Is Playa Negra On Your Radar? Well It Should Be
Playa Negra is mostly known as a sleepy little town of only a couple hundred annual residents. The population swells on a daily basis depending on the waves. Since Playa Negra is known as the best reef break in the entire country people come from all over when the wave is breaking well. On those days, the beach crowd swells as well all the way through to the sunset because of the joint spectacle that the breaking waves and the perfect sunset bring. Sometimes there can be more than 25 people there. Ok, Ok, Ok, only 25 people is paradise! Don't worry though because if you don't like to surf in crowds there are 20 breaks in the area. This makes Playa Negra the center of the 'North Shore' of Costa Rica.
When there are no waves, the beaches around Playa Negra are an absolute paradise. This is a place where you can still take a romantic walk with your partner and nary see another soul.
There are so many food options for a simple little beach town it really doesn't make sense. Some of the favorites include La Ventana (organic and healthy food), Villa DeeVina which is a haven for top quality wines and food (make a reservation), Cafe Playa Negra (great Peruvian food), Latinos (best typical restaurant in the area), Jalapeños (for burritos and the like), and Vida Buena for a mix of wood fired pizza and more.
Playa Negra is just a mile or so from the paved road to Paraiso from Santa Cruz and/or Tamarindo. Years back it was a battle to get here. However, there have been so many improvements that if you take the beach road or the paved road you really don't need a four wheel drive car anymore no matter what time of year it is. Like Tamarindo, the Liberia airport is just over an hour away.
This is not only a place to take a vacation it is a place to plant roots.