There's a certain kind of traveler who arrives at Playa Junquillal, looks out at the wide, windswept Pacific coastline, and quietly thinks, “I need to buy something here.” The beach stretches for nearly three kilometers with barely a footprint in the sand. The hillsides behind it are green and largely undeveloped, and the town itself still moves at the pace of the pura vida it was built on.
For years, Playa Junquillal has been the open secret of Guanacaste. Beloved by surfers, nature lovers, and expats who stumbled upon it and never quite left, but something is shifting. The kind of infrastructure, connectivity, and buyer interest that once slowly transformed places like Tamarindo and Potrero is beginning to arrive here. This time, savvy investors are paying attention before the crowds do.
The Beach That's Hard to Forget
Playa Junquillal runs along the Santa Cruz district of Guanacaste Province, tucked between the more trafficked areas of Playa Avellanas to the south and Playa Grande to the north. Unlike many of the region's most-marketed beaches, Junquillal has remained relatively low-key.
The beach itself is a Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting ground, protected under MINAE (Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy). That designation has been a quiet but powerful force in keeping large-scale commercial development at bay, ensuring that the shoreline remains clean, natural, and genuine. For buyers, it means the views and the environment that make Junquillal special are legally protected for the long term. The surf here is serious with a consistent beach break draws experienced surfers from across the region year-round, giving the town a built-in demographic of active, internationally mobile visitors who tend to become repeat guests, and eventually, buyers.
The Numbers Make the Case
One of the most compelling arguments for Playa Junquillal right now is simply the price gap between it and its neighbors. Comparable oceanview lots and residential properties in Junquillal are still priced significantly below equivalent inventory in Tamarindo, Flamingo, or Conchal.
However, that gap won't last forever: the infrastructure connecting Junquillal to the broader Guanacaste corridor has been steadily improving. The expansion and upgrade of Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia continues to increase direct international routes, putting Guanacaste within direct reach of major U.S. and Canadian cities. More flights mean more visitors, and more visitors historically mean rising property values across the region's coastal communities. For investors with a long horizon, the math is simple: buy in a beautiful, protected, undervalued location before the infrastructure catch-up is complete, and let the market move toward you.
The Community
Real estate trends are made by people, and the community at Playa Junquillal is one of its most underappreciated selling points. Unlike some beach towns that have undergone rapid, developer-driven transformation, Junquillal has grown organically.
The town has a handful of excellent restaurants, a yoga retreat scene that draws wellness travelers, and the kind of genuine local warmth that's becoming harder to find in the more touristed pockets of Guanacaste. There's also a growing network of local services. The proximity to Santa Cruz (roughly 35 minutes by car) provides access to supermarkets, hospitals, international schools, and all the infrastructure that modern expat life requires, without sacrificing the isolation and quiet that most people are moving to coastal Costa Rica to find.
Coldwell Banker Pacific Realty's office is located at Plaza Tierra Pacifica in Playa Junquillal, meaning our agents know this market with a depth and specificity that few others can offer. We've watched the community grow, we know the inventory, and we know the sellers.
Property Types: What's Available Right Now
View Properties for Sale in Playa Junquillal
The Junquillal real estate market currently offers a range of entry points, from raw land ideal for custom builds to completed homes, casitas, and small boutique-style rental properties. Key categories include:
Ocean-View and Hillside Land: Undeveloped lots on the ridgelines above Junquillal offer sweeping Pacific views and represent among the best value propositions in coastal Guanacaste today. These are ideal for buyers who want to design and build their own home.
Turnkey Homes and Villas: A selection of finished properties ranging from modest surf-style homes to architecturally designed luxury villas are available for buyers who want to move quickly into the market without a construction phase.
Income-Producing Vacation Rentals: Small-scale boutique rental properties in Junquillal have historically commanded strong occupancy during the November–April high season, with growing interest from the surf and wellness travel market year-round
The Bottom Line
Every established coastal market in Guanacaste was once where Playa Junquillal is today: beautiful, undervalued, and largely undiscovered by the wider market. The buyers who moved early into Tamarindo, Flamingo, and Las Catalinas did so because they recognized that combination. Junquillal checks every one of those boxes. The difference is that it still checks the most important one: available inventory at prices that make the investment make sense.
If you're ready to explore what's available in Playa Junquillal, our team is on the ground and ready to show you. Reach out to Coldwell Banker Pacific Realty to schedule a consultation or property tour!