilities just a few hundred meters from the shore; this beach is wonderful for the budget traveler and tourist. From Playa Herradura you can also move to north to the lovely Refugio Punta Leona, or down south to the great Playa Hermosa.
Playa Herradura have got wider recognition amongst the surfers of the world. Surfers prefer the waves that are produced in Herradura Bay.
The beach is positioned near County’s rainforest and some Costa Rica’s most popular National Parks. It is close to the town of Jaco. Playa Herradura provides visitors to this area with both indoor and outdoor activities. The facility at Los Suenos Resort, which is a tourist attraction within Playa Herradura, tenders a number of outdoor activities including deep sea fishing. Stellaris Casino and the Poseidon Fitness Spa are both found at Los Suenos Resort. Vacationers, those who do not mind missing out on a bit of the sunshine, or who avoid sleeping during most of the night, spend lots of hours at either the Casino or Spa. Yet Los Suenos Resort is not just for night owls; nor is it just for those afraid of the sun.
Los Suenos Resort also contains the Los Suenos Marina. From that Marina one could set out for the high seas. One could spend many hours sport fishing, and come back with tuna, marlin, sailfish or Dorado (dolphin fish). You could even learn how to catch a roosterfish.
Beyond the Marina other water activities help to entertain the visitors to the area. Some travelers devote time to scuba diving or snorkeling. Other visitors save plenty of time for golf. Golfers in Playa Herradura enjoy spectacular ocean panorama. The smaller local wetlands make water rooster an increasingly common sight in the waterholes scattered close to the greens.
It is the home to the Hotel Villa Caletas, a fantastic luxury hotel with plenty of features and amenities as well as a marina, condominium complex and golf course, this beach area is fast becoming one of the biggest tourism developments in Costa Rica. However, with its tranquil waters, Playa Herradura still draws in a number of locals who want a quiet getaway.
Located right next door to Jaco Beach and 1 hour from Costa Rica’s main International airport in San Jose, Playa Herradura and the Jaco Beach region has turn into the most popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. Major grocery stores, super markets, wide mixture of restaurants, pharmacies, nightlife, and a plentiful selection of hotels, vacation rentals and homes and the country’s top collection of tours and excursions add to this region’s infinite popularity with foreign tourists and locals.
Accommodation
Los Suenos Rentals
The Los Suenos Resort is positioned beside Playa Herradura. This resort is combination of a luxurious rental home and eight lavish condominiums set on a forested hillside. Tropical rainforests finishes into the hotel property. The hotel provides all five stars facilities.
The Los Suenos Resort and Marina and is globally known as the Fishing Capital of Costa Rica playing home to Costa Rica’s only full service five stars Marina and home to the largest fleet of the country’s top Big Game Sport fishing Captains and boats.
Villa Caletas
Villa Caletas is one of the most graceful resorts in the country. Perched high on a cape jutting out into the Pacific, Villa Caletas give panoramic views of the forest and sea below. It is beautifully decor which can be seen on every corner. Little sculptures hiding in alcoves, original paintings of varied with colorful subjects, bronze figures sited at junctions on the garden trails. Everywhere there is something to please the eye. The visitors get every opportunity to enjoy the outdoor activities that the Pacific coast has to offer, as the hotel can easily arrange suitable adventure tours. Hotel rooms and grounds of the hotel are very attractive and you would like to spend days here, simply relaxing and getting pampered.
Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
Recognized by Travel & Leisure magazine readers as one of the world’s best resorts, the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort is a luxury Costa Rica resort is located between the warm waters of the Pacific and a 1,100 acre tropical rainforest, resting gracefully on the tropical forested hills of Herradura (Horseshoe) Bay. The resort is set about 30 minutes from San Jose International Airport.
Activities / Things to do in and around Playa Herradura
Sport fishing charters, visits to Tortugas Island, and romantic sunset tours round out a full fare of water-related activities including snorkeling, river rafting, wind surfing, sea kayaking, and water skiing.Playa Herradura and the surrounding areas of Puntarenas offer the warm waters of the Pacific and pristine green zones that provide a sanctuary for many endangered species. The two most famous areas, Carara National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park, are to be explored. Carara National Park borders the Tarcoles River and is home to diverse wildlife including the largest population of Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica. Explore the small tourist complex called La Catarata (The Cascade). Here you can take a four-hour trek on horseback through a private, reforested cattle ranch to a magnificent waterfall. Along the way you will see several expansive vistas and are likely to spot toucans, scarlet macaws, and monkeys. If you desire more excitement, Jaco Beach has what Herradura is not. This is the place where Ticos traditionally come to play in the sun. There is plenty of infrastructure, shopping, and nightlife to keep you busy. The city of San Jose is located around 45 miles from this place and offers many exciting shops, sights and restaurants to explore. Whether you are an eco-traveler that prefers gliding from tree to tree on a canopy zip-line tour, or would rather sit back and relax along the palm lined free-form pool, a memorable Playa Herradura, Costa Rica resort vacation awaits. You can also take different tours to explore the beauty of area. Pacific Rainforest Tranopy Tour, Pacific Rainforest Family Tour, Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram
Getting to Playa Herradura, Costa Rica
To reach Playa Herradura take the turnoff on Costanera Sur, north of Jaco and drive some 3 km down the road west to the beach.
The San Jose Airport is about 60 miles away from Playa Herradura.
