Overlooking the Gulf of Nicoya, Esterillos encompasses a string of beachside communities on Costa Rica’s Pacific coastline. It includes the villages of Esterillos Este, Esterillos Oeste and Esterillos Centro, which offer everything from surfing to horseback riding. Esterillos also provides easy access to the bird-filled rainforest of Carara National Park.
Things to do in Esterillos
Just inland from Esterillos is the Catarata El Salto Gamalotillo, a photogenic waterfall that tumbles six metres into a swimming hole below. It can be accessed along a flat and easy walking trail, with a small picnic area that’s usually abuzz with locals. You can follow the hiking trail that leads up the steep hill behind the waterfall to view a second cascade.
Want to surf? Beginners can practice their skills on the sandy beach break at Esterillos Este, while more experienced surfers can head to Esterillos Oeste or Esterillos Centro. In the late afternoon, you can canter along the sand during a horseback riding excursion led by the experienced team at the Savegre Rancho Monterey.
Esterillos serves as a gateway to Carara National Park, which is home to one of the largest populations of wild scarlet macaws in Costa Rica. Hummingbirds, woodpeckers and black-throated trogons have also been recorded in its dense rainforest while crocodiles inhabit the Tarcoles River. Join a guided hike to spot some of the park’s elusive mammals, such as three-toed sloths and white-nosed coatis.
Getting around Esterillos
Esterillos is around two hours’ drive from San Jose and Juan Santamaría International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the Americas and Europe. Regular buses connect to Esterillos and travel between its beachside communities. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area, while each of the villages can easily be explored on foot.