It may sound like fiction, but Guanacaste, Costa Rica, has a beach with pink sand. It’s Playa Rosada, also known as Playa Cuarzo. It’s in Nosara, right next to the south end of Playa Guiones, and you can only reach it on foot at low tide. That’s the one detail you absolutely need to know!
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Where Is Playa Rosada in Costa Rica, and How Do You Get There?
It’s in Nosara, on Guanacaste’s Pacific coast, and you get there on foot from the south end of Playa Guiones, over the rocks that separate Guiones from Playa Garza. Nosara has direct SANSA flights from San José, about 45 minutes long, but the last stretch to the beach is always on foot.
Since you can only cross at low tide, the first thing to do is check a tide chart and plan your walk around low tide. From the south end of Playa Guiones, follow the shoreline across the wet rocks for about 15 minutes, so wear shoes with good grip.
Keep in mind that you come back the same way, so you need to return before the tide rises. If it comes in while you’re on the beach, you could be stuck for about six hours, until it goes back out.
Since everything hinges on the timing, sleeping nearby gives you some breathing room, so if you want lodging and shops close by, you can look for a place in Nosara, or even a few kilometers farther on in Ostional.
Always walk along the beach and don’t cut through private land, because Law 6043 sets aside the public zone for free passage. That zone is the 50 meters from the ordinary high tide line plus whatever the low tide uncovers, with the exceptions set by law.
Why the Sand at Playa Rosada Is Pink
Basically, the beach gets its color from the huge number of tiny, powdered shells mixed into the white sand, which shine in the sun. There are also small quartz stones that help create the effect, which is where its other name comes from. Just don’t expect an intense pink, because the Costa Rican Tourism Institute describes it as a slight tone.
What to Do at Playa Rosada and What to Bring
Among the things you’ll find at Playa Rosada, in Guanacaste, are gentle waves and white sand, and it’s an excellent spot for snorkeling. It’s also good for snorkeling at high tide, but if you take advantage of that, plan on staying until the water goes back down.
Since you have to walk in, bring water and sunscreen. And leave the sand and shells where they are, because tourists have tried to illegally take shells out of the country through the Guanacaste airport.
