Hacienda Pinilla Guide: Beaches, Golf, Dining and How to Move Around
9 min read · Updated 2026-05-13
Hacienda Pinilla is a 1,800-acre gated resort community 15 minutes south of Tamarindo. Three private beaches, a championship JW Marriott Beach Resort, a Mike Young-designed golf course, and some of the most beautiful villa rentals on the gold coast. It's also big — once you're inside the gate, walking everywhere isn't realistic.
Where it is and what's inside
Hacienda Pinilla sits between Tamarindo and Avellanas. Inside the property: the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa, the Hacienda Pinilla Beach Club, the golf clubhouse, three beaches (Playa Mansita, Playa Avellanas access, and Playa Mina), riding stables, mountain bike trails, and dozens of luxury villa rentals.
The three beaches
- Playa Mansita — calm, family-friendly, the closest beach to the main villa zones. Easy beach club access.
- Playa Mina — wide and often empty, golden sand, gentle slope. The locals' favorite for a low-key day.
- Playa Avellanas — accessed from the southern edge of the property, world-class surf and Lola's beach restaurant.
Golf at Hacienda Pinilla
The golf course is one of the highest-rated in Central America — links-style, designed by Mike Young, with views of the Pacific from several holes. Tee times are open to property guests and renters; book through the clubhouse in advance during high season.
Dining inside Pinilla
Several restaurants operate inside the property: the Beach Club for casual lunch, the JW Marriott restaurants for fine dining, the golf clubhouse for a turn-9 meal, and Lola's just outside the southern gate for the iconic toes-in-sand lunch.
Getting around inside Hacienda Pinilla
The property is large — distances between villas, beaches and the clubhouse can easily be 2–4 km. A vehicle is not optional, and the most popular choice is a golf cart with fast delivery to your villa.
We deliver electric golf carts directly to Pinilla villas. The 4-seater fits couples, the 6-seater fits families, and the lifted model handles the few rougher access roads near Mina and Avellanas. UTV rentals are also a great fit if you want extra capability for trail rides outside the gate.
Security and access
The main gate is staffed 24/7. Renters arriving for the first time should have their villa name and dates ready; the gate will radio your villa concierge if needed. Vehicles delivered by us are pre-cleared with the gate the morning of your arrival.
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