Last Updated: July 25, 2025
When you think of beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, you probably think of the shell-filled Playa Conchal, the pristine Playa Flamingo, and maybe even Playa Punta Uva with its caramel-colored sand and lush jungle backdrop. One area that typically doesn’t come to mind is Jaco. But just a short drive from this bustling seaside town is a gorgeous white-sand beach called Playa Blanca (sometimes called Punta Leona). It is one of the prettiest we’ve seen in Costa Rica. Below is everything you need to know to plan your visit to this hidden gem.
Location
Playa Blanca is located just north of the town of Herradura on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. While just a 15-minute drive from the popular Playa Jaco, this beach is not well known among tourists. It is unmarked and many people think that you can access it only if you’re staying at the Punta Leona Hotel.
This is not the case. Like all beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Blanca is open to the public. It is a bit hidden, though, so you do have to know how to get there.
For those looking for a day trip from San Jose, Playa Blanca is also a great option. At only about one hour from San Jose, it’s one of the best beaches near San Jose for a day trip. Playa Blanca is particularly popular with locals from the city seeking a weekend beach escape, but it is also a good option for travelers staying in the San Jose area who want to experience a white sand beach.
Getting to Playa Blanca
From Jaco or Playa Herradura, head north along the Costanera highway, 34. Just before the Punta Leona Resort, you’ll take a left onto a paved road. If you’re coming from Jaco, this road is shortly after a large restaurant called Los Guarumos.
Drive about 10 minutes along this road, passing fields and rainforest and then through parts of the resort. The road is paved at first, then turns to dirt and back to pavement again once you’re closer to Punta Leona.
Along the way, a security guard may take down your license plate number. If they ask, just tell them you are going to Playa Mantas (the beach right next to Playa Blanca).
Near the end of the road, you’ll reach a parking lot. This is parking for Playa Mantas, the adjacent beach.
Playa Mantas
The first beach you’ll come to from the parking area is the gray sand Playa Mantas. This picturesque cove is also a nice place to spend the day if you can’t climb the rocks to get over to Playa Blanca.
Playa Mantas is a calm cove so good for swimming and has lots of tall palms and thick shrubbery for shade.
For more information about visiting, read our post, Playa Mantas: Calm Water and a Local Vibe.
Crossing Over to Playa Blanca
For those wanting to experience Playa Blanca, you’ll have to walk a few minutes south to a point.
Playa Blanca lies just on the other side of the point. The only way to get to it, unless you’re staying at Punta Leona Hotel, is on foot.
There are a couple of different ways to cross.
Crossing Over the Small Rocks (Easiest)
At lower tides, you can climb along the small rocks farther out on the point. This is the easiest way as it’s fairly flat.
To do this, you’ll walk past the steep embankment (see below) and continue on the sand/rocks towards the point. You’ll soon see an opening to cross to the other side.
Over the Embankment (More Difficult, but Faster)
The quickest way across is to maneuver up a steep embankment. This is before the point, right near where the sand ends on Playa Mantas.
A lot of people take this route since it drops you off closer to the main area of Playa Blanca.
You’ll see logs propped up to make the ascent a little easier. It is not too hard to get up, but not for everyone. Access it the other way if you have limited mobility.
Important: Playa Blanca is best accessed at low and mid-tides. You’ll still have to walk along the rocks on the southern end of Playa Mantas before crossing. These can be covered in water and slippery at higher tides. We’ve seen many people struggle (with all their bags) to get over the rocks with the waves crashing in. It can be dangerous! Here is a link to the tide chart to help you plan.
The Reward
Once you make it to the other side, you’ll be well rewarded. With fluffy white sand, clear turquoise water, lofty palm trees, and even Scarlet Macaw parrots flying overhead, Playa Blanca is the epitome of tropical paradise.
For us, it is the most beautiful beach we have found along this stretch of the Pacific Coast.
Tips for Visiting Playa Blanca
Parking
To access Playa Blanca, you have to park at Playa Mantas unless you’re staying at the Punta Leona Resort.
Unlike most beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Mantas has a designated parking lot. Previously, there was a large parking lot operated by the municipality. However, now this lot is for Club Punta Leona members and guests only.
The public now must park in a small dirt lot right before the large lot. This has about 40 spaces and fills fast, especially on the weekend. If you’re planning to go on a Saturday or Sunday, arrive early (before 9:00 am) to get a spot.
Informal attendants will watch your car in exchange for a tip. We give around 2,000-3,000 colones ($4-6) for the day.
There are no other options for parking in the immediate area, unfortunately. You can take a mini-bus to get to Playa Mantas, though. See our Playa Mantas post for more information.
How Much Time to Spend
As the beach is a bit of work to get to, plan to spend at least a few hours, if not the whole day. Bring along snorkel equipment if you have it for some casual snorkeling along the reef and rocks just offshore.
Amenities
Punta Leona Resort now has a small container store on Playa Mantas where they sell a variety of drinks, snacks, sandwiches, etc. Aside from that and vendors on the beach, there are no amenities in the immediate area.
Conclusion
We were thrilled to discover Playa Blanca years ago when spending time in the Jaco area. Now that we live nearby, we get back whenever we can. It’s a nice change from the surfing beaches typical along this stretch of coast. With its calm water for swimming, pristine white sand, and alluring waters, Playa Blanca is surely a welcome oasis.
Looking to explore more amazing beaches on your trip? Our Beaches articles take you to shell beaches, beaches with tide pools, and more swimming beaches.
What’s your favorite beach on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:
Jaco Tours: For more activities in the Jaco area, check out this list of tours we can help you book.
Jaco Beaches: Get info on the main beach in Jaco and other area beaches worth visiting.
Jaco Restaurant Guide: Check out our favorite restaurants in the Jaco area.
Beach Safety Tips: Playa Blanca generally has calm water (and a lifeguard present) but it’s always good to be aware of rip currents. Learn how to recognize them and stay safe.
Things to Do: Costa Rica has so many activity options. Our Things to Do section gives more than 150 ideas for everything from wildlife tours to waterfalls and hikes.
