Playa Brasilito
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Nestled between more popular neighboring beaches, Playa Flamingo and Playa Conchal, Brasilito Beach, Costa Rica, is a hidden gem on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.
Playa Brasilito may not be as developed as nearby beaches — but that is what makes this modest beach and local fishing town so appealing to visitors. Instead of finding luxury hotels and upscale restaurants, you’ll be surrounded by a multicultural, regional, and exotic feel that lives up to the beach’s name — “Little Brazil.”
Playa Brasilito Facts
- Beach Name: Playa Brasilito (Brasilito Beach)
- Distance from San Jose International Airport: 151 miles (242 km)
- Distance from Liberia International Airport: 29 miles (46 km)
- Closest Town: Brasilito, Costa Rica
Map of Playa Brasilito, Costa Rica
Brasilito Beach Details
Terrain at Playa Brasilito
Brasilito Beach, unlike neighboring beaches with white sand (or crushed shells, in the case of Playa Conchal), has light brown sand and blue-grey water. It’s a relatively long beach, and while it’s calm enough for swimming, there are sometimes enough waves at one end of the beach for surfing — just not as many as beaches further south, like Tamarindo Beach.
While the sand and surf at this beach in Costa Rica are pretty average — the gorgeous sunsets are absolutely breathtaking.
Weather at Playa Brasilito
Brasilito, Costa Rica, is located in the Guanacaste Province of Costa Rica. Like the other destinations in Guanacaste, Playa Brasilito experiences a dry season, with hot, sunny weather, and a green season, with tropical, rainy weather.
However, the weather in Playa Brasilito is never “cool” — the lowest high temperature in Brasilito is 89°F in September and October, which are also the rainiest months, with an average of 17 days of rain. The driest months are January, February, and March, with zero days of rain but high temperatures ranging from 93°F – 96°F.
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Best Things to Do at Playa Brasilito, Costa Rica
Whether you’re looking for adventure tours, like horseback riding, or ocean adventures, like scuba diving, you can do all that — and more — in this fun, local beach town.
Horseback Riding & ATV Tours
Whether you’d like to explore the beach or head up into the mountains, you can find horseback riding and ATV tours led by Costa Ricans that will take you wherever you want to go in Brasilito. These tours are a great way to admire the gorgeous coastline and enjoy the small towns and local viewpoints you may not have otherwise discovered.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
If you’d like to interact with marine wildlife during your stay in Brasilito, Costa Rica, you should book a snorkeling or scuba diving tour or boat ride to the Catalina Islands or Bat Islands from Flamingo. In the waters surrounding these islands, you can encounter manta rays, sharks, turtles, fish, and other remarkable creatures in the Pacific Ocean.
Sunset Sailing & Catamaran Tours
As we mentioned, the sunsets in Playa Brasilito are breathtaking. One of the best ways to experience them is to hop on a sailboat or catamaran and witness the sun sink below the waves from the water.
Playa Flamingo & Playa Conchal
Brasilito is sandwiched between two beautiful beaches — Flamingo and Conchal. If you’re staying in Playa Brasilito, stop by Flamingo to enjoy the spectacular fishing marina, upscale restaurants, and gorgeous white-sand beach, and pay a visit to the small (but famous!) Conchal Beach to walk across the unique sand made from crushed shells.
Diamante Eco-Adventure Park
Diamante Eco-Adventure Park is one of the best day trips from Brasilito, just a half-hour drive from the town. While you’re here, you can zipline over the forest canopy, ride horseback or on an ATV through the rainforests, embark on a cultural tour — where you can learn about the country’s chocolate, coffee, and sugar cane production — and come face-to-face with rescued animals in the wildlife sanctuary, like sloths, monkeys, jaguars, pumas, and more.
Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Rincon de la Vieja National Park is another one of the best day trips from Brasilito, Costa Rica. Just under a two-hour drive away, you can access an abundance of hiking trails for all skill levels, see spectacular waterfalls, relax in hot springs, mud pools, and swimming holes, and see wildlife, like birds and reptiles.
Safety at Playa Brasilito
Although it’s more underdeveloped than neighboring beach towns like Conchal and Flamingo, Brasilito is a perfectly safe place to stay in Costa Rica. Sure, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with locals more than tourists in Brasilito, but if that’s your preferred travel style — you’ll love this humble beach town.
However, remember to bring your common sense when traveling to Costa Rica — or anywhere, for that matter. Never travel alone at night, keep valuables tucked away in a lockbox in your hotel or vacation rental, and if you have watches or expensive jewelry, don’t flash them around while you’re out and about.
