First trip to Playa Las Tortugas

Written By John Rode

My wife’s colleague recommended Playa Las Tortugas to us. We owe her big time. This is our new annual vacation spot!

I didn’t do any research ahead of time (rare for me) so I arrived with no expectations. And it took a little while for the experience to sink in. We had been working a lot and with three young kids this was exactly what we needed.

The beach is empty. The water is warm. The estuary is beautiful. The mountains in the distance stunning. And the gardens are charming.

Playa Las Tortugas is pretty remote - no restaurants, shopping, stores or nightclubs. What you get is beauty, peace, and great weather.

Highlights

  • Miles of empty beach

  • Unwinding in the beauty and peace of Playa Las Tortugas

  • Swimming across the estuary to Playa Platanitos for lunch

  • Playing in the warm surf

  • Kayaking in the estuary

Challenges

  • Not the best flight itinerary (connecting through LAX is a chore)

  • No-see-um bugs (just needed repellent in the eve and morning)

  • It’s a 2 1/2 hour drive from the airport (but it is an interesting drive)

John Rode
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