Oct 14, 2014 | Driving Directions
Driving Directions from Four Seasons Hotel Papagayo to Playa Grande
1. From Four Seasons Papagayo, or Hilton Papagayo, continue along the main road leading back to the highway for around 26km.
2. When you reach the end of the road at the Do It Center, take a RIGHT.
Continue along this main road, called Highway 21 (but rarely will you see a sign!), for around 20 minutes.
You will pass through a small town called Filadelfia which has its’ own Super Compro supermarket on the right hand side.
A couple minutes past here, you will come to a main intersection in the town of Belen, with a gas station on the far right hand corner, and signs pointing towards Flamingo, Tamarindo, Playa Danta, Playa Grande (Parque Nacional Marino de las Baulas). These signs for the Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas show an illustration of a turtle, they are brown with white writing, and refer to Playa Grande.
Follow this road without turning off. After around 20 minutes, you will pass another gas station called “Oasis” on your left. This is the 2nd closest gas station to Playa Grande. There is a new one on the road to Tamarindo also.
Continue going straight along this road. You will go up over a mountain after the Oasis gas station, you will go down the other side of the mountain, and about 2km along, will see a turn off to the left for Tamarindo. DO NOT take the left to Tamarindo!
Stay straight. You will see Super Compro supermarket on your right around 200 meters past this intersection. If you are staying in Playa Grande, get groceries here but don’t leave anything in the car unattended.
Stay straight on this road, passing by the turn-off to the right for Flamingo, Conchal, Las Catalinas and Playa Danta.
3. When you get to the next t-intersection, you are in Matapalo. On your right will be a soccer field. Turn left here.
Pass over the little bridge, continue on the paved road for another 8-10 minutes. You will go over and down another mountain, continue along until you come to a little more of a township.
Pass by Kike’s place (Kee-Kays) on your left (down their driveway, there is a big rancho style roof).
4. Take the next left turn at the big Century 21 sign and the little school of Playa Grande is on your left. Frijoles Locos Surf Shop in on the left just after the school.
4.1 To get to the beach, continue straight on this road.
Oct 14, 2014 | Driving Directions
Driving Directions from Tamarindo to Playa Grande
1. Starting at the Automercado, which is on the main road leaving Tamarindo.
Continue along this paved road until it T’s in Villa Real.
2. Take a LEFT here at the T.
Continue along this paved road for 7 minutes or so, until it T’s again. Now you are in Huacas.
3. Turn LEFT here.
Continue along this paved road, passing by Super Compro on your right, for around 6 minutes, until you come to a stop. You are in Matapalo. There is a soccer field on your right.
4. Turn LEFT here at the stop sign.
Go over a little bridge- take care as it is only one lane.
Continue along this paved road, the whole way to Playa Grande. It should take around 7-8 minutes from the little bridge in Matapalo.
5. To get to the beach, take a LEFT just past Kike’s Place and at the corner where the little school sits. Frijoles Locos Surf Shop is on your left, just past the school and you can stop here, grab a cold coconut water, a map and gather some information about where to go, where to eat and what to do in Playa Grande.
Have a great time!
Oct 14, 2014 | Driving Directions
Driving Directions to Playa Grande from Playas Del Coco and Liberia
1. When leaving the airport, turn right at the main highway that runs beside the airport.
1.1 If coming from Playas del Coco, follow the signs back to the main highway as though you are going to the airport. Then, take a RIGHT once you meet the main highway.
Continue along this main highway for around 20-25 minutes until the town of Belen. There is a gas station on the far right diagonal corner in Belen.
2. Turn right before the gas station, following the signs to Tamarindo/ Playa Grande (Parque Nacional Marino de las Baulas). These signs for the Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas have a drawing of a turtle, they are brown with white writing, and refer to Playa Grande.
Follow this road without turning off. After around 20 minutes, you will pass another gas station called “Oasis” on your left. This is the 2nd closest gas station to the house, the other is on the road towards Tamarindo.
Continue going straight along this road. You will go up over a mountain after the Oasis gas station, you will go down the other side of the mountain, and about 2km along, will see a turn off to the left for Tamarindo.
DO NOT take the left to Tamarindo!
Stay straight. You will see Super Compro supermarket on your right around 200 meters past this intersection. If you are staying in Playa Grande, get groceries here but don’t leave anything in the car unattended.
Stay straight on this road, passing by the turn-off to the right for Flamingo, Conchal, Las Catalinas and Playa Danta.
When you get to the next t-intersection, you are in Matapalo. On your right will be a soccer field.
3. Turn left here, pass over the little bridge, continue on the paved road for another 8-10 minutes.
You will go over and down another mountain, continue along until you come to a little more of a township.
