Playa Manzanillo

Tip

Do the refuge trail in the morning and swim here in the afternoon; village sodas serve Caribbean rice and beans cooked in coconut milk.

Be careful

Calm inside the reef, but currents build outside it. Keep valuables out of sight in the car.

Places nearby

• Cool & Calm Reggae Bar and GrillFood & CoffeeReggae bar and grill in Manzanillo village at the end of the road, praised for whole grilled red snapper and juicy ribs with a house basting sauce.
• El Refugio GrillFood & CoffeeCalm, well-lit grill at the entrance to Playa Grande on the Manzanillo road, with a daily menu of the freshest fish and meats and a good wine list; a go-to for a sit-down dinner on the south coast.
• Punta Uva Dive CenterSurf, Boats & Diving · from $55Beachfront PADI dive shop at Punta Uva with shore and boat dives on the shallow Caribbean reef, courses from first-time Discover Scuba to Divemaster, and snorkel trips.
• Hotel Aguas ClarasStaysBoutique hotel of brightly painted Caribbean-style bungalows right on Playa Chiquita, south of Puerto Viejo.
• Restaurante SelvinFood & CoffeeSmall family restaurant on the road to Punta Uva, known for coconut-rice-and-beans plates and the local rondón soup, with a lively atmosphere in the evening.
• CHOCORARTFood & CoffeeChocolate factory and cacao farm on the Playa Chiquita road south of Puerto Viejo, rated 4.9 on Google and 4.8 on Tripadvisor.