Playa Grande is a very nice beach town on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica just north of Tamarindo. 

Find it with these coordinates. 10°20′12″N 85°51′3″W / 

It is a most popular destination for it is convenient to everything. Traffic is very low and the atmosphere is a little more laid back than in other areas. Because of its geographical location between Tamarindo and Flamingo, Playa Grande is due to experience some rapid change.  Development and Tourism are already on the rise.

Location to international Airport is import as well. It is only an hour away from the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica. Playa Grande is also home to Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, the nesting ground of the largest marine reptile, the Leatherback Turtle.

The real name of the little town at Playa Grande is Salinas.  This name is rarely used anymore. A small supermarket can be found here as well the small hotels and surf camps and restaurants of varying culinary styles including Mar Bar, Playa Grande Inn, Rip Jack Inn, Kike's, Surf Hotel, La Cantarana and others.

Leatherback Turtles

Playa Grande is where the leatherback turtle comes to lay its eggs. This sea turtle measures up to 2,5 meters and weigh around 700 kilos. Unlike other turtles, this species has no hard shell, but rather a black, leathery skin with ridges running lengthwise. It is the epitome of a nomad and its favorite food is the poisonous jellyfish. Like all other sea turtles, the leatherback spends its life in the warm, tropical seas, coming ashore only when the females nests. The beaches are taken over by the leatherbacks from November to April. They dig their nests one meter deep, lay their eggs and cover the pit with sand, returning once again to the sea. After 60 to 90 days, tha hachlings emerge and immediately make their way back to the water. Along the treacherous path, which measures only a few meters, they are easy pray for crabs, seabirds and various mammals, which means only a few of them are able to survive. Sometimes Pacific ridley turtles also arrive to nest as they do at Santa Ana and Corcovado National Park.

On the northern end of Playa Grande lies Playa Grande Estates, a newer development with American backing. Here residential lots can be found as well as the Ripjack Inn, Playa Grande Inn, and Hotel Las Tortugas.

On the southern end of Playa Grande, Palm Beach Estates is a gated community with its own amenities. Palm Beach has a small supermarket, restaurants and a couple hotels. It also has a panga dock that allows quick boat rides up and down the estuary so that one can reach Tamarindo in five minutes for shopping or other necessities. The Great Waltini's at Hotel Bula Bula is a nice restaurant for dinner with boat taxi service to Tamarindo. Cantarana is another good choice in Palm Beach.

Timing is good now. Playa Grande developments are springing up and doing well.