Hi Rita!

This is a tough question to answer! Costa Rica has more than 150 Pacific and Caribbean beaches to choose from, many of them within close proximity to a national park. So, there are plenty of options!

I’ll start by sending you links to a few articles we wrote on our blog that detail several beach options. They may help you narrow down the best beach for you according to a variety of factors:

Best Beaches In Costa Rica: Central Pacific Beaches: https://costaricatravelblog.com/central-pacific-beaches/

Best Beaches In Costa Rica: Nicoya Peninsula Beaches: https://costaricatravelblog.com/nicoya-peninsula-beaches/

Best Beaches In Costa Rica: Northern Pacific / Guanacaste Beaches: https://costaricatravelblog.com/northern-pacific-guanacaste-beaches/

My instinct is to recommend the Central Pacific to you. You’ll find several nice beaches there (within close proximity to one another and connected by a paved highway that’s easy to travel), as well as a few national parks, including the popular Manuel Antonio National Park (great for wildlife spotting and beautiful beaches), the Carara National Park (great for bird-watching), and the Marino Ballena National Park, a protected marine area that’s great for spotting marine life (it also has a series of beaches). The downside to choosing this region, however, is that it tends to receive more rain than beaches along the Northern Pacific (Guanacaste) and Nicoya Peninsula.

This being said, rainfall is common in many areas of the country in October, as that month is part of the green/wet season, so it is possible you will run into rain no matter where you go. One area that tends to be an exception to this rule is the southern Caribbean (around Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca); it tends to have more favorable weather around September and October.

As a side note, regardless of which region of Costa Rica you choose to visit, I’d stick to a relatively popular beach destination. October is considered the low season, when there are less travelers in the country, and even popular beaches don’t feel too busy at that time of year. If you choose a remote beach in a small beach community instead, you may find the place rather deserted. Some businesses in non-popular areas of Costa Rica close up shop between September and November each year because visitor count is low (and rainfall amounts can be high). So, in order to surround yourself with ample dining, shopping, and tour options during your October visit, I’d stick to a beach area that remains popular year-round.

Pura vida! 🙂

Nikki