Pura vida in Playa Avellanas, Costa Rica

Tucked away on the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica is the sleepy little surf town of Playa Avellanas (which translates to beach nuts in English). The Guanacaste province, nick-named the Golden Coast, is renowned for its beaches and Playa Avellanas is one of the most gorgeous beaches, not only in the region, but in all of Costa Rica.



Miles of coastal wilderness meet the warm waters of the Pacific ocean, soothing it's residents and beckoning visitors here each year. The town is made of young and old, families and singles, a mix of locals as well as ex-pats from all over the world. Some of Avellanas' residents live here year round, some for only part of the year. There are many people who now live here who like to share the story about how they came to visit and never went home.

Each day the people of the community all head to the beach to gather at the ocean shore to surf, play, enjoy a cerveza and take in the sunset. You will find surfers, local families and tourists, hanging out in the hammocks under the trees on the beach in front of Lola's Restaurant watching children play in the waves alongside Lolita, the 400 pound pig mascot of Avellanas.

Besides the magnificent sunsets, Playa Avellanas offers visitors and its residents many other opportunities to enjoy nature. One of the most significant is that our beach is a nesting ground for sea turtles. A night stroll on the shore of our beach will give you a breath taking view of the stars as well as the opportunity to stumble upon one of the Eastern Pacifiic sea turtles (or many of the others that visit our shore). Watching one of these giant creatures make a nest on the shore is a once in a lifetime, as well as a life changing experience.

Our community loves our turtles and you can read about local efforts to save and protect these gentle giants here.

The roads leading to Playa Avellanas are all unpaved and during the rainy season, a 4x4 vehicle is required to even get here. Avellanas has no banks or shops, but we don't mind - for most of us who live here, the main attraction lies just offshore.

Playa Avellanas is a surfers dream; offering point breaks, beach breaks and reef breaks. You can find both beginner and experienced surfers in these waters just about every hour of the day. The beaches are full of life, but are never crowded.

Pequeno Hawaii (Little Hawaii), Avellanas' famous break packs extraordinary offshore waves that can reach up to 18 feet, making it not only a favorite for locals, but a coveted destination for surfers from around the world.

Playa Negra, Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point are all within a short distance of Playa Avellanas, giving endless options for those who are always on the search for that perfect ride.

After traveling extensively through Costa Rica, I went on a three week long camping trip visiting beautiful deserted beaches all along the Nicoya peninsula. It was towards the end of this trip that I stumbled upon Playa Avellanas. Within a few days, I knew that this backwoods paradise was the place that I wanted to call home.

I've lived here for over a year now and have been fortunate to visit many other places in this beautiful county. However, each trip away reminds me of what a special place Playa Avellanas is. I always long for it while I am away. It feels like home - the people, the place, the pace. Playa Avellanas encompasses everything pura vida means to me - enjoying nature, family and friends, majestic beaches and epic surf.

Pura Vida!





I am a US ex-pat , living in Costa Rica who writes about "living la pura vida".. Please visit my blog.