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The Best Beaches of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Where To Go and What To Do In Puerto Viejo

At RISE Caribe, we don’t believe there’s a bad beach in Costa Rica, but that might be because we’re spoiled with some of the best beaches that Costa Rica has to offer. Palm trees line the shores, gentle waves kiss the sand, DJs play reggae, and bartenders serve up cold beers along the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, the small town at the southern tip of Limon province, is home to some of the very best beaches in Costa Rica, and we’re here to share some insider tips so you can enjoy all that Puerto Viejo has to offer. 

Playa Negra

Best for: Swimming and Sunsets

Playa Negra is the first beach that you come upon as you enter Puerto Viejo. Famous for its black sands and colorful sunsets, this beach draws crowds to swim, to fish, and to jump off of the run-down barge, an iconic piece of Puerto Viejo history. 

Playa Negra is just on the edge of Puerto Viejo, and there are a few bars and restaurants on the beachside, like Banana Azul Hotel and El Pampa. The beach curves into town, with supermarkets and small businesses just across the street. Playa Negra is a long stretch of beach, and the further away from town, the less crowded it becomes. For the safest swimming spots, stick closer to the barge and town.

Chino Beach

Best for: Families and Beachfront Food and Drinks

Bustling and full of life, Chino Beach is surrounded by some great bars and restaurants, and is one of the main hotspots in town. Chino Beach features calm waters, good snorkelling, and the ‘Just Jump Off’ boat, where you can watch local and tourist kids jumping in and out of the water. Just a little further up, opposite Chile Rojo Restaurant, you can grab yourself some fresh fish from the local fishermen or sign up for a fishing tour and catch some of your own!

Chino Beach is one of the town beaches of Puerto Viejo, and it’s great for families with young kids, as the coral reef creates small pools to cool off in. It can get packed on weekends and over holidays, so if you come, be prepared to share space with locals and other tourists. Grab a drink or a bite to eat at Grow, Puerto Pirata, or Johnny’s Place, and settle into that Caribbean vibe.

Playa Cocles

Best For: Surfing and Beachfront Food and Drinks

Playa Cocles is where it’s at! One of the busier beaches, Cocles draws all kinds of beach goers, from surfers to slackline athletes, volleyball players to beach BBQ’ers. Luckily, Playa Cocles is long and usually wide, so there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy. 

Playa Cocles draws a crowd from sun-up til past sundown, when the beach scene turns into bonfires and full-moon surf sessions. There are also a ton of excellent restaurants and food vendors in the area. Check out one of our favorite watering holes in the area, Tasty Waves Cantina, or grab an iced coffee from Caribeans Coffee & Chocolate.

Playa Chiquita

Best For: Wildlife and Swimming

One of the harder beaches to find, Playa Chiquita can be reached by one of several footpaths off the main road. Park on the street in the small neighborhood known as Playa Chiquita and walk down one of two jungle paths to discover a truly magical place. 

The jungle meets the sea here, with golden sand and aquamarine waters. It’s usually a great place for swimming, but take care as there can be strong undercurrents depending on the time of year and the weather. Because it’s a bit harder to get to Playa Chiquita, you won’t see as much action here, though it still gets busy on weekends and holidays. This is a great place to go for an early morning walk, or take a book for an afternoon unwind. Here, you just might see monkeys in the trees and Green Macaws flying overhead. 

Punta Uva

Best For: Swimming, Surfing, and Families

Voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and certainly one of the best beaches near Puerto Viejo, it’s easy to see why Punta Uva draws the crowds. Punta Uva means grape point in Spanish, and this beach is one side of a small peninsula that juts out into the water. You can hike out to the point and see the view up and down the coastline. Just be careful, as the hike can be a bit muddy during the rainy season.

The waters are calm here, and families from all over pack in to enjoy this stunning beach. Here you can rent lounge chairs, take a kayak out on the water or up the Punta Uva River, watch monkeys playing in the trees, or simply take in the picture-perfect view. There’s even a great surf break from time to time. 

Arrecife Beach

Best For: Snorkeling, Families, and Swimming

On the other side of Punta Uva, you’ll find Arrecife Beach. Arrecife means reef, and there is reef just offshore here, making this a great beach to snorkel when the water is calm. 

Arrecife Beach is also a popular spot for daytime parties with DJs and different events taking place at the Restaurant Arrecife. Learn to salsa dance, catch live music, or simply float in the water to the sounds of the Caribbean. This place gets packed on the weekends, and the vibes are always right.

The only dive center in the Puerto Viejo area is located at Arrecife Beach, so if you’re looking to scuba dive while in town, you’ll want to head here for more information.

Manzanillo Beach

Best For: Caribbean Vibes, Swimming

At the end of the road, just 13 kilometers south of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, lies the small town of Manzanillo and the beach of the same name. Manzanillo is part of the Gandoca Wildlife Refuge, so visiting this beach has two sides, one in the refuge and one outside. The beach stretches the entire length of town, and then some, in both directions. The town is laid back, and the beach is a favorite among Costa Ricans and international visitors. 

The water is usually great for swimming here, and for those who want to take a short hike, make a donation, and sign in to enter the Wildlife Refuge to hike out to the famous Manzanillo lookout. Make a day out of visiting this beach and grab some food at one of the local sodas or restaurants. Play dominoes at Maxi’s or hear live music at Cool & Calm. Manzanillo Beach is an experience all its own. 

Puerto Viejo Beach Safety

Take caution as there are riptides and strong currents all up and down the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Some of the beaches, like Playa Cocles, feature lifeguards, while others don’t. Pay attention to the flags posted to indicate if riptides are present. Red means danger! And listen to the lifeguards when they tell you to move or swim out of a zone. 

Where To Stay In Puerto Viejo

With so many excellent beaches in Puerto Viejo to choose from, it’s hard to know which to pick! Luckily, at RISE Caribe, we have wonderful vacation rentals from Playa Negra to Manzanillo, and we’re happy to help you find the perfect beach for your Costa Rican vacation. Contact us today to find your vacation rental or to purchase your dream home – we have a huge range of accomodation options to guarantee you the perfect trip.

See you on the sand!

RISE Caribe