The Playa Bonita is much smaller than you would expect from the pictures. I’m not sure if it’s because we were there during the off-season, but the beach was definitely a lot smaller than it looks in pictures. The beach itself is not very wide and does not go very far out into the water. There are some rocks that line part of the shoreline, which makes it difficult to walk out into deeper water to swim or snorkel in this area.
The Playa Bonita may be better suited for families with children who don’t want to venture too far from shore; however, if you’re looking for a more expansive beach experience, then this might be disappointing for you.
FAQ
How long is the drive from Puerto Limon?
Depending on your mode of transportation, it will take you 2-3 hours walk to get to Puerto Limon. If you have a car, it’s 45 minutes from the beach to the center.
What is the best time of year to go to Puerto Limon?
Puerto Limon has a tropical climate with little variance between seasons, so there isn’t really a bad time for this destination. However, its rainy season runs from May through November and can be quite heavy at times (upwards of 80 inches per year). The dry season runs from December through April and offers cooler temperatures with more pleasant weather conditions overall. This can make for some nice beach days when it isn’t raining!
Pros & Cons of Playa Bonita
Pros:
- The beach is small but has a nice view of the ocean.
- The sand is not soft, but it’s not hard either, so it’s good for kids who want to play in the sand without getting hurt on sharp rocks or shells.
- The water is a gorgeous turquoise color and super clear! You can see all kinds of aquatic life swimming around you while you’re snorkeling or swimming in it.
- There’s a river that runs into the ocean on one end of the beach where there are some rocks that make great sitting spots for relaxing with a drink in your hand after being out in the sun all day!
“Playa Bonita is much smaller than you would expect from the pictures. I’m not sure if it’s because we were there during the off-season, but the beach was definitely a lot smaller than it looks in pictures. The beach itself is not very wide and does not go very far out into the water.”
— Rostislav Sikora, Author
Bonita beach in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Playa Bonita is a beach located in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. It’s only a short drive from the city center, so it’s easy to get to by car or taxi. Playa Bonita is known for its clear water and white sand, which makes it a great place for swimming and snorkeling (you’ll likely see some tropical fish while you’re there). Food vendors can be found on the beach as well; they sell typical Costa Rican dishes like rice and beans with chicken, steak sandwiches with avocado spread, fresh juices and smoothies (made from papaya), among other things.
The restaurants lining both sides of the main road through town offer menus with local specialties like seafood soups made with coconut milk or conch chowder served with coconut flakes on top—these are worth trying if you have time after exploring this part of Costa Rica!
Playa Bonita is a beautiful beach located in a small town called Puerto Limon.
The town is located on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and is popular among tourists because it has so many things to do. There are also many hotels and accommodations available for visitors, if you want to spend some time at this wonderful place.
There is always something fun going on at Playa Bonita, whether it’s surfing lessons or volleyball games with the locals! This beach is open to the public so that you can go whenever you want (and even spend some time there with your family). It’s also very popular among locals because it has great waves for surfing, as well as other water sports such as snorkeling or paddleboarding! You can find more info on Google review.
The beach is open to the public, so you can go and enjoy it whenever you want. You don’t need to pay anything or ask for permission from anyone. The only thing that does cost money are the food and drinks at some of the beachside restaurants. You can bring your family and friends along with you, too!
The sand was not soft and powdery.
The sand is not soft and powdery. It’s rough, gritty and a light tan color. It looks like it’s made of crushed shells, which makes it seem more like rubble than sand. Try Playa Chiquita! Or Playa Punta Uva!
If you were expecting white, soft beach sand with a gentle breeze coming from the ocean to make you feel relaxed while laying on your towel in the sun, you will be disappointed by Playa Bonita. If you are looking for something different and more authentic than Caribbean beaches with their bright blue waters and white sand, then this might be right up your alley!
The water was a gorgeous turquoise.
