Junquillal and Playa Avellanas Guidebook
Food scene
A delightful local restaurant, just 500 meters away with excellent local dishes and fresh seafood. Closed on Tuesday.
15 locals recommend
Restaurante Lochito's
A delightful local restaurant, just 500 meters away with excellent local dishes and fresh seafood. Closed on Tuesday.
Delicious and inexpensive plates are the norm at this home-spun, authentic Tico restaurant. Closed on Monday.
La ventana del surfista
Delicious and inexpensive plates are the norm at this home-spun, authentic Tico restaurant. Closed on Monday.
Delicious food and a nice atmosphere - where locals often eat
21 locals recommend
Mundo Milo Eco Lodge
Calle Mundo MiloDelicious food and a nice atmosphere - where locals often eat
Guacamaya Lodge
Excellent food (including breakfasts) and a favorite of locals
Good pizza and local dishes close to the beach - another local favorite
12 locals recommend
Hotel Tatanka
Good pizza and local dishes close to the beach - another local favorite
Very good food and the best sunsets in town can be seen at this locals' favorite!
15 locals recommend
Junquillal Eco Resort
100 metresVery good food and the best sunsets in town can be seen at this locals' favorite!
Delightfully refined food in a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. A great choice for a special occasion. Closed Sunday and Monday.
46 locals recommend
Villa Deevena
Delightfully refined food in a beautiful and relaxed atmosphere. A great choice for a special occasion. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Restaurant/Bar Latinos
Great local food - try the whole red snapper!
Great burgers and (quite possibly) the best hamburger buns this side of San Jose. Closed on Wednesday.
Barumis'
Great burgers and (quite possibly) the best hamburger buns this side of San Jose. Closed on Wednesday.
After a busy day surfing, swimming, or just relaxing at Playa Avellana, Lola's is the perfect place to get a cold beverage or a delicious meal
110 locals recommend
Lola's
After a busy day surfing, swimming, or just relaxing at Playa Avellana, Lola's is the perfect place to get a cold beverage or a delicious meal
Great wood-fired pizza and drinks in a fun and funky atmosphere. Highly recommended!
12 locals recommend
Kon Tiki Playa Negra
Great wood-fired pizza and drinks in a fun and funky atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Brazilian food, Venezualan food, Pokeviche, gelato, and more at this eclectic new venue. Check out the yoga offerings, movie nights (on Sunday), and more!
8 locals recommend
La Esquina De Avellanas
Brazilian food, Venezualan food, Pokeviche, gelato, and more at this eclectic new venue. Check out the yoga offerings, movie nights (on Sunday), and more!
Wonderfully authentic Italian food - great service, delicious entrees, and great limoncello to take home. Closed on Tuesday.
22 locals recommend
Il Rustico, Playa Avellanas
Wonderfully authentic Italian food - great service, delicious entrees, and great limoncello to take home. Closed on Tuesday.
Excellent food and drinks outside in a cool, shady environment right on the water. Try the fruit smoothies, mojitos, and healthy/delicious food choices!
33 locals recommend
Pico Bistro
Excellent food and drinks outside in a cool, shady environment right on the water. Try the fruit smoothies, mojitos, and healthy/delicious food choices!
Excellent breakfast and brunch option right at Playa Avellanas
8 locals recommend
SoulShine Hotel & Restaurant
Excellent breakfast and brunch option right at Playa Avellanas
Another good local place for food and drinks where they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
11 locals recommend
Cabinas Las Olas
Playa AvellanasAnother good local place for food and drinks where they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Gregorio´s
A lovely place to enjoy a good meal right on the beautiful beach at Playa Avellanas
Marisquería y Taberna La Flaca
Excellent seafood in the authentic town of Paraiso
A good local restaurant close to the town of Pinilla, near Playa Avellanas
8 locals recommend
Cactus Restaurant
A good local restaurant close to the town of Pinilla, near Playa Avellanas
Wildlife
Wonderful non-profit turtle hatchery that has been in operation for 18 years to help increase the release of live baby turtles into the wild
Verdiazul
Wonderful non-profit turtle hatchery that has been in operation for 18 years to help increase the release of live baby turtles into the wild
If your trip coincides with the last quarter of the lunar cycle (roughly one week before the new moon), the beach at Ostional will host an amazing sight consisting of thousands (or tens of thousands) of female olive ridley turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. It is a magical scene!
