The
Nicoya Peninsula (
Spanish Península de Nicoya) is a
peninsula on the
Pacific coast of
Costa Rica and lies in the
Guanacaste Province in the north, and the
Puntarenas Province in the south. It is located at
10°00'00?N 85°25'00?W? / ?10, -85.416667. It varies from 19 to 37&_160;miles (60&_160;km) wide and is approximately 75&_160;miles (121&_160;km) long, and forms the largest peninsula in the country. It is known for its beaches and is a popular tourist destination. The main transport and commercial centre in the region is
Nicoya, one of the oldest settlements in Costa Rica.
Other notable settlements and places of interest in the area include (going roughly from north to south) Tamarindo, Santa Cruz, Nosara, Sámara, Naranjo, Paquera, Curu, Tambor, Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Mal Pais.
There are a number of nature reserves and wildlife refuges such as Cabo Blanco, Camaronal, Cueva Murcielago, Curú, La Ceiba, Romelia and the Diria National Park, as well as the projects on the islands of the adjacent Gulf of Nicoya.
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