The hamlet of Brasilito, about four kilometers south of Flamingo and three kilometers north of Huacas, is a popular tourist spot drawing an incongruous mix of offbeat budget travelers and the packaged all-inclusive resort set, drawn to the massive Paradisus Playa Conchal Beach & Golf Resort.

The light-gray sand beach at Brasilito melds westward into Playa Conchal, one of Costa Rica’s finest beaches. The beach lies in the cusp of a scalloped bay with turquoise waters, a rarity in Costa Rica. The beach is composed, uniquely, of zillions of tiny seashells that move with soft rustling sounds as you walk; the waters are of crystalline quality perfect for snorkeling. It’s illegal to remove shells. Please leave them for future generations to enjoy.

There are water sports concessions on Conchal. You can buy day (8 a.m.–5 p.m.) and/or night (6 p.m.–1 a.m.) passes ($65) that permit non-guests to use the Paradisus resort facilities. Its highlight is the Garra de León Golf Club, with an 18-hole golf course designed by the king of designers, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.; it is not open to walk-ins, but guests at local hotels can play by reservation.

Conchal can also be accessed by road from the west via the hamlet of Matapalo, three kilometers west of Huacas, where a rough dirt road leads from the northwest corner of the soccer field to the west end of Playa Conchal (4 km). A side road on the Matapalo-Conchal road leads west to Playa Real, a stunning little beauty of a beach nestled in a sculpted bay with a tiny tombolo leading to a rocky island. Venerable fishing boats make good resting spots for pelicans.

Sports and Recreation

Brasilito Excursiones (tel. 506/654-4237, fax 506/654-4247, www.brasilito.com) offers horseback riding, rents kayaks and 250cc Yamaha dirt bikes, and offers scuba diving, sailing, boogie board and snorkel rental, and snorkeling trips.

Costa Rica Temptations (tel. 506/654-4585, fax 506/654-4130, www.costarica4u.com, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Sat.–Sun.), 100 meters south of the soccer field, offers tours throughout Nicoya and Guanacaste, and represents Nacional Rent-a-Car and SANSA.

Santana Tours (tel. 506/654-4359), opposite Hotel Conchal, offers ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tours, horseback rides, and scooter rental.

Getting There

Brasilito Excursiones has airport transfers between Brasilito and San José ($25).

The Flamingo-bound buses from San José and Santa Cruz stop in Matapalo and Brasilito.

You can call a taxi (tel. 506/836-1739).