Playa Grande, just outside of Montezuma, is one of the most peaceful and secluded public beaches I’ve visited in Costa Rica. If you’re looking to escape the crowds and have an entire beach to yourself, then this hidden gem deserves a spot on your itinerary.

We got a recommendation from a local to visit Playa Grande because he said it’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the area and most tourists don’t even know that it’s there. So naturally we had to check it out and I sure am glad we did. 

It’s one of those beaches you’ll want to pack enough food and water to spend the entire day at. Since it’s never filled with many people you can easily find your own quiet spot to spread out and have a relaxing beach day in the midst of all your adventures. 

Not to mention it’s completely free to visit. If you’re intrigued then keep on reading to learn everything you’ll need to know before visiting.

Where is Playa Grande?

Playa Grande is on the southern tip of Nicoya Peninsula. It’s near the small beach town of Montezuma. 

There is another Playa Grande in Costa Rica located a few hours south of Tamarindo. This one is more popular. So don’t get it mixed up with the Playa Grande in Montezuma which is what we’re talking about here. 

Why Should You Visit Playa Grande?

There’s more than one reason why Playa Grande is my favorite beach in Costa Rica! Here’s why it’ll be yours too.

Low Crowds

Like I said before, I’ve never seen a more deserted beach in Costa Rica. We only saw a handful of other people here when we went. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a peaceful day at the beach away from the tourist crowds.

Lots of Space to Spread Out

It’s in the name, Playa Grande is a huge beach. It’s easily one of the largest beaches I’ve seen in the country. The sand seems to stretch on for miles in all directions. You have so much space to yourself to spread out your belongings without feeling like you’re sitting on top of other beachgoers. 

Incredible & Expansive Views

At Playa Grande the waves break pretty far out so you can walk quite aways out towards the ocean without having to get in the water much at all. The further you walk out the more expansive views you’ll get of the coast.

Even on the way to the beach there are some really amazing viewpoints. The vibrant green palm leaves and rocky coast are very picturesque, especially if you’re there right before sunset like we were. The sunlight glowing through the ocean’s mist was so beautiful. 

High Chances of Seeing Capuchin Monkeys

This was the main reason I wanted to visit Playa Grande in Montezuma. The local told us he’s never been to this beach and not seen a monkey. And sure enough, on our way to the beach we spotted 5 capuchin monkeys climbing in the trees above us. 

Something to keep in mind about them, is that you must secure all food safely away in your backpack if you leave your belongings on the shore to go into the ocean. Capuchins are known for stealing people’s food if it’s left out on the beach. 

How to Access Playa Grande

You will definitely need a vehicle of your own to easily visit Playa Grande.

We rented a campervan with Nomad America which is what we drove to Montezuma in.

Most tourists coming into the country will have a rental car anyways, but I guess it would be possible to take the public buses to Montezuma. It’s just not very practical if you’re only in the country for a short amount of time. 

So the recommended way to visit Playa Grande is by car/rental vehicle. 

You can find driving directions to Playa Grande here. 

Hiking to Playa Grande

Alright now here’s the catch: you have to hike to the beach. Because there’s no such thing as a secluded beach in Costa Rica that you can easily walk to from a parking lot!

However, the hike is pretty easy if you’re a frequent hiker. If you’re not used to hiking on rocky and unstable terrain then it may be a bit of a challenge for you. 

Where to Park

The only tricky part is figuring out where to park. There is a small lot located at this pin that’s used as beach parking for Playa Montezuma, which is a different beach down the coast from Playa Grande.

You can either park here and start hiking, or continue on the road until it becomes unpaved. You need high clearance and maybe 4×4 to drive on this unpaved section because it is mostly sand and some rocks. It may be impassable during heavy rain.

It’s only about a quarter mile drive or so until you come upon a few parking spots across from the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort.

There are two good free spots that you can park at to hike to Playa Grande from. You just have to make sure not to park in any labeled spots for the resort.

Above shows our parking spot across from the resort. 

Hike Information

Mileage	Duration	Difficulty	Elevation Gain
2 miles	1 hour	Easy	50 ft.

The hike to Playa Grande is a pretty simple trek as you can see from the above trail stats.

The terrain is a mix of dirt pathways through the jungle, sandy beaches, and unstable lava rock to cross. 

There are some slight inclines, but it’s nothing too crazy or too steep.

The trail itself is fairly well maintained. The only thing I noticed was one of the small beaches you pass on the way to Playa Grande is filled with trash. Which is sad to see. But just know that Playa Grande is nothing like that. 

I think this short hike is what deters a lot of visitors from this beach. It’s pretty hidden on the coast too so most tourists don’t know about it. The only way to get there is by hiking so if you’re willing to hike in the hot sun for a little while, then you will have the greatest reward: a beautiful beach with practically no other people. 

Is Playa Grande Worth Visiting?

Yes! Playa Grande is definitely worth visiting. If you’re in Montezuma you don’t want to miss it. Like I said it’s definitely one of my favorite beaches in Costa Rica and I know it’ll be yours too. 

It is a little bit out of the way if you aren’t already planning on exploring the southern region of the Nicoya Peninsula though. Luckily there are tons of other hikes, beaches, and unique destinations around Montezuma. Such as Catarata El Chorro and Montezuma Falls. 

You could easily spend a few days exploring Montezuma and it’s surrounding attractions, which is what we did and what I’d recommend to you as well. 

I hope this post gave you another idea of somewhere to go on your trip to Costa Rica. Playa Grande is such a phenomenal, lowkey beach that you’ll want to have on the top of your list in Montezuma. I know you’ll enjoy having a beach day there just as much as we did. Thank you so much for reading!