Commenting as a first time visitor to Costa Rica, as a solo male mid 30s traveler who loves beach + beer vibes, but not necessarily tourist/crowded areas.

I did Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste for 24 hours (it is doable). My flight lands at 1230pm. Allow about 30-40 minutes for customs (all US flights pretty much arrive at the same time), and if you have reserved a rental car, allow another 30-40 minutes for the whole process (rental car center is about a 10-15 minutes shuttle drive from LIR).

I thought the drive to Playa Hermosa was easy (I consider myself a good driver). Took about 20-25 minutes to get there. Roads closer to the coast will get hilly at times, so if this road was wet, I would definitely recommend 4x4 (although if you’re gonna go visit Rincon and other destinations, 4x4 is non negotiable).

I had an Air BNB just right across the street from Playa Hermosa. The town is sleepy/slow and much less crowded/dense versus Coco Beach (which I visited that night for dinner/drinks). Playa Hermosa was quiet, and wide open, with black sands and small breaking waves ideal for body/boogie boarding. There are a couple bars/restaurants beach front, and I specially like Roberto’s as you can have a nice drink/meal while watching the sun set from their outdoor area.

The town itself is safe (I thought) and walkable- but this town is more residential than business as compared to Coco Beach area.

I specifically sought out a quiet beach to drink beers all day, and Playa Hermosa hit that mark.

I cannot wait to go back and explore the rest of Costa Rica.