Playa Avellanas is located about 30 minutes' drive south of Tamarindo. This gorgeous white-sand beach is huge! There are lots of little shady spots to lay your towel, and if you want, near the entrance there are umbrellas and beach chairs for rent. We went on a Sunday morning and they were playing music near the entrance. We wanted a more tranquil experience, so we walked north on the beach a little ways until we got to a shady spot.

The sign says "¡Las Tortugas no queremos sus botellas! (The turtles don't want your bottles) Many of the beaches in this area of Costa Rica are nesting sites for Leatherback turtles from October through March.