Written by Nikki Solano

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. ❤️️

Playa Manzanillo photos

Note: The Playa Manzanillo referred to in this article is actually named Playa Grande. We opted to use the beach’s nickname, Playa Manzanillo (named after the southern Caribbean beach community of Manzanillo, which backs the beach) in the article below to avoid confusion with another (arguably more popular) Playa Grande in Costa Rica, the Playa Grande that fronts the Las Baulas National Marine Park in Guanacaste, along the northern Pacific coast.

Playa Manzanillo fast facts

• English name: Manzanillo Beach
• Distance from San Jose: 230km (approximately 4 hours and 5 minutes)
• Closest Town: Manzanillo (small town), Puerto Viejo de Talamanca (large town)
• Beach Status: Public beach

Playa Manzanillo beach details

Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features

Playa Manzanillo is a long beach that has compact, golden sand, which is often covered with debris. (The east section of the beach has the softest and prettiest sand.) Offshore, bright-blue water gleams in the sunlight and is turquoise in places. Tall palm trees tower overhead.

Crowds and noise

Playa Manzanillo receives a steady number of visitors, mainly because it’s the main beach that fronts the village of Manzanillo. In the middle of the village, the central section of the beach tends to be the gathering place of local beachgoers, some of whom engage in games of fútbol (soccer) on the sand. The east section of the beach is the busiest section and can be noisy thanks to passing cars and people coming and going from the nearby Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo (Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge). Separated from the main road by dense vegetation, the west section of the beach is the quietest and the most remote-feeling. (See the “Playa Manzanillo location” section below for details.)

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 Manzanilllo is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 2-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Manzanillo on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).

Development at Playa Manzanillo

Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.

The village of Manzanillo provides a small assortment of establishments, mainly laid-back restaurants. Most line the south side of the principal access road (Road 256), opposite the beach.

Playa Manzanillo safety

Swimming and water safety

Swimming is allowed at Playa Manzanillo. However, rough ocean conditions can make swimming dangerous at times, especially around the east end of the beach, which nears the entrance to the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. 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 Manzanillo location and road conditions

Access to Playa Manzanillo and 4×4 requirement

Playa Manzanillo is located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. It sits just east of Playa Punta Uva and Playa Arrecife, fronting the beach town of Manzanillo. Playa Manzanillo is an approximate 13-kilometer, 20-minute drive southeast from Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on Road 256. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach Playa Manzanillo.

Playa Manzanillo is a very long beach and there are several areas where you can enjoy it. The eastern stretch of Playa Manzanillo is located near the entrance to the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, at the east end of the community of Manzanillo. It is accessible by car or on foot. The central stretch of Playa Manzanillo is located around the entrance to the community of Manzanillo and Manzanillo center. It too is accessible by car or on foot. The western stretch of Playa Manzanillo is only accessible on foot. You can reach the west end of the beach by departing from the central section of the beach and walking west up the coast.

Map of Playa Manzanillo Costa Rica

Parking at Playa Manzanillo

There is no official parking at Playa Manzanillo, though you can park in the spaces you’ll find at the east end of the beach near the entrance to the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Alternatively, if you wish to visit the central section of Playa Manzanillo, you can park along the street (Road 256) near the big, colorful MANZANILLO sign. Situated at a curve in the road, the sign marks the entrance to (and the exit from) Manzanillo center.

Best reason(s) to visit Playa Manzanillo

Playa Manzanillo isn’t worth traveling to purely to experience the beach. However, if you plan to tour the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge and you wish to take a quick dip in the Caribbean Sea while in the area, Playa Manzanillo’s close proximity to the refuge is most convenient.

Beach-hopping from Playa Manzanillo (or alternative beach options in the region)

Recommended day trips from Playa Manzanillo include visits to Playa Arrecife, Playa Punta Uva, Playa Chiquita, Playa Cocles, or Playa Puerto Viejo.

Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:

80+ Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them

Want to learn about Costa Rica’s ecological blug flag beaches? Don’t miss our related blog post:

Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica (Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners)

QUESTION TO COMMENT ON: Have you been to Playa Manzanillo? What did you think?

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