Central Pacific Playa Espadilla Beach in Manuel Antonio

Espadilla Beach Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

As the road approaches Manuel Antonio national park, it skirts the lovely, forest-lined beach of Playa Espadilla. The beach stretches for more than a mile north from the rocky crag that marks the park's border to the base of the ridge that holds most of the local Costa Rica hotels.

One of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Espadilla fills up with sunbathers, surfers, volleyball players, strand strollers, and sand-castle architects on dry-season weekends and holidays, but for most of the year it is surprisingly quiet. Even on the busiest days it is long enough to provide an escape from the crowd, which tends to gather around the restaurants and lounge chairs near its southern end. Though it is often safe for swimming, beware of rough seas, which create deadly rip currents.

Central Pacific Links:	National Park	Weather
Places to Stay	Manuel Antonio	Jaco
Things to Do	Manuel Antonio	Jaco
Places to Eat	Manuel Antonio	Jaco