We were coming from Santa Elena, going back to San Jose. I wanted a beach to go to but didn't want to drive hours further South for a prettier one. This sufficed. Public beach you pay to enter. Has armed guards for some reason. It was a Monday so just a few other families there that looked to be locals. There are plenty of picnic tables, sand is dark and the waves are small. Capuchin monkeys were a nuisance! One stole a bag of chips out of my hands and took off. After about 90 minutes of all families chasing monkeys off, they left us alone.

We stopped at this beach on our drive from San Jose to Lake Arenal and we were not disappointed. I was cautious about where I wanted to stop on the 3.5hr drive because we had all our luggage in the back of the SUV, but this beach was a great choice. Not only does it have active guards working the parking lot, but also patrolling the beach as well. The entrance fees are worth the peace of mind. The guard patrolling the beach was kind enough to ensure we saw the monkeys that live there as well. It is a local beach so wasn't at all crowded (this could be different during peak season) the water was warm and the sand soft. They have well equipped changing rooms, showers, and bathrooms. The restaurant on the beach was AMAZING and the service 5-stars. There are areas the barbecue and post up for the day if you so choose. It is easy to find which is always a plus!