Junquillal, Costa Rica
Junquillal is a calm little beach spot set in the middle of a 4 km long expanse of salt and pepper colored sand.
The beach of Playa Junquillal
The area around Junquillal is still largely undeveloped and beaches are deserted even during high season. Due to the powerful waves and strong currents swimming on the beach of Junquillal is not advisable. There are, however, tide pools in walking distance which are large enough for bathing and snorkeling.
The village of Junquillal is remarkably tidy. The friendly community is well organized and cares about their environment. Junquillal flies the Blue Flag, an ecologic award given to clean beaches and waters.
Map of Junquillal:
Driving south from Playa Junquillal the road ends at the estuary of the Rio Nandamojo. A lagoon has formed behind the beach and mangrove forests extend inland. You can rent kayaks and paddle up the river to admire the water jungle with its flora and fauna. Besides monkeys and lots of birds you might see crocodiles on a river bank.
Fishing at the Rio Nandamojo
The estuary is a favorite place for locals who do fishing with hand lines. On weekends you can watch a sample of Costa Rican pura vida when families have a picnic with barbecues of freshly caught fish while children frolic in the waters.
Around low tide - 3 hours before and after - you can cross the Rio Nandamojo by foot. A hike along the coast yields a fantasyland of beach wilderness and you can get lost in time collecting shells and taking in the views. 6 km south of Junquillal is the small fishermen village of Playa Largato.
Playa Callejones north of Junquillal
Hiking north from Junquillal you get to Playa Blanca, a delightful white sand beach bordered
by a rocky outcrop with many tide pools.
A little bit further on comes Playa Callejones with a small tico beach bar.
After 3.5 km you arrive at the surf beach of Playa Negra.
Again, this hike should be done around low tide.
Bar Junquillal on the beach
Despite its small size Junquillal has several nice and intimate hotels, as well as
restaurants and bars for travelers looking for a relaxed beach vacation away from the crowds.
For an escape from seclusion, some weekends offer latin dancing in the nearby villages.
Here you can enjoy a merry fiesta in the ambience of an authentic tico village.
Seaturtle hatchling
The sea turtle project of Junquillal
From July - January olive ridley and the rare leatherback sea turtles come to dig their eggs into
the beach of Junquillal. A WWF supported project runs a small hatching station to protect the eggs from poachers
and at night boys of the village patrol the beaches to watch over sea turtle nests.
At certain intervals
you can watch baby turtles at the hatching station struggling out of the sand and scurry off towards the ocean.
Ostional, the major turtle nesting site,
is only 25 km down the coast and when an arribada, a turtle mass nesting, takes place hotels in Junquillal can
arrange an excursion to witness one of the most amazing phenomenas Costa Rica has to offer.
Activities in Junquillal:
Besides hiking along the beaches, you can also explore the coast on horseback. Horse tours in Junquillal are offered for a couple of hours, a day, or up to a week. It's a scenic and memorable adventure where you can learn a lot about the nature and culture of rural Guanacaste.
Snorkeling is possible in tide pools at the southern end of the Junquillal beach or at Playa Blanca at the north.
Surfing is world-class in Playa Negra (6 km) or Avellanas (9 km). When there is a swell you can also surf in Junquillal at the northern and southern end of the beach. And maybe locals will disclose some of their secret surf spots at other nearby beaches.
In Playa Callejones, a 10-min drive from Junquillal, you can go sport fishing. Tours are run professionally by a tico family who has been fishing in these waters for decades. During the boat trip you might see schools of dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles.
Hotels in Junquillal also arrange tours to nearby attractions like the caves of Barra Honda, Palo Verde, or Ostional wildlife reserve.
Getting there:
From Tamarindo or Santa Cruz drive to the village called "27 de Abril". From there continue 13 km on a newly paved road until Paraiso where you turn left and to drive the remaining 3 km on a dirt road until Junquillal.
