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Cabo Blanco Reserve

A long forest walk to a beach you might have to yourself

Offbeat score 3 of 5PuntarenasBeachNear Cabuya

At the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Cabo Blanco was Costa Rica’s first protected area. A long forest trail crosses the reserve and drops to Playa Balsitas, a quiet beach facing seabird islands.

It is close to Montezuma and Santa Teresa, yet the hike keeps day-trippers to a trickle.

Getting there

From Montezuma follow the coast road south to Cabuya, then continue to the reserve ranger station.

Rolling green hills of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Local tips

Bring plenty of water and lunch. Check the reserve opening days before you go.

Travel lightly

This is a strict reserve: stay on the marked trail and leave the beach as you found it.

Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0. Nicoya photo: Panegyrics of Granovetter, CC BY-SA 2.0. Both via Wikimedia Commons.

Shared by Offbeat team