Several years ago (1999), while surveying the beaches and hotels in the popular tourist area of ​​Tamarindo in Costa Rica, I visited the Melia Resort and Country Club, a luxurious all-inclusive resort that had recently opened in Playa Conchal. While I’m not much of a fan of large all-inclusive resorts due to their rather severe environmental impact, I have to admit that the Melia was tastefully done and the 18-hole championship golf course was very impressive, despite the sheer number of of necessary water. to keep it Even more impressive was the stunning beauty of Playa Conchal, a beach that is definitely unique in Costa Rica.

The sand of Playa Conchal is made up of millions of crushed shells of different shades; it looks white but with a decidedly pinkish tint and is very cool to the touch, definitely not your typical sandy beach. The waters are a magnificent turquoise blue with very gentle waves, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. It reminds me a bit of the beaches you’ll find in the Mexican Caribbean. In addition to the sprawling Meliá resort that occupies the southern end of the beach, there are several other small resorts scattered along the hillside. Located just to the north of Playa Conchal, separated by a hill and some rocks, is the small town of Brasilito: the sands of Playa Brasilito are a light gray and the waters a dirty brown, a great contrast to neighboring Playa Conchal. .

Like all the beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Conchal is open to the public; however, unless you’re staying at Meliá or one of the hillside hotels, the only way to get to Playa Conchal is to swim around the headland that separates it from Playa Brasilito. . The alternative is to pay the Hotel Meliá a fee per day to use its facilities. (and have access to the beach). In my opinion, Playa Conchal is by far the most beautiful (and more unique) beach in Costa Rica.