Ranked by the OnlyBeaches Index (OBI) — a 1-10 score blending water purity, conditions, crowd levels and vibe. Updated every 30 minutes.
Playa Agujas
A small coastal village beach with calm local character north of Herradura.
Playa Azul
A small village beach north of the main resort zones with authentic local character.
Playa Bajamar
A broad, under-the-radar beach near the northern edge of the Jacó-Herradura coastal corridor.
Playa Blanca
One of the area's rare white-sand beaches, known for clear water and a postcard setting.
Playa Mantas
A calm cove beach north of Herradura with gentle water and easy day-trip appeal.
Playa Pita
A lesser-known sandy beach near Punta Leona, useful for travelers seeking quieter coastline.
Playa Tárcoles
A working coastal village beach near the Tárcoles River and Carara gateway.
Tárcoles sits in Puntarenas, Costa Rica and is home to 7 ranked beaches on OnlyBeaches. Every beach here is scored by the OnlyBeaches Index — a 1-10 metric blending water purity, live conditions (waves, water temperature, wind), crowd intelligence and vibe.
Whether you're after the highest-scoring beach in Tárcoles or a quieter hidden cove, the list above is refreshed every 30 minutes using live Stormglass and OpenWeather data.
