Active Pursuits in Playas Brasilito and Conchal

Fun on & off the Beach

Playa Conchal, which is legendary for its crushed seashells, is also stunningly beautiful, but the drop-off is quite steep, making it notorious for its strong riptides. However, the water at Playa Brasilito is often fairly calm, which makes it a good swimming choice. This is also a great jumping-off point for visiting other nearby, and less popular beaches, like Playa La Penca and Playa Pan de Azúcar, both of which are north of here.

All of the hotels here have tour desks offering a range of tour and activity options, including those available in the Flamingo and Potrero area .

Tip: All beaches in Costa Rica are public property. But the land behind the beaches is not, and the Westin hotel owns almost all of it in Playa Conchal, so the only public access is along the soft-sand road that follows the beach south from Brasilito. Before the road reaches Conchal, you'll have to ford a small river and then climb a steep, rocky hill, so four-wheel-drive is recommended.

Golf: The Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa (tel. 2654-4123) is home to the excellent Reserva Conchal Golf Course. This Robert Trent Jones–designed resort course features broad open fairways, fast greens, and a few wonderful views of the ocean. It is open to the walk-in public from neighboring hotels and resorts. It costs $150 in greens fees for 18 holes and $95 for nine holes. If you tee off after 1pm, the price drops to $95 for all the rounds you can squeeze in.