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Ricky and Nikki; Playa Mantaseast end of Playa MantasPlaya MantasPlaya Mantaswest end of Playa Mantasshade at Playa Mantasthe road to Playa Mantasparking lot at Playa Mantastrail from the parking lot to Playa Mantaswest end of Playa Mantas
Playa Mantas fast facts
English name: Mantas Beach
Distance from San Jose: 92km (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes)
Playa Mantas is a deep beach with soft, fine, light-brown sand that’s easy to sink your toes into. Vegetation-covered headlands to the northeast and southwest enclose the beach, helping it feel private. Cooling shade is provided by the tall trees that back the beach and separate it from a parking lot.
Crowds and noise
Playa Mantas receives a small but steady number of visitors, mainly because the beach is commonly accessed by guests of Hotel Punta Leona, a moderately popular accommodation spread out in the area. Other visitors come to the beach to relax in solitude, so noise is generally 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.)
Currently, Playa Mantas is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Mantas on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).
Development at Playa Mantas
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
Facilities of Hotel Punta Leona and other accommodations in the area surround Playa Mantas but aren’t located directly on the beach. For this reason, Playa Mantas feels secluded although it isn’t remote.
Playa Mantas safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Mantas and is lovely in the shallow water that crawls up the shore. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.
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.
Playa Mantas location and road conditions
Access to Playa Mantas and 4×4 requirement
Playa Mantas is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It sits at the end of an unpaved, 5-kilometer side road that juts off Highway 34 approximately 6 kilometers south of the small village of Tarcoles, or 10 kilometers south of the Carara National Park. The side road is unnamed but signed for Hotel Punta Leona. It’s common for the road to be dusty during dry spells and ridden with potholes during wet periods. A 4×4 vehicle isn’t required to reach Playa Mantas.
Map of Playa Mantas Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Mantas
There is a public parking lot within walking distance of Playa Mantas. It is officially titled “Parqueo Maranonal” and the parking rate is 1,000-1,500 colones (less than $3 USD) per hour. Once you park in the lot, you’ll need to walk across the lawn to reach the beach.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Mantas
Offering some of the prettiest and most comfortable sand along the central Pacific coast, Playa Mantas is worth visiting purely to experience the beach. Most visitors don’t stay at Hotel Punta Leona; the beach is best enjoyed during a day trip from whichever destination you plan to station yourself at along the central Pacific coast.
Beach-hopping from Playa Mantas (or alternative beach options in the region)
Do you have questions about Playa Mantas, 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 Mantas Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Mantas Costa Rica (Central Pacific coast), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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Tagged: beach, beaches, central pacific, costa rica, costa rican beaches