A group of tourists riding red ATVs on a jungle trail through the Guanacaste countryside near Playa Potrero
Playa Potrero, Costa Rica

Things to Do in Playa Potrero

When you're not on the water with us, there's no shortage of ways to fill a day in Potrero. From ATV trails through the Guanacaste backcountry to diving, sailing, and sunset beach-hopping — here's how the locals play.

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Adventure & Activities

From Backcountry Trails to Open Water

Potrero is a launch pad for the whole Gold Coast. Whether you want your pulse up on a quad bike or your feet up on a catamaran, these are the tours and outfitters we trust — and send our own guests to.

A happy tour group posing with their ATVs on a jungle trail during an ATV adventure near Playa Potrero

ATV Adventures

Trade the boat for the backcountry. The ATV tours out of Potrero are some of the best adventure you'll find in Guanacaste — ripping along rugged jungle trails, splashing through river crossings, and climbing to ridge-top viewpoints where the whole Gold Coast opens up below you. Expect monkeys, iguanas, and hidden beaches along the way, on well-maintained Honda quads with guides who know every turn. Our friends at Costa Rica Wet & Wild run the ride — whether you want a two-hour blast or a half-day beach-hopping epic, it's the easiest way to see a side of Potrero most visitors never reach.
A pastel sunset over the calm bay at Playa Potrero, with empty sand, gentle surf, and the headland in the distance

Explore Local Beaches

One of the best things about Potrero is that you're never more than a few minutes from a different beach. Playa Potrero itself is calm and shallow — ideal for families and easy swimming right off the sand. A short hop away, Playa Penca rewards you with soft white sand and quieter water, while Playa Prieta is the secluded one, all volcanic rock and tide pools when you want the beach mostly to yourself. Keep going and you'll hit Playa Pan de Azúcar (Sugar Beach), an unspoiled stretch that feels like your own private cove. Pack a cooler and make a day of beach-hopping — and stick around to chase the sunset, because out here it's the best show in town.
A spotted eagle ray gliding over a reef in the blue water off Playa Potrero, near the Catalina Islands

Scuba Diving Playa Potrero

The waters off Potrero are some of the best diving in Costa Rica, and the Catalina Islands are the reason why — a short boat ride out and you're gliding over volcanic reefs with eagle rays, giant mantas, sea turtles, reef sharks, and schools of tropical fish thick enough to blot out the sun. For the whole thing, from first-timer discovery dives to the adrenaline of the Bat Islands' bull sharks, we send people to Under the Sea Diving, the local PADI dive center. Their multilingual, safety-first, conservation-minded crew handles everything — gear, boat, and guides who know exactly where the good stuff is.
A smiling zipliner soaring through the green jungle canopy on a Guanacaste zipline tour near Playa Potrero

Zipline Adventures

For a different kind of thrill, point your eyes up. A short ride inland from Potrero, the Congo Trail canopy is a proper Guanacaste zipline park — thirteen cables and eleven platforms strung between giant old-growth trees, with howler monkeys watching you fly past. Beginners get gentle runs and hanging bridges; thrill-seekers can add the Extreme course with its Tarzan swing and Superman lines. There's a rescue-animal sanctuary on-site too, so the kids get monkeys and sloths after the adrenaline. Our friends at Costa Rica Wet & Wild run the trip out of Potrero — transport included, all ages welcome.
People of all ages enjoying live music and drinks under string lights at Potrero Brewing Co. on a night out in Playa Potrero

Dancing, Music & Nightlife

Nightlife in Potrero is more block party than club scene — and that's exactly how we like it. This is a family-friendly town where a big night out means live music under string lights, trivia and bingo with a cold craft beer, and sunset drinks with your toes in the sand. The hub of it all is Potrero Brewing Co., where local bands, events, and a laid-back crowd of families, expats, and Ticos keep the good energy going most nights of the week. No pounding megaclubs, no chaos — just easygoing, genuinely fun evenings the whole crew can enjoy. Check what's on and make a night of it.

There's More to Potrero Than the Trails

From where to eat to where to stay, our full local guide has the rest of the Gold Coast covered.

Discover More of Playa Potrero