The Beautiful Costa Rican Beach Locals Love And Most Tourists Don't Know About
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Close your eyes, and imagine yourself on a beach with shining silver sand and sparkling, clear water. It's almost deserted outside of a few monkeys, and you can breathe easy in the peace and quiet. It sounds like a dream, doesn't it? It's not. If the idea of a crowd is just more than you can take right now (and we don't blame you at all), there is a spot with a very funny name that can give you everything you're looking for. The air temperature hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit most of the year, and the water is just a little cooler. You really can't get more perfection than that.
This lovely place is called Playa Calzon de Pobre, on the northwestern side of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste Province. Sure, there are resorts in nearby Playa del Coco and Playa Hermosa, but sometimes what you want is privacy. This beach is known to locals, but it's not big with tourists yet, despite its beauty. Part of the reason is what it takes to get there. It's doable for most, but it's likely going to keep this hidden gem quieter than other places. If you go during the week, you may have the place to yourself here and there. Here's all the information you need to visit Playa Calzon de Pobre, which means poor man's underwear.
How to get to Playa Calzon de Pobre
As with most beaches, you can take a boat there or charter a boat tour from Playa del Coco to visit. However, you can also drive in. It's about 20 minutes away from Playa del Coco, off of route 159. You'll turn onto a dirt road, and it's not going to be easy on a regular car. If you have a 4x4, it will be much smoother. You'll be asked by a guard that you'll pass for your license plate number and name, but the beach is free. There is a parking lot there, and then it's a half-mile walk to the beach. Do note that this is a steep walk, so don't try it in flip-flops. In fact, with no facilities here, you're going to have to bring everything in with you, including those flip-flops. If you're lucky, you might find someone selling granizados or snow cones, so maybe keep a little cash with you. (Don't leave things in your car. There is no guard at the parking lot.)
You're about 40 minutes away from Liberia, and there are no restaurants nearby. However, you can visit del Coco or Hermosa afterward to hit a snack spot. As you walk down the path, you'll pass a scenic lookout spot called Punta Cacique, which gives you a great view and is perfect for social media pics. Just so you know, camping isn't permitted at Playa Calzon de Pobre.
Water sports at Playa Calzon de Pobre
The water at Playa Calzon de Pobre is very clear and calm, so it's a good spot for kids and tentative swimmers. That also means this area is great for snorkeling. The beach itself, as you can see in the pic above, has rock formations jutting out on either side, which are the best spots to look for fish. (It also looks like a pair of underpants, which is where the name came from, depending on who you ask.)
There are a ton of fish to see, including wrasse, damselfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish, and porcupine fish of several kinds, as well as turtles. You'll see more during the dry season, which is December through April. The rainy season, which is May through November, can make the waters a little more cloudy. To keep these beautiful animals and their environment safer, use reef-safe sunscreen like Coral Isles Sunscreen SPF 50. Make sure you pack out what you pack in to keep Playa Calzon de Pobre as pristine as you found it.