Esterillos Oeste: Surfing, Serenity, and La Sirena

Last Updated: August 11, 2025

Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast is filled with busy beach towns, but there are still some quiet stretches of sand to be discovered. One such place is Esterillos Oeste. This small town just south of Jaco is well-known to surfers and locals but has remained off the tourist map so far. But with its proximity to San Jose, gorgeous beach, and restaurants only steps from the sand, it may not stay that way for long. Our family lived in Esterillos Oeste for several years. In this post, we’ll share why Esterillos Oeste is worth a visit and give you some insight into what to expect for activities, restaurants, and hotels.

Orientation

Esterillos Oeste is located off coastal Highway 34, about 1.5 hours from San Jose Airport and 20 minutes south of one of Costa Rica’s most developed beach towns, Jaco.

Although Jaco is only a short drive away, Esterillos Oeste remains quiet and peaceful. The town is surrounded mostly by patches of rice fields, grazing cattle, and thick tropical rainforest.

Once you arrive in the modest town center near the beach, you will find a small grocery store, a few restaurants, no-frills lodging, and a mix of simple homes with larger houses in the surrounding hills. Mostly Costa Ricans live in Esterillos Oeste, but there is also a sizeable population of expats from around the globe.

There are two turnoffs for Esterillos Oeste. The main one is the first if you are coming from the north. Just past Esterillos Oeste (west) are Esterillos Centro (center), Esterillos Este (east), and Bejuco. These are separate, even smaller, beach communities with a handful of restaurants and accommodations.

Continuing south, you will reach the busy Manuel Antonio/Quepos area in about 45 minutes. Here, you’ll find one of the most well-known national parks in Costa Rica and a plethora of tourist amenities.

Getting to Esterillos Oeste

Renting a Car

Since Esterillos is so small and attractions are a drive away, we highly recommend a rental car to get around. Be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% and get free extras.

You don’t need a four-wheel drive vehicle for the Esterillos area. Almost all roads leading to Esterillos and in the surrounding area are well-maintained and paved.

Taking a Shuttle

If you’d rather leave the driving to someone else, shuttles are an option. For this, we’d recommend staying near the center of town and beach so that you can walk to get around. Taxis are available in Esterillos Oeste, but there aren’t many. 

For help arranging a shuttle transfer, feel free to reach out through the links below or use our Private Shuttle Bookings page. We work with a reliable local transportation company that provides door-to-door service from the airport or any destination. Booking through us costs the same and helps support our website!

Weather in Esterillos

Esterillos follows Costa Rica’s typical dry and rainy season patterns.

Dry season, when there’s little to no rain, is from December through the end of April. Rainy season starts in May and goes through the end of November. The rainiest months are September and October. When we lived in Esterillos, though, we still went to the beach all year-round. Mornings tend to have sunny skies. Read our Weather in Costa Rica post for more information.

Temperatures remain balmy and tropical year-round, in the 80s ℉ (28 ℃) and cooling down a little at night. Rainy season can be slightly cooler because of the rain and increased humidity.

Activities in Esterillos Oeste

Playa Esterillos Oeste – Beach and Tide Pools

The beach is by far the town’s biggest attraction.

Along the pristine gray sand, you will find local families barbecuing under the palms, fishermen putting out their boats, and surfers lined up for the next big wave.

The beach is long and it’s easy to find a spot all to yourself. A beach trail/road runs along the ocean, making it convenient to pull your car right up.

With larger waves and riptides, the beach isn’t great for swimming, but you can wade in the shallow waves.

For calm water, check out the tide pools on the northern end at low tide. These are a great place to bring kids to see the crabs and fish living in the small pools. Our kids love them. You can even swim in some of the larger pools.

In between rock formations, there are a few perfect places to take a dip in the tranquil water. Here is a link to the tide chart to plan your visit. Low tide is best for exploring the tide pools.

To access the tide pools, you can park near the town center and walk along the beach.

Even easier is to turn right on the paved road after Super Sol market and follow it until the end. Here, you’ll find another parking area right in front of the tide pools.

When parking, make sure not to leave anything in your car. While the community is overall safe, car break-ins do happen occasionally.

Watch our video to get a sense of how big the tide pools are.

Mermaid Statue

Another notable attraction at Playa Esterillos Oeste is the bronze statue of a mermaid jutting out of the tide pools. You can walk out to La Sirena at low tide to get a picture, or just view her from the shore at any tide.

This mermaid has quite a story. After being washed out to sea during a bad storm in 2023, the community came together, raising money for restoration and putting her back in her place once again.

Surfing

Playa Esterillos Oeste is a well-known surfing beach. It is the most popular of the three Esterillos beaches, but usually doesn’t get too busy.

Experienced surfers come here to take on the beach break, but it’s also a good spot for those just starting out. You will find a few different surf shops in town that offer lessons and rent boards. One good option is Aloha Surf. 

Area Beaches

In addition to Esterillos Oeste’s amazing beach, there are several other beaches in the area worth exploring. For more seclusion, head just south to the dark-sand Esterillos Este. For a beautiful palm-tree-lined locals’ spot, we recommend Playa Bejuco. 

If you’re looking for good swimming beaches, Playa Mantas and Playa Blanca, about 40 minutes north, are well worth the drive.

You can find more options in our Jaco Beaches post.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing is excellent in Esterillos Oeste. You’re very likely to see Scarlet Macaw parrots flying overhead. Plus, other wildlife like monkeys and sloths can often be seen as well. We used to see white-faced monkeys, sloths, and toucans right in our backyard.

