The Central Nicoya Peninsula’s Best Kept Secret

The first week of January, I spent at Playa Guiones in Nosara.  I took advantage of being close to the Harmony Hotel to get some work done and meet with the owners there.  I was with my family and on Sunday, we decided to head north up the coast to San Juanillo beach.  It is about a 45 minute drive from the Harmony Hotel, passing the famous turtle nesting beach of Ostional. 

It is by far my favorite beach in Costa Rica.  Why?  It is a safe swimming beach (no current, no waves) with coral growing on the ocean floor so the colors of the water are amazing.  Very few people know about this beach as there are no hotels or residential developments nearby.  You see a few locals but hardly any foreigners on this beach.  It is a white sand and shell beach that branches out into a peninsula so that you actually have beach on both sides of a small peninsula.  The most spectacular setting you can imagine. 

And then there is lunch.  La Soda del Mundo Feliz.  The most simple little restaurant you can imagine.  Also one of my long time favorites.   Mom and Pop place.  Very informal.  But excellent fish casados.  OK, so most of the time half of the things on their limited menu are not available.  No chicken, no Coca Cola, no bottled water,  etc.  But we got the freshest breaded fish filets (San Juanillo is a fishing cove) with a cold Imperial beer.  Simplicity is the best.  Perfect way to spend the Sunday with the family.  So if you stay at Harmony in Nosara, make sure you ask about directions to San Juanillo and spend a few hours up there.  Let me know how you liked it.   

And by the way, Happy New Year 2012. 

--Hans