What Are the Best Beaches in Central America?

The results are in! Some of our Central American beaches just made the world’s most prestigious rankings. Costa Rica leads with four spots, while Panama, Nicaragua, Belize and El Salvador all claim spots too. Read on to see some of the best beaches in Central America and if your favorite beach made the cut!

It’s no stretch of the imagination to think that Central America has amazing beaches. And by amazing, we mean among the best in the world. After all, our beaches are a major part of why people vacation here and dream of living here. Surfers, snorkelers, and sunset lovers have known this for decades. But it’s nice sometimes to have what you know confirmed in writing. It doesn’t really make much of a difference, but it’s still nice, you know? And over the past week or so, we’ve had two such lists released.

The World’s 50 Best Beaches, picked every years by travel experts, is an elite lists, highlighting some of the absolute best beaches around the globe. Meanwhile, Mexican beer company Corona also weighed in this year, with their own list of 100 beaches as part of their 100-year anniversary celebrations. Because there’s not many better things to do in life than sit on a hot beach with a cold Corona, lime squeezed in, right?

Anyway, between World’s 50 and Corona’s 100, 11 Central American beaches in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama made the cut. On these Caribbean and Pacific beaches, you’ll find coral reefs perfect for snorkeling, consistent waves for surfing, a unique freshwater beach alongside a volcanic lake, and more. We would actually add many more beaches than 11 to this list, but we’re biased.

In this article, we look at the 11 Central American beaches honored in the two recent pools to outline what many people in the region already appreciate – Central American beaches offer something for everyone, including active water sports enthusiasts and those simply looking for a relaxing day by beautiful waters. Let’s dive in.

About the Rankings

The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2025 list represents serious beach expertise. This annual ranking relies on votes from over 1,000 travel professionals, including industry experts and high-profile travel influencers. Each beach gets evaluated on eight specific factors: unique features, wildlife presence, how untouched the area remains, natural ambiance, ease of water access, wave calmness, crowd levels, and consistent beauty throughout the year.

This year, Italy’s Cala Goloritzè claimed the top spot, followed by Entalula Beach in the Philippines and Bang Bao Beach in Thailand. The full list includes beaches across all continents, maintaining high standards for both natural beauty and environmental preservation.

Corona’s Beach 100 initiative takes a different approach. Created to mark the beer brand’s 100th anniversary, this list celebrates beach culture while also promoting environmental responsibility. Corona assembled a panel of beach experts – oceanographers, surfers, free divers, and other nature specialists – who rated hundreds of beaches worldwide.

Each beach on Corona’s list receives a “Sun Award” rating (one to three suns) based on three main elements: Beachside Culture, Connection to Nature, and Scenic Aesthetics. There’s no numbered listing here, all 100 beaches are equally awesome. The brand also runs a “Protect Our Beaches” initiative, aiming to remove 1 million pounds of plastic from beaches and its business operations.

Both lists showcase exceptional beaches, though they use slightly different criteria. While the World’s 50 Best Beaches focuses on pure beach quality and experience, Corona’s list is all about the broader beach lifestyle and culture.

Costa Rica’s Beaches

Costa Rica claims the largest number of ranked beaches in Central America with four entries across both lists.

Playa Punta Uva (#41 on World’s 50 Best Beaches)

Playa Punta Uva is south of Puerto Viejo on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, greeting visitors with golden sand and clear waters. The beach offers excellent swimming and snorkeling among reefs packed with colorful fish. Palm trees provide natural shade, and local vendors sell fresh coconut water right on the beach. Many visitors rent kayaks explore the coastline. The waters typically remain calm, creating a peaceful spot to unwind. The World’s 50 Best Beaches selected Punta Uva specifically for its calm waters and relaxed atmosphere. Nearby trails offer coastal views for those interested in a quick hike.

Playa Conchal (Corona list)

Playa Conchal, in Guanacaste, is famous for its unique white sand created from crushed seashells. This beach has long been touted as one of the most beautiful in the country. Snorkelers coming to Conchal enjoy exploring rocks teeming with tropical fish. Vendors sell fresh fruit smoothies, and visitors can rent jet skis or arrange horseback rides along the shore. The vibe remains calm, with ample space to relax, while swimmers particularly appreciate the shallow, gentle waves, making it perfect for a laid-back beach day.

Playa Cocles (Corona list)

Playa Cocles, also near Puerto Viejo (it’s actually, for all intents and purposes, in Puerto Viejo) on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, attracts surfers with its golden sand and impressive waves (although not as mad as the notorious Salsa Brava in town itself). Visitors can rent boards or take lessons directly on the beach. Nearby cafes serve traditional rice and beans with Caribbean flavors. Palm trees line the shore, creating a lively spot popular with surf enthusiasts and culture fans alike. Corona included Playa Cocles in its list specifically for its excellent waves and vibrant energy. Many visitors enjoy smoothies from the various beach stands while watching the surfers.

Uvita (Corona list)

Playa Uvita is a jungle-backed stretch of sand inside the Marino Ballena National Park on the southern Pacific coast. It’s sometimes referred to as the “Whale Beach” thanks to its distinctive whale’s tail sandbar visible during low tide and also because the coastline here attracts mating humpbacks twice a year. Visitors enjoy swimming in the calmer waters around the “whale tail” or joining whale-watching tours during December through March or July though September. Kayaking along the coast is also popular, and this whole area is all about nature and eco-tourism.