Beach Pictures: Flamingo, Costa Rica

The main beach of Flamingo has the whitest sand in Costa Rica; It is a short walk from the center of town.

Other beaches are found farther north, and include less well known playas such as Playa Conchal and others in the Gulf of Papagayo vicinity. Here you will find many upscale resorts and all-inclusive packages.

The climate in this part of Costa Rica is drier than the rest of the Pacific coast. It has been described by many as similar to that of Florida, which perhaps explains the number of Floridians who live or own vacation property here.

This area, which is near the Gulf of Papagayo, is becoming one of the most popular with retirees from the States and Europe. Property values of real estate continue to soar, and with the growing number of all-inclusive resorts in Payapagao, they are likely to continue rising.

If staying at one of the places in town, such as the Mariner Inn, you can walk to most of the local attractions. The playa seen in this photo, for example, is less than ten minutes from the heart of town.

The marina is still not open (it closed last year), but it is projected to reopen later this year. Boats still work the area for sportfishing and scuba fans.