TRAVEL HUB / COSTA RICA / PLAYA AVELLANAS, JUNQUILLAL & JUANILLO
Playa Avellanas, Junquillal & Juanillo
5 VIDEOS · 10.21°N 85.83°W · VISITED MANY TIMES
WHEN WE VISITEDA few times, dry & green season
GETTING THERECar or ATV
WEATHER WE GOTVery dry / lush by season
BEST FOREveryone
WALKABILITYLow
NEED A VEHICLE?Yes
TOURISTY LEVELLow
BUDGET$$
DAYS WE'D RECOMMEND3
We first went to San Juanillo and loved it (except the crazy bumpy road), and ended up back there a couple of times. We stayed in Junquillal for a few nights to get a feel for it — it's very spread out with few amenities.
Avellanas is a nice beach where people surf. The whole area has a lot of very natural beaches.
Watch Playa Avellanas, Junquillal & Juanillo
What we'd tell a friend
- Do a day trip to San Juanillo.
- Stay in Avellanas two nights max.
- Use an ATV along the coast to hit all three spots.
Who should come here?
COME HERE IF
- You want completely off the beaten path
- You want an ATV adventure
- You want to see very natural beaches
SKIP IT IF
- You're looking for amenities
- You're visiting in the dry season — it gets very dry here
The Dufresnes Verdict
LOCAL CUISINE7/10
VALUE7/10
FRIENDLINESS9/10
WOULD RETURN? YES FOR JUANILLO
Questions we actually get
Are these beaches worth visiting?
San Juanillo was the standout — we loved it and went back a couple of times. Avellanas and Junquillal are natural and spread out; we'd return for Juanillo more than the other two.
How many days do you need?
About three — enough to day-trip San Juanillo and spend a night or two in Avellanas.
Do you need a car?
Yes — a car or ATV along the coast to reach all three spots.