Pass by Kike’s place (Kee-Kays) on your left (down their driveway, there is a big rancho style roof).
4. Take the next left turn at the big sign and the little school of Playa Grande is on your left.
5. Frijoles Locos Surf Shop in on the left just after the school.
Oct 14, 2014 | Driving Directions
Driving Directions from Flamingo to Playa Grande Surf Shop
- Our GPS coordinates are 10.33949139 (Latitude) and -85.84547281 (Longitude)
1. Follow the paved road from Flamingo, all the way through Brasilito, Conchal, to Huacas where you will encounter a main T-intersection.
Turn RIGHT here.
There will be a medium sized brown sign on your right with white letters and a small picture of a turtle that says “Parque Nacional Marino de Las Baulas” which is Playa Grande.
On your left once you have made the turn, is a large “Ferreteria BAQUORE” with lots of primary colors painted on it. If this is on your left immediately after you take the right at the T intersection, you are on the right track.
Follow this paved road around 5-6 minutes until you reach another 4 way intersection: on your right is a soccer field, straight ahead the road becomes dirt.
2. Turn LEFT here.
Shortly after you take a left, you will pass over a tiny bridge, with a Give Way sign on your side. Use caution approaching the bridge.
Continue along this paved road for around 7 minutes, you will go over a medium sized mountain then descend to a straightaway, passing by a lovely big entryway to a beautiful development called Las Ventanas de Playa Grande.
Keep going until you start to see some buildings…
You will get to a corner with Kike’s Place on your left, then a little school just after that… take the left turn here at the big sign, it is still paved road.
3. Just after making that turn left, you will see Frijoles Locos Surf Shop on your left… there is an old, painted Land Rover parked front and center of the surf shop, you can’t miss us!
Jul 24, 2013 | Driving Directions
Driving Directions From Riu Guanacaste to Playa Grande
- Our GPS coordinates are 10.33949139 (Latitude) and -85.84547281 (Longitude)
- Drive time from RIU Guanacaste to Playa Grande: allow 1 hr 15 minutes.
1. When you depart the front gates of the RIU property, you will take a LEFT.
Follow this road all the way along until you reach the T-intersection with the paved road. Left is towards Playas del Coco, and right is towards Liberia/ airport etc
2. Turn RIGHT here.
Continue along this main road, back towards the highway until you reach the next T-intersection.
3. Turn RIGHT here. (The left goes towards LIR airport and the right is towards Belen, Filadelfia, Santa Cruz, and the beaches of Playa Grande, Tamarindo etc.)
Continue along this main highway for around 20 minutes until the town of Belen. There is a gas station on the far right diagonal corner in Belen.
4. Turn right before the gas station, following the signs towards Playa Grande (Parque Nacional Marino de las Baulas). These signs for the Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas have a drawing of a turtle, they are brown with white writing, and refer to Playa Grande. You might also see signs pointing towards Flamingo, Westin resort Playa Conchal.
Follow this road without turning off on any dirt roads. After around 20 minutes, you will pass another gas station called “Oasis” on your left. This is the last gas station you will pass before Playa Grande.
Continue going straight along this road. You will go up over a mountain after the Oasis gas station, you will go down the other side of the mountain, and about 2km along, will see a turn off to the left for Tamarindo.
DO NOT take the left to Tamarindo here!
Stay straight. You will see Super Compro supermarket on your right around 200 meters past this intersection. If you are staying in Playa Grande, get groceries here but don’t leave anything in the car unattended by you or your companions.
Stay straight on this road, passing by the turn-off to the right for Flamingo, Conchal, Las Catalinas and Playa Danta.
When you get to the next t-intersection, you are in Matapalo. On your right will be a soccer field.
5. Turn LEFT here, pass over the little bridge, continue on the paved road for another 8-10 minutes.
You will go over and down another mountain, continue along until you come to a little more of a township.
Pass by Kike’s place (Kee-Kays) on your left (down their driveway, there is a big rancho style roof).
6. Take the next left turn at the big sign and the little school of Playa Grande is on your left.
Frijoles Locos Surf Shop in on the left just after the school.
Feb 25, 2012 | Driving Directions
Playa Grande Estates Map
- Left hand side of map, numbers in yellow.
