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Location: between Bejuco and Camaronal beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
GPS Coordenates: 9.853183, -85.401833 (9°51’11.46″N, 85°24’06.60″W)
Canton: Nandayure, district: Bejuco.
Zone postal code: 50906.
Islita is a grayish sandy beach and blue sparkling sea, surrounded by modest vegetation and divided by two streams. Moderate waves on a beach make it conducive for swimming and diving.
Islita beach is within a spawning area, so Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles nest here sometimes, especially during the month of October.
Near the beach there is a rocky island that completes the beautiful landscape of the area, and which takes its name from this beach.
The terrain is composed of deep river canyons, steep cliffs and hills of volcanic origin that are about 80 million years old. The pounding waves lapping the shoreline has formed abraded cliffs and platforms where at low tide there are tidal pools and exposed rocks that serve as temporary shelter for some brightly coloured fish, sea urchins, nerites, chitons, choras and caricacos, among others.
The city surrounding Islita beach is known as a “lively artistic community” with a beautiful local art museum and a lovely white church, which is a credit to the plaza. Also, Islita offers hotels and cabins to suit all tastes.
Getting to Islita beach in Guanacaste:
From San José drive north to Puntarenas and then follow the highway towards Liberia until you reach Limonal. Turn left at Tres Hermanas Restaurant towards La Amistad bridge until you get to Nicoya. Once you reach Nicoya, continue your drive taking the road to Samara passing through Hojancha, and continue South through Carrillo and Camaronal to Islita beach. It is a very scenic route that exemplifies rural Costa Rica. This route requires a total of six hours from San Jose.
From Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR), drive south to Nicoya and from there to Samara passing through Hojancha. Continue South through Camaronal to Islita beach. It is a very scenic route that exemplifies rural Costa Rica.
By bus
Take a local bus from San José to Samara, which takes about 5 to 6 hours (Terminal Alfaro, 2222-2666). From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Islita beach, which is about 40 minutes. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Islita beach, which is about 40 minutes.
You can also take a local bus from San Jose – Coyote beach, Caletas beach and Bejuco beach, which takes about 6 hours, and then take a bus from Bejuco to Corozalito, which takes about 15 minutes (ARSA, 2257-1835 / 2650-0179). From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Islita beach, which is about 10 minutes.
In both cases we recommend buying the ticket a day earlier to be sure you seat is saved, and have booked in advance the service that you will use to get to Islita beach.
By plane:
You can also take a flight from the Juan Santamaria Airport to the Punta Islita Airport, either with Sansa Airlines or Nature Air every day. From here you can rent a car and drive or take taxi to Islita beach, which is about 10 minutes.
