Explore Nicoya Peninsula

The Nicoya Peninsula extends south from Guanacaste into the Pacific, a long landmass bounded on the west by open ocean and on the east by the Gulf of Nicoya. It is one of the most geographically diverse areas of Costa Rica's Pacific coast — running from the surf and wellness communities of the northern and central coast (Nosara, Sámara, Carrillo) through the rugged southern tip (Santa Teresa, Mal País, Montezuma, Cabo Blanco) — and one of the longest stretches that runs from active international tourism into genuine wilderness within a single drive.

Nosara anchors the northern section of the peninsula accessible from the Guanacaste side: a clustered community of yoga retreats, surf camps, and the Ostional Wildlife Refuge — one of the few places in the world where olive ridley sea turtles arrive in mass nesting events (arribadas) that can bring tens of thousands of turtles to a single beach. Sámara sits further south in a protected bay, calmer and more family-oriented. Santa Teresa and Mal País share the southern Pacific coast — a long stretch of beach known for consistent surf, a growing international residential community, and some of the most sought-after beachfront land on the peninsula. Montezuma occupies the southeastern corner: a long-established village with a bohemian character, waterfalls accessible on foot, and a ferry connection across the Gulf of Nicoya to Puntarenas. At the very tip: Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica's first protected natural reserve, established in 1963.

For Off Grid Destinations, the Nicoya Peninsula is an active and growing area. Existing listings are concentrated near Santa Teresa and the southern coast. The peninsula is particularly well suited to buyers and renters drawn to surf access, Blue Zone lifestyle (Nicoya Peninsula is one of five globally recognised longevity regions), and a pace of life that remains measurably slower than the Central Pacific corridor.

Nicoya Peninsula is best for surf access, yoga and wellness retreats, beachfront and near-beach property, Blue Zone living, and those looking for a less-developed Pacific alternative to the Jacó–Manuel Antonio corridor.