Map Legend:
1- Frijoles Locos Surf Shop
2- Kike’s Place
3- The Garden Grill (closed)
4- Pulperia (small store)
5- Playa Grande school
6- Playa Grande Park Hotel
7- MINAE office and Turtle Tours
8- The Beach House
9- Rip Jack Inn and restaurant
10- La Marejada Hotel and Marbar
11- Playa Grande Inn
12- BP Surf Hotel/ Pete’s Place
13- Rancho Privado
14- Hotel Las Tortugas
15- Lighthouse apartments
16- Apartamentos Veraneras
17- 24- Beach houses for rent
25- Casa Linda Vista (Kai’s place)
Palm Beach Estates Map
- Right side of map, numbers in blue.
Map Legend:
1- Hotel Bula Bula and the Great Waltinis Restaurant
2 & 3- Las Malinches Supermarket and restaurant
4- Charlie’s Rancho/ Cabinas
5- Hotel Cantarana and Restaurant
7- Casa Verde
8- Casa Baula
9- Casa Muy Grande
10- Casa de Amigos
11- Playa Grande Surf Camp
12- Casa Bonita
15- Casa Cameleon
20- Casa Dorado
21- Villa Baula hotel
22- Casa Marina
Driving Directions from San Jose International Airport (SJO):
- Travelling time is approximately 4-5 hours.
From the airport, you go on the old road, not the new toll road:
Old road:
1. From San Jose Airport, take the Panamerican Highway North. Look for sign towards San Ramon.
2. Keep going following the signs to Esparza. Pass through Esparza and keep going straight following the signs to Limonal.
3. In Limonal there is a new Subway on the right, and a Delta gas station on the left. Turn left here, following the signs to Nicoya, and the Puente Amistad Tempisque (Tempisque Bridge). Cross the bridge and keep going straight.
4. There is one fork in the road that is poorly marked on the portion of road past the bridge. You want to go left at the fork. If you go right, there is a gas station but then the road dead ends in a small town.
5. Keep going until you hit the T south of Nicoya. Turn right following the signs to Nicoya and Santa Cruz.
6. Pass the turn off to Nicoya where there are traffic lights, heading towards Santa Cruz, pass by Santa Cruz (one more traffic light) and keep going to Belen. There is a gas station on the corner in Belen. Turn left following the signs to Tamarindo/ Playa Grande (Parque Nacional Marino de las Baulas). These signs for the Parque Nacional Marino las Baulas have a drawing of a turtle, they are brown with white writing, and refer to Playa Grande.
7. Follow this road without turning off. After around 20 minutes, you will pass another gas station called “Oasis” on your left.
Continue going straight along this road. You will go up over a mountain after the oasis gas station, you will go down the other side of the mountain, and about 2km along, will see a turn off to the left for Tamarindo. DO NOT take the left to Tamarindo!
Stay straight. You will see Super Compro supermarket on your right around 200 meters past this intersection.
Stay straight on this road, passing by the turn-off to the right for Flamingo, Conchal etc.
When you get to the next t-intersection, you are in Matapalo. On your right will be a soccer field.
8. Turn left here pass over the little bridge, continue on the paved road for another 8-10 minutes.
You will go over another mountain, continue along until you come to a little more of a township. Pass by Kike’s place (Kee-Kays) on your left (down the hill, there is a big rancho style roof).
9. Take the first left turn at the big sign and the little school of Playa Grande is on your left.
Frijoles Locos Surf Shop in on the left just after the school. Stop in here and get a map, ask for directions, or grab a cold ‘pipa’ (fresh coconut water).
Driving from Liberia International Airport (LIR):
- Travelling time is approximately 1 hour.
1. Once you reach the T when you are leaving the airport road, turn RIGHT.
2. Stay on this road for around 20 minutes, until you get to a turn off to the right. There is a large gas station on the far right corner, and signs indicating Tamarindo, Flamingo, Playa Danta. Turn RIGHT here.
Stay on this road for around 20 minutes until you reach a gas station called “Oasis” on your left.
Continue going straight along this road. You will go up over a mountain after the oasis gas station, you will go down the other side of the mountain, and about 2km along, will see a turn off to the left for Tamarindo. DO NOT take the left to Tamarindo!
Stay straight. You will see Super Compro supermarket on your right around 200 meters past this intersection.
Stay straight on this road, passing by the turn-off to the right for Flamingo, Conchal etc.
When you get to the next t-intersection, you are in Matapalo. On your right will be a soccer field.
3. Turn left here pass over the little bridge, continue on the paved road for another 8-10 minutes.
You will go over another mountain, continue along until you come to a little more of a township. Pass by Kike’s place (Kee-Kays) on your left (down the hill, there is a big rancho style roof).
4. Take the first left turn at the big sign and the little school of Playa Grande is on your left.
Frijoles Locos Surf Shop in on the left just after the school. Stop in here and get a map, ask for directions, or grab a cold ‘pipa’ (fresh coconut water).
