Last Updated: July 25, 2025
Some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica require a bit more effort to visit. Their remote location keeps away the average beachgoer and gives those willing to explore the prize. This is the case with Playa Dantita in Guanacaste Province. This beautiful cove sits just a few hundred meters north of a developed beach called Playa Danta but gives the feeling of seclusion. In this post, we’ll explain how to access this relaxing beach and what it’s like once you arrive.
Location
Playa Dantita (Dantita Beach) is located on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast in the Guanacaste region. Just north of the community of Las Catalinas, it overlooks a larger beach named Playa Danta (Danta Beach).
This area is about 10-20 minutes from the towns of Potrero and Playa Flamingo. Tamarindo is about 45 minutes south. Guanacaste Airport is a little over one hour, while San Jose’s international airport is about 4.5 hours away.
Getting There
If you are coming from outside the immediate area, you will need to drive to Playa Danta first and park there. See driving directions below.
Map of Playa Danta and Playa Dantita
Here is a map with the location of the beach and parking.
Parking for Playa Danta and Playa Dantita
The only way by land to get to Playa Danta and Playa Dantita is to drive through a high-end development called Las Catalinas.
Main Parking Lot
Las Catalinas is open to the public (with no guard gate), so you will just continue on the main road through the community. As you come down the hill, look for a small dirt parking area on the left. It’s located at the very end of the road. This is the parking lot that is closest to the beach trail.
All beaches in Costa Rica are public, so even though Las Catalinas blocks most of the beach, they’re required to keep public access.
During our visits, there have been parking attendants to show us where to go. This parking area is for both Playa Danta and Playa Dantita so it can get busy, especially on weekends and holidays.
The informal parking attendants will watch your car for 3,000 colones (about $6 USD).
Important: Even in a guarded parking lot, it is best to not leave anything valuable in your car. The parking staff have a lot of cars to watch and can’t be everywhere at once. Read our Safety in Costa Rica post for more tips.
Private Parking Lot
If the lot is full, you’ll need to park at the larger private lot just before the dirt lot on the right. This is more of an official parking lot (paved with a gate), but it doesn’t have a bathroom or any amenities.
Parking here costs more – around 2,000 colones ($4) an hour. We had to park here on our last visit in January. The beach was busy with locals who were on vacation so the main parking lot was full.
Playa Danta
From the dirt parking area, a short trail leads through the woods to Playa Danta.
This is the beach next to Playa Dantita, right in front of Las Catalinas. It’s a very pretty ivory sand beach with rocky outcroppings at the northern end. Playa Danta is more commonly visited since it’s easier to get to. The walk from the parking lot is only about 3-5 minutes.
Danta Beach is a sheltered cove with smaller waves so is usually good for swimming.
Las Catalinas is developing a lot right now so the hillside backing the beach is under construction.
Playa Dantita
For more tranquility, head around the corner to Playa Dantita.
To access Playa Dantita, you have two options.
Option 1 – Walking Along the Rocks (Fastest)
For this option, you need to time your visit with the tide (see tide table). At lower tides, you can walk north along Playa Danta, over some rocks, and around the point to Playa Dantita. This is the fastest way to get to Dantita Beach.
The rocks are smooth in some areas but very uneven and bumpy in others. You are also walking in full sun. When the tide gets high, the rocks are mostly covered with water so be sure to leave enough time to return if you want to go back this same way.
It takes about 5-10 minutes each way, depending on how fast you go. We stopped a couple of times to check out the cool volcanic rock formations and shallow caves along the hillside.
For this option, we would recommend footwear with a good grip. But people do it in flip-flops as well.
Option 2 – Hiking the Forest Trail
If the tide isn’t right during your visit or you would rather hike on land to get to Playa Dantita, this option is for you.
From the parking area, walk on the path towards the main beach, Playa Danta. On the way, you’ll see two separate trail entrances. The first one on the right with the large trail map is for Las Catalinas’ trail system. This can work (as we found out, see more below) but is not the most direct.
Instead, keep walking towards the beach (straight), and in about one minute more, you will see the trail split. To the right is the trail to Playa Dantita and to the left is the trail to Playa Danta. The trailhead for Dantita Beach is clearly marked, and the short hike is about 10-20 minutes, depending on your fitness level.
Playa Dantita Trail Conditions
The trail to Playa Dantita is short (0.7 km/0.4 miles) but steep in some spots. It has fairly smooth dirt with occasional roots, rocks, and rustic steps to traverse. During the hike, you go right through the tropical dry forest.