To see the most during your visit, we also recommend checking out the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. This park has thick tropical rainforest filled with birds and animals. It’s fun to make a day out of it and eat one of Manuel Antonio’s many great restaurants.

Finally, if you’re visiting later in rainy season, there’s the chance of catching a baby sea turtle release right on the beach. A local in town has a small turtle hatchery. He protects the eggs then releases them into the ocean when the hatchlings are ready. The best way to find out about releases is to follow his Facebook page.

Tours and Other Adventures 

Not far from town are some great options for tours. Since Esterillos is close to both Jaco and Manuel Antonio, you have the advantage of being able to do activities in both places. Lots of options are available, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Horseback riding tours will take you through the tropical forest to explore the countryside, see wildlife, and even visit waterfalls.

A nearby adventure park offers thrill seekers zip lining, waterfall rappelling, ATV, plus they have a family-friendly chocolate tour.

Catamaran tours, crocodile tours, hiking at Rainmaker Park, snorkel tours to Tortuga Island, kayak or boat tours to see monkeys, a spice farm, wildlife center, and even a street art tour are all within a one-hour drive. Check out our Jaco and Manuel Antonio Tour pages for a full list of activities.

Restaurants in Esterillos Oeste

Esterillos Oeste has a few local restaurants and new options have started popping up, offering more contemporary food. Also be sure to check out our restaurant guides for Jaco and Manuel Antonio for more great spots.

Los Almendros

Los Almendros is the most well-known restaurant in town and for good reason. The cuisine is fresh and made with local ingredients and house-made sauces. Asian-Caribbean fusion dishes like Pad Thai, Caribbean-style Chicken, and Jamaican Jerk fill the menu. Also features a fresh catch like mahi-mahi or tuna and has vegan and vegetarian options. We have eaten here many times and it never disappoints.

Located one block up from the beach, near the soccer field and under the almond trees.

Restaurante El Patio

Restaurante El Patio offers casual fare and friendly service. They have lots of traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as pizza, tacos, and other Tex Mex options. Open for lunch and dinner.

Located next to Super Sol grocery store, about a hundred meters from the beach.

Soda Margarita

For authentic Costa Rican food, there’s Soda Margarita. This super rustic restaurant is run by a local lady who serves up delicious traditional meals for breakfast and lunch. We loved the arroz con camarones, a fried rice plate that was perfectly seasoned and full of shrimp.

Located in a neighborhood on the very northern end of town. Look for the path to the left before you reach the parking area. The small restaurant is set back (near a large tree) and has a palm thatched roof.

Don Toro Beach

One more spot in the area worth checking out is Don Toro Beach, right on Playa Esterillos Este. This locals’ spot has tables right on the sand so you can enjoy lovely ocean views from under the almond trees. The food is simple, but delicious, traditional Costa Rican fare. 

On the very southern end of Playa Esterillos Este.

Tip: When eating out in Esterillos, it’s best to get bottled water or make sure that the restaurant uses filtered water. This is one of the only areas in Costa Rica with poor drinking water. Read our Drinking Water Safety post for more information.

Accommodations in and Around Esterillos Oeste

Being a small town, Esterillos Oeste doesn’t have a ton of accommodations. A few simple hotels and campgrounds are spread out along the beach. Airbnbs and vacation rentals can be found seaside or up in the hills just outside town, many with ocean views. Read our tips on vacation rentals for tips on staying safe and what to look for.

The Spot

Backpackers love the Spot, one block inland. This simple hostel has colorful rooms made from old shipping containers. Visitors love the owner who makes the place feel like home. Private rooms with AC, $50-75/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita is another budget-friendly option in a great location. The basic hotel is right on the beach in the center of town. Rooms are small and simple, but have AC and a kitchen for cooking. One room has a direct ocean view. La Dolce Vita has a small pool. $70-100/night (double occupancy). Check Rates and Availability Here.

Higher End Options Nearby

Alma del Pacifico Hotel

Our pick for a high-end stay is Alma del Pacifico Hotel in neighboring Esterillos Este. This is a beautiful boutique hotel with 20 villas and bungalows on the ocean. The architecture of the hotel has unique artistic flair, with bright colors and lots of curvature. Some rooms have direct ocean views and private plunge pools. $200-700/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

Marala Hotel

A newer hotel in the Esterillos area is Marala. Marala is located off the highway a short drive to town, but is situated on a hill so has nice ocean views. The small hotel has a handful of nicely decorated rooms as well as a couple of more basic bungalows. The infinity pool has a lovely sea view. A good restaurant serving upscale cuisine is located onsite. $115-300/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.

Conclusion

We lived in Esterillos Oeste for several years and loved the beautiful natural surrounds. Our whole family loved to soak up the laid back beach vibe and enjoy the good food at the seaside restaurants. If you’re coming to the central Pacific coast, make sure to check it out too!

Have a question about visiting Esterillos Oeste? Ask us in the comments below.

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Looking for more information to plan your trip to Esterillos Oeste? Check out these posts:

Jaco: Costa Rica’s Booming Beach Town: Learn what Jaco offers for activities and restaurants. Includes some gorgeous secluded beaches, info on the weekly farmers market, and more.

Off-the-Beaten Path Destinations in Costa Rica: Explore more lesser known destinations all around Costa Rica. Gives more beach options plus some inland areas.

Beaches: View all the beaches we cover on this website (more than 40 on both coasts) in one place. 

Destinations: Plan your whole trip with our Destinations page. We cover 50+ towns and cities across the country. 

Rental Car Discount: Esterillos Oeste is best explored with a rental car so that you can check out other area towns and things to do. Use our discount to save 10% and get free extras.