Celebrating 10 years of Que Buen Lugar deserved something truly special… so we packed our tent, all our gear, and headed straight to one of the most incredible corners of the North Pacific: Bahía Junquillal, in La Cruz, Guanacaste. This place has it ALL: calm, pool-like waters, shade, stars, fish, peace and quiet… and that magical unplugged feeling you only get when camping right on the beach. -
🌿 Our beachfront camping experience
We went during low season, so we pretty much had Bahía Junquillal all to ourselves. Once we arrived, we paid the entrance fee, got a quick camping orientation (everything’s super organized), and picked our spot: marked sections with a table and grill, right by the ocean.
We set up the shade canopy, put on sunscreen… and hit the water. The sea felt like a giant pool—calm, crystal-clear, and just the right temperature. We heard that in other seasons the water’s colder, but we totally lucked out.
The kids were thrilled, and to our surprise, there were tons of fish swimming around us! If you have a snorkel, don’t forget it.
🌧️ A bit of rain, a lot of magic
In the afternoon, a short rain shower added a magical touch: the smell of wet earth, cool breeze, and an empty beach… it was like a postcard.
Thankfully, we came prepared with a solid tarp, but they also rent tarps and kayaks on site, just in case you need them.
🏕️ Camping here is a dream
The facilities are simple but just what you need: bathrooms, showers, and cooking areas. Nothing fancy, but enough to feel comfortable and stay connected to nature.
We set up camp, caught one of those unforgettable sunsets, and wrapped up the day with a delicious homemade arroz con pollo we’d brought from San José. The night was fresh, starry, and peaceful. Just perfect.
At sunrise, I got up to watch the sky light up with color. The beach was completely empty—Bahía Junquillal was all ours.
The kids (Leo, Julián, Elena, and Luisa) had the time of their lives playing in the sand while the grown-ups soaked it all in, hearts full and smiles wide. Celebrating our 10-year milestone this way was simply perfect.
🥾 What about the trails?
Bahía Junquillal has three short trails, each about 800 meters—perfect for a chill nature walk. We skipped them this time because we just wanted to relax (and the trails were muddy), but we’re definitely hitting them next round.