A Sunday afternoon road trip through the dusty roads between Guiones Beach
and San Juanillo took us to a town where our car engine seemed to disturb the
silence. At first glance, with the soccer field, the church and the school that
create the center of the town, it didn't look that different from any other
Costa Rican coastal towns. However, arriving at the San Juanillo Beach made the
first big difference.
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The turquoise color of the water captures one's attention
as soon as the beach comes into sight. This short and narrow, yet beautiful
beach is populated with local fishermen.
Santiago Cerdaz Hurtado, a member of the Fisherman
Association of San Juanillo, and many other local fishermen offer boat tours to
see the turtles at Ostional Beach, with the possibility of seeing dolphins,
whales and stingrays as well.
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The real surprise came when we made our way through a narrow dirt path to the
second beach, Venice Beach. With similar water quality, Venice Beach is longer
and even more desolate than San Juanillo Beach. For a quiet afternoon of
reading, family time or just spending some loner time, this beach couldn't be
any better and the sunsets are magnificent.
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Snorkeling in San Juanillo, on either beach, is among the best in the area as
it provides the opportunity to see the rich marine life near the beach. Because
it is possible to swim out to see the fish, many visitors prefer snorkeling
without taking a boat tour.
San Juanillo is located on the west coast of Costa Rica along the Pacific
Ocean. Nearby towns are Marbella to the north, and Ostional, Nosara and Garza to
the south. It is 17 km from Guiones Beach. Private transportation is the best
way to access to this gorgeous town. |
For such a small town, San Juanillo offers a rich selection from the world
cuisine. A classical dish of the Americas, ceviche, at Soda El Cruce, Italian
pizza at La Bahia, vegetarian serves and smoothies at Ancient People, specialty
pastas at Buddha Bar and Costa Rican dishes at Soda Mundo Feliz are culinary
options to satisfy any appetite.
When you get tired of the crowded surfing beaches and are in need of some
private time, San Juanillo is a good destination to visit. |
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