Playa Arío
Beach · Nicoya Peninsula · hidden gem
A long, wild beach north of Manzanillo inside the Caletas-Arío wildlife refuge, where sea turtles come ashore to nest and conservation volunteers work nearby. Remote and quiet, with forest behind the sand and the Bongo River mouth at the far end.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 2.5 h
- Best time
- morning or late afternoon
- Kids
- 2 / 10
- View
- 8 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 4 / 10
- Effort
- 3 / 10
- Location
- 9.71496, -85.21968 — Google Maps
- Ratings
- 4.9 on Google (14)
Before you go
- Entry
- Free
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Road
- Gravel — a regular car is fine
- Swimming
- No swimming
- Bring
- water, shade, snacks
- Fewer people
- almost always empty
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Bring everything you need - water, shade, snacks - there are no services. Leave the nesting areas and any marked nests alone.
Be careful
Crocodiles live in the Bongo River mouth at the end of the beach - don't swim or wade near the estuary. Open-ocean waves elsewhere.
Getting there
From the Bajos de Arío area north of Manzanillo, down the dirt road signed as Camino a la Playa.
Places nearby
- Couleur CaféFood & CoffeeFrench-inspired café with colourful décor and tables under a big shady tree at the first entrance to Playa Hermosa - a surfer's breakfast or a lazy lunch, with vegetarian options.
- Tanga Restaurant & Camping (Punta Coyote)Food & CoffeeBeach restaurant and campground in the palm grove at the south end of Playa Coyote, near Punta Coyote, where the rocky headland keeps the water calm; it rents surfboards for the reef breaks about 20 minutes' walk around the point.
- Soda RocamarSodas & Local FoodBeach soda built around locally caught fish, with fish tacos, guacamole and sandwiches served a few steps from the sand.
- Nantipa – A Tico Beach ExperienceStaysBarefoot-luxury boutique hotel on the beach in Santa Teresa.
- Natura SurfLifeSurf, Boats & DivingSanta Teresa surf school with more than 20 years of experience, also renting ATVs and booking waterfall and Isla Tortuga tours.
- Soda TiquiciaSodas & Local FoodCasual local soda in Santa Teresa known for generous plates of Costa Rican comfort food, especially fish casado, fried red snapper and mixed ceviche, at fair prices.
Sources: OpenStreetMap way/932651582 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/932651582 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/10323875 · https://www.google.com/maps/search/Playa+Ario+Cobano+Costa+Rica