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Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
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Playa ArrecifeNikki; enjoying Playa ArrecifePlaya Arrecifeturnoff to Playa ArrecifeNikki and Ricky; enjoying Playa Arrecifewater at Playa ArrecifePlaya ArrecifePlaya Arrecife
Playa Arrecife fast facts
English name: Arrecife Beach (Arrecife translates to “Reef”)
Distance from San Jose: 225km (approximately 4 hours)
Closest Town: Manzanillo (small town), Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (large town)
Beach Status: Public beach
Playa Arrecife beach details
Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features
Playa Arrecife is one of Costa Rica’s most paradisiacal beaches. It is a narrow beach, has soft golden sandand bright-blue water that’s turquoise in places, and is backed by photo-worthy palm trees, a few of which you can lay out under (beware of falling coconuts/pipas). An offshore reef provides snorkeling opportunities.
Crowds and noise
Playa Arrecife receives a small but steady number of visitors, mainly because it’s one of the most beautiful beaches along the southern Caribbean coast. People come to this beach to relax in solitude, so noise is kept to a minimum.
Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating
Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)
Playa Arrecife is not currently participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica. Therefore, it does not have a star rating.
Development at Playa Arrecife
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
A few establishments, mainly vacation homes and a dive center, fall along the road that parallels Playa Arrecife, but most aren’t located directly on the beach. For this reason, Playa Arrecife feels secluded although it isn’t remote.
Playa Arrecife safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Arrecife. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.
Playa Arrecife is named for the area’s reef. (Arrecife means “Reef” in English.) For your own safety and the protection of Costa Rica’s underwater world, please be careful swimming or snorkeling around the reef.
General safety
Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you have one. Do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset. If possible, visit the beach as part of a group to avoid being at this remote-feeling beach alone.
Playa Arrecife location and road conditions
Access to Playa Arrecife and 4×4 requirement
Playa Arrecife is located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. It sits just north of Punta Uva and west of Playa Manzanillo.
Playa Arrecife is an approximate 8-kilometer, 15-minute drive southeast from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on Road 256. The cutoff to the beach is signed for “Arrecife.” A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Arrecife.
Map of Playa Arrecife Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Arrecife
There is no official parking at Playa Arrecife. Locals park randomly along the back of the beach, which runs parallel to the beach access road, among the palm trees.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Arrecife
Offering solitude and some of the prettiest sand along the southern Caribbean coast, Playa Arrecife is worth visiting purely to experience the beach. Most visitors don’t stay at the vacation homes that near Playa Arrecife; the beach is best enjoyed during a day trip taken from whichever destination you plan to station yourself at along the southern Caribbean coast.
Beach-hopping from Playa Arrecife (or alternative beach options in the region)
Do you have questions about Playa Arrecife, want to know more about the area surrounding the beach, or need help incorporating a visit to the beach into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Photos of Playa Arrecife Costa Rica (Caribbean) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Arrecife Costa Rica (Caribbean coast), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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Tagged: beach, beaches, costa rican beaches