A local weekend favorite reached by a walking trail from Penca or a steep unpaved side road.
Playa Prieta is a small cove between Potrero and Las Catalinas, popular with local families on weekends for its tan sand, shade trees, and small waves good for skimboarding and casual swimming. The beach can be reached by a short walking trail from Playa Penca or by a steep, unpaved side road that favors a higher clearance vehicle. There are no facilities, and free camping is tolerated though not developed for it.
From the road between Potrero and Las Catalinas, look for the small sign for Villas Estival and turn onto the steep dirt road down to the beach parking area; alternatively park at Playa Penca and walk the coastal trail.
Potrero
Tour operator based in Puerto Potrero running ATV and side-by-side UTV trips through the mountains and beaches around Guanacaste, plus catamaran cruises and other day tours. Operating since 2004.
Potrero
Manta Ray Sailing runs private sailing and snorkeling charters along the Guanacaste coast from a mooring near Flamingo Marina, with a fleet that includes the luxury Bali 4.1 catamaran, the New Manta catamaran, the original Manta Ray catamaran and a center-console fishing boat called the Margarita. Every tour includes a full meal, open bar, snorkeling gear and paddleboards, with morning, sunset and full day departures. The multilingual crew also trolls for fish along the route.
Potrero
PADI dive center operating daily out of Playa Potrero, running boat trips to the Catalina Islands, Bat Islands and local reefs. They offer guided dives, PADI certification courses from Open Water through technical levels, and run with a marine conservation focus. The shop opened in 2024 and works with small guide-to-diver groups.