Getting to Playa Brasilito
Playa Brasilito is just a one-hour drive from the Liberia International Airport and just under a five-hour drive from the San Jose International Airport. If you’re coming to Playa Brasilito from either airport, you can book a rental car or hire a private driver and follow driving directions on Google Maps. If you’re coming from the Liberia Airport, you may also be able to take the bus, a taxi, or an Uber.
If you’re planning to visit Playa Brasilito, Costa Rica, from another beach town in Guanacaste, you’ll be pleased to discover the town is just over a half-hour drive by car from popular destinations to the south, like Tamarindo and Playa Grande, and under an hour-long walk from both Conchal and Flamingo. It’s also a short drive by car — between five to 25 minutes — to each neighboring beach.
Brasilito Beach Town
Brasilito, Costa Rica, is a modest beach town with a few local restaurants, boutique hotels, small markets, a church, a school, and a soccer field in the center of town.
Many visitors skip over Brasilito since there aren’t as many hotels or tourist attractions. However, if you stay in a vacation rental in this small town, you can enjoy proximity to popular beaches, like Conchal Beach, Flamingo Beach, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Tamarindo, without the steep resort town prices.
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Brasilito Restaurants
Whether you’re looking for somewhere quick to grab lunch right off the beach, or a nicer, sit-down restaurant for dinner, you will find a decent selection of dining establishments in Brasilito.
Papaya Restaurant
Papaya Restaurant, in Conchal Hotel, is one of the best places to go for a romantic, sophisticated dinner in Brasilito, Costa Rica.
Conchal Hotel may only be a small, colorful, three-star boutique hotel along the main street in Brasilito — but the food is on another level. While you’re here, you can enjoy house specialties, like Coconut Mahi-Mahi, Seafood Thai Curry, and Jerk Chicken. If you’re feeling adventurous, order a Costa Rican combo platter to try the food the locals love, like Casado and Ceviche.
Soda Brasilito
Soda Brasilito is located just off the beach, and it’s where the locals head for inexpensive Costa Rican fare, like Arroz Con Pollo, Arroz Con Mariscos, or Casados. You will also find salads, soups, pasta, appetizers, and other types of meat on the menu.
Soda El Coco, right next door, is another locally-owned spot where you can stop for Costa Rican food, including Ceviche and Casado, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Patagonia del Mar
Patagonia del Mar is the most upscale restaurant in Brasilito. They offer brunch, with items like coffee, breakfast cocktails, omelets, and pancakes on the menu, and for dinner, they serve seafood, sushi, steak, pasta, and more. Their menu is extensive — everyone in your brunch or dinner party will undoubtedly find something to order that they will enjoy.
If you’re visiting later in the day, you can enjoy a refreshing drink from the restaurant’s impressive wine list and cocktail menu, primarily focusing on rum and mezcal. The restaurant also has a pool where you can swim while enjoying gorgeous views of the beach, where you can watch the sunset.
Deli Café
If you’re looking for a quaint coffee shop right by the beach where you can get your morning caffeine fix — look no further than Deli Cafe. You can order an Americano, Latte, Mocha, or your favorite caffeinated beverage, and also pick up a Ham & Cheese Croissant or Deli Panini if you get hungry.
Shopping in Brasilito
Aside from some souvenir shops, there aren’t many places to shop in Playa Brasilito.
However, if you are in town on Saturday, there is a fabulous Farmer’s Market that occurs from 11 AM – 6 PM in the Brasilito Plaza. You can find jewelry, food, produce, clothing, and other products made by Costa Rican vendors to bring home with you.
Hotels & Vacation Rentals in Brasilito
As we mentioned, there aren’t many places to stay in Brasilito — the majority of luxury accommodations, like the Reserva Conchal Beach Resort and The Westin Reserva Conchal Hotel, are closer to Playa Conchal or Playa Flamingo.
However, if you’d like to stay in a vacation rental during your trip to Brasilito — you’re in luck. Special Places of Costa Rica offers several comfortable condos and spacious houses right in the heart of Brasilito so that you can enjoy all this charming beach town has to offer.
Vacation Rentals Near Playa Brasilito
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nearby beaches
Beach Hopping While Visiting Playa Brasilito Which Beach Should You Visit Next?
Brasilito is a fabulous place to stay in Costa Rica if you’re interested in exploring other beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica — but would like to stay away from the tourist crowds and prices.
Playa Flamingo, to the north, offers tons of fun activities, like fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving tours, and Playa Conchal, to the south, is one of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, with its sand made from crushed, white seashells.