The trees provided us with some nice shade during our visit in September. In January, when it was drier, there was only partial shade since many trees seasonally lose their leaves in Guanacaste.
About halfway along the trail, you’ll come to a scenic viewpoint. This is the perfect spot to rest and take some pictures.
The elevation goes from sea level to around 100 feet (30 meters), then back down to the beach again. We recommend sneakers or athletic sandals like Keens if you go this way.
Other Trail Options
If you are up for more rigorous hiking or want to get some great views, you could also check out the first trail from the parking area. The first time we visited Playa Dantita, we hiked the beginning of this trail (Las Catalinas Trail). It winds up the side of the hill. Near the top of the first ridge, you can see the Playa Dantita Trail below and easily connect with it on a secondary path.
This hike goes higher up so offers some great viewpoints. There’s more of a chance to see wildlife as well. We saw a beautiful Turquoise-browed Motmot (bird) during our hike. The hike partially along Las Catalinas Trail and partially on the Playa Dantita Trail took us about 25 minutes.
If you want to do more trails, you can use a map of Las Catalinas’ trail system to plan. Some trails go to higher spots, while others visit points where you can see more secluded beaches and coves. These trails are also popular for mountain biking.
Playa Dantita – The Reward!
Whichever way you choose to get to Playa Dantita, you won’t be disappointed.
The beach feels pristine and peaceful. The white sand is soft and the water is refreshing. Offshore there are beautiful islands. Along the upper edge of the sand are some nice trees to provide shade.
Our kids really enjoyed playing with the many colorful hermit crabs.
We have visited in both dry and rainy season, and the water still stays a clear turquoise color with some rain. The waves are not usually very intense either.
On our last visit in January, we snorkeled along the rocks and saw some cool tropical fish in the clear water. We were also surprised when a big ray jumped straight out of the water nearby!
What to Bring
Playa Dantita is secluded and doesn’t have any amenities. Be sure to pack everything you will need for the day.
The beach has shorter, shrubby trees backing it that provide some shade but you will still want sunscreen and a hat.
Driving Directions to Playa Danta & Playa Dantita
From Liberia or Beaches to the South
From Liberia or Tamarindo, you’ll drive towards Huacas (Route 155) to connect with Route 180. On Route 180, you’ll travel through Brasilito and Potrero. At Flamingo/Potrero, the road turns to Route 911.
Follow Route 911 as it zigzags north until the “T” in the road (Hotel Bahia Esmeralda in front of you), then go left. Take a right after the Potrero soccer field onto Calle Las Catalinas and follow the road to the end.
The area has fairly good signage (follow signs for Las Catalinas). The entire route is paved.
From the North
For those coming from the north (e.g., Playa Hermosa, Playa Panama, or Playas del Coco), Route 911 is a faster way to get to Potrero. This road, known as the Monkey Trail, was recently paved but is very narrow. There are also still some areas that can be impacted by rivers or washouts.
This route should be fine in the drier months (December to around July, depending on recent rainfall). But we recommend going around, using Route 21 and Route 155, during the rainy months (approximately August-November).
From Potrero, take a right at the soccer field and follow Calle Las Catalinas north until it ends.
Conclusion
Playa Dantita, though a little harder to access, still attracts a small crowd especially on weekends. Even so, there are always a lot less people during our visits than at the other beaches in the area. We recommend getting there early to find a private spot under the trees. Bring a lunch, spend the day, and enjoy!
Looking to explore more secluded beaches on your trip? Our Beaches articles cover more unique spots all around Costa Rica.
Planning a visit to Playa Dantita? Already been? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more information to help you plan? Check out these articles:
Best Beaches for Families in Costa Rica – Looking for more spots to splash and play with the kids? Check out this post for some great options.
Playa Conchal: The Allure of Shell Beach – Just a half-hour from Playa Dantita, Playa Conchal in Brasilito is a must-see for beach lovers. The sand here is made up of tiny pieces of shell.
Beach Safety Tips – Playa Danta and Dantita generally have calm water but it’s always good to be aware of rip currents. Learn how to recognize them and stay safe.
Rental Car Discount – If you’re looking to explore the beaches of Guanacaste, we recommend renting a car for a few days. Use our rental car discount to get a great deal and free delivery to your hotel or vacation rental.
Things to Do: Discover both hidden gems and top attractions with our Things to Do articles. We cover 150+ activities from hikes and hanging bridges to coffee and chocolate tours.
