Playa Herradura, Costa Rica, is a well-known tourist and expat destination celebrated for its magnificent beaches, verdant forests, and diverse wildlife. Its name, meaning “horseshoe” in Spanish, is fittingly derived from its bay that curves into a horseshoe shape, providing placid waters for swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding. The beachfront boasts a plethora of dining options, bars, and stores, making it an ideal place for locals and tourists to unwind and relish the picturesque scenery. The rainforest of the Carara National Park envelops Playa Herradura and is home to a vast variety of fauna and flora, including monkeys, sloths, and rare birds. The world-class Marina Los Sueños is another top destination, one that caters to fishing charters, sailing tours, and yacht rentals, and the Los Sueños Resort is home to golf, spas and specialized tours. Jacó, just to the South, is known for its lively nightlife, surfing, and adventure sports/tours. While Herradura exudes a more laidback ambiance than Jacó, the accommodations are mostly higher end. Playa Herradura is considered one of the country’s more costly areas, and the amenities, such as grocery stores, are commensurate with the level one would expect in Santa Ana or Escazú.