12 locals recommend
Playa del Ostional
If your trip coincides with the last quarter of the lunar cycle (roughly one week before the new moon), the beach at Ostional will host an amazing sight consisting of thousands (or tens of thousands) of female olive ridley turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. It is a magical scene!
Daily Necessities
Well-stocked grocery store with everything you need for a comfortable stay in Junquillal
15 locals recommend
Super Junquillal
Well-stocked grocery store with everything you need for a comfortable stay in Junquillal
Pick up a few basic food items here. Not a big store, but enough things to help you get past the next meal or two until you can get to a larger store.
Mini Market Avellanas
Pick up a few basic food items here. Not a big store, but enough things to help you get past the next meal or two until you can get to a larger store.
An excellent selection of groceries and more for all of your daily needs. Much larger on the inside than it appears on the outside.
Mini Super Campeon
An excellent selection of groceries and more for all of your daily needs. Much larger on the inside than it appears on the outside.
A well-stocked grocery for all your basic needs when staying in the area.
15 locals recommend
Super Junquillal
A well-stocked grocery for all your basic needs when staying in the area.
City/town information
A commercial center, Santa Cruz is a regional shopping and transportation hub with inexpensive and comfortable buses to San Jose and elsewhere in Costa Rica.
33 locals recommend
Santa Cruz
A commercial center, Santa Cruz is a regional shopping and transportation hub with inexpensive and comfortable buses to San Jose and elsewhere in Costa Rica.
A hub for visitors looking for sun, surf, and nightlife. Eat at Pico and/or grab some chicken/pork skewers from street vendors - delicious!
336 locals recommend
Tamarindo
A hub for visitors looking for sun, surf, and nightlife. Eat at Pico and/or grab some chicken/pork skewers from street vendors - delicious!
Sightseeing
Great, consistent surfing at this beautiful beach on the northern Pacific coast
142 locals recommend
Playa Avellanas
Great, consistent surfing at this beautiful beach on the northern Pacific coast
Beautiful and tranquil beach in the authentic Costa Rica town of Junquillal
17 locals recommend
Playa Junquillal
Beautiful and tranquil beach in the authentic Costa Rica town of Junquillal
Beautiful location and eating place right on Playa Marbella. A great place to eat, enjoy the water, or both!
14 locals recommend
Tiki Hut Restaurant and Bar
160Beautiful location and eating place right on Playa Marbella. A great place to eat, enjoy the water, or both!
Some of the clearest waters on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Get an on-the-beach massage from Gabi. Park in the town of Brasilito just to the north of Playa Conchal and walk the (roughly) 1 km back south to Playa Conchal. Child-friendly beach with good snorkling.
197 locals recommend
Playa Conchal
Some of the clearest waters on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Get an on-the-beach massage from Gabi. Park in the town of Brasilito just to the north of Playa Conchal and walk the (roughly) 1 km back south to Playa Conchal. Child-friendly beach with good snorkling.
A beautiful and quiet beach with amazing views and shade trees. No nearby stores or amenities, but secured parking is available for a fee. Without amenities, be prepared to be self-reliant, but with that comes beauty, peace, and quiet.
Playa Blanca, Provincia de Guanacaste, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
A beautiful and quiet beach with amazing views and shade trees. No nearby stores or amenities, but secured parking is available for a fee. Without amenities, be prepared to be self-reliant, but with that comes beauty, peace, and quiet.
Sports and Exercise
A beautiful golf course in one of the most exclusive coastal developments on the northern Pacific coast in Costa Rica
8 locals recommend
Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club
A beautiful golf course in one of the most exclusive coastal developments on the northern Pacific coast in Costa Rica