Flamingo Beach’s mile of white sand is a half-moon shaped bay encircling crystal clear waters. A firm favorite with north American tourists and retirees; the town has all the services necessary for daily life such as a pharmacy, bank and stores, and plenty to offer for an enjoyable vacation from the casino to spas and tour options.
The Flamingo Marina is the only mooring area of its kind between Mexico and Panama, hence the area’s upmarket feel with high-quality accommodation options and restaurants. While the area is rich in wildlife; there are no flamingos despite the beach’s name.
Activities:
Deep sea fishing: Head out to sea for sports fishing for marlin, tuna and swordfish among other fish.
Scuba diving: The nearby Catalina Islands offer divers the chance to see white-tipped sharks, manta rays and a lot of other marine life.
Golf: If your vacation isn’t complete without 18 holes, the Robert Trent Jones Jnr. designed golf course at the Westin Hotel offers sweeping greens with panoramic ocean views.
Nearby: Other beaches include: Playa Portrero, Playa Brasilito and Playa Conchal which is a beautiful beach made of shells.
Santa Rosa National Park A day trip here gives the visitor a glimpse of Costa Rican history and wildlife. The park is the site of the Battle of Santa Rosa, when the mainly volunteer defending army defeated the American Filibuster, William Walker, and a more recent attempt by the Nicaraguans to invade in the 1950s. Although a visit to the restored ‘hacienda’ is worthwhile, most visitors chose to come to the park for its wildlife. It is home to wild cats, a variety of large mammals and a great diversity of birdlife.
Surfers are drawn here by the chance to catch the waves at the world-famous Witches Rock. The distance from Flamingo to the park is only 47 miles, but the last part of the road is in especially poor condition, and so allow more time than the distance suggests.
Marino Las Baulas National Park: During the day, this beach reserve provides great opportunity for wildlife spotting, providing a habitat for many bird species, monkeys and crocodiles. From November to April, the area is an important site for Leatherback turtles to lay their eggs. The park is located about 30 miles from Flamingo.
Rincon de la Vieja: The national park is dominated by the volcano of the same name and is popular with visitors for its hiking trails, springs, and exciting activities on offer, such as ziplining and waterfall rappelling. The drive from Flamingo is about 37 miles to reach the park.
Car: While the road from the airport to Flamingo is in generally good repair; we recommend a mid-sized to premium 4x4 SUV to explore the quieter beaches nearby or head further inland to Santa Rosa National Park. Be aware that during green season a larger/stronger vehicle is a better choice. Signage in this part of the country is rare and so a GPS system is very useful to easily find your way around.
How to get to Flamingo
From Liberia: Take Route 21 through Filadelfia and beyond to Belen, where you join Route 155. Follow signage towards Tamarindo but at Huacas take the right hand road, Route 180, at the junction and continue along the road until reaching Flamingo. Approximate journey time: 1 ¾ hours
From San Jose: Join the Autopista del Sol and continue until Orotina, taking Route 3 until joining the Pan-American highway in the direction of Liberia until getting to Limonal. Cross the Puente Amistad (Friendship Bridge) and then join Route 21, heading for Nicoya. From Nicoya follow signs to Santa Cruz. Join Route 155. Follow signage towards Tamarindo but at Huacas take the right hand road, Route 180, at the junction and continue along the road until reaching Flamingo. Approximate journey time: 5 ½ hours