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).