Critique: The water was a gorgeous turquoise, but the sand was not soft and powdery as we’d expected. Because it is so close to Costa Rica, there were many other tourists that had also come to Playa Bonita for the day. The beach was much smaller than I thought it would be and could get crowded quickly. We did enjoy eating lunch with some of the local food vendors on the beach though! They had great handmade jewelry, hand-carved wood products, and even some t-shirts with funny sayings on them (in Spanish).
A river runs into the ocean on one end of the beach.
It’s the only source of fresh water on the beach, so it can get pretty crowded sometimes. It’s also where you’ll find most of your fellow travelers lounging around in their hammocks, drinking beer and talking about where they’re going next.
If you want to cool off—and I mean really cool off—try swimming in the river. The water temperature is cooler than in other parts of Limon Province, which means that it’ll be freezing when compared to anywhere else along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast in Central America!
The river is the only fresh water on the beach. The river is the only source of fresh water for people who live on the beach, wildlife, and plants.
Bring your own fresh water to stay hydrated.
As with most things on a vacation, the best plan is to bring your own water and snacks. Playa Bonita, like many other beaches in Costa Rica, doesn’t offer any bottled drinking water. The food vendors will sell you bottles of “natural” juice which is basically just sweetened water—but that’s not what you want!
The first thing to do when you arrive at Playa Bonita is fill up all your reusable water bottles from one of the many water dispensers around town. You can find them at restaurants and supermarkets; they’re usually located under the counter so ask for help if you need some assistance locating one.
You’ll also likely notice that there are many people offering fresh fruits and vegetables (which are delicious!) as well as coconuts (also delicious). One note about coconuts: these aren’t for sale at every street corner as one might expect; rather, they’re only available from certain stands close to each beach entrance along Route 32 where taxis stop frequently to pick up tourists who’ve rented cars from nearby hotels or resorts without their own transportation options such as shuttle buses into Puerto Limon downtown area proper—so keep an eye out if those sound appealing!
The food vendors were fun, even if we did have to negotiate their prices.
The food vendors at Playa Bonita are great. You’ll find them scattered all over the beach, and they serve everything from fresh fruit smoothies to fried hot dogs. Many of these vendors are run by locals who have been setting up shop on the beach for years, so they’re very friendly and willing to negotiate prices with you. The food is good, too! It’s pretty much all fried (which can be unhealthy if you’re not careful), but it’s also fresh, which makes up for it in my book.
They have some of the best fried fish around.
The fried fish is prepared in a banana leaf, corn husk and then wrapped in a banana leaf. It’s served with rice and beans.
You can also get their coco bread which is something that everyone should try at least once!
I wish it had more shade so that we could have stayed all day.
Robert
The beach at Playa Bonita is beautiful, but it doesn’t have much shade. If you’re looking for a place to stay all day and not have to move around too much, this isn’t the best option. The only shade comes from the trees behind the sand and the umbrellas that some people set up on their own. If you’re traveling with kids or elderly family members who might need a break from the sun, bring your own umbrella or beach chair – there’s nothing available for rent at Playa Bonita. I would also recommend bringing water shoes (or flip flops) if you have small children who might want to wade in deeper water; there are no lifeguards on duty so it’s important to keep an eye on everyone!
Bring along sunscreen and hats – just because there’s no shade doesn’t mean that you won’t get sunburned if you don’t protect yourself! Also make sure everyone has plenty of water since they’ll be sweating more than usual under those hot tropical suns 🙂
Playa Bonita in Puerto Limon is good for a quick trip but bring your own fresh water and snacks.
The beach is small and the sand isn’t soft and powdery. The river runs into the ocean on one end of the beach so you’ll have to navigate stepping stones over this current if you want to go into deeper water. There are vendors that sell food on Playa Bonita which can be fun, even if you have to negotiate their prices.
Conclusion
Overall, Playa Bonita was a fun experience for us. I would recommend going if you are looking for a quick trip but don’t want to spend too much money and don’t mind seeing some poverty.
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