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South Caribbean Coast: Manzanillo, Playa Chiquita, Punta Uva

Down the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica, just three miles South of Puerto Viejo, you’ll pass Playa Chiquita in Punta Uva to Playa Manzanillo. Playa Chiquita has a small reef on its North side, and offers the best Snorkeling around. With a larger reef and longer beach, Punta Uva is a pleasant alternative also providing terrific swimming.

Playa Manzanillo, Costa Rica

Manzanillo, the last town South of Puerto Viejo, is where the road comes to an end. Beyond this point, there are only jungle trails which lead out to Punta Mona (Spanish for Monkey Point) and beyond to Gandoca, near the Panama border.

Manzanillo is a small community, perhaps half the size of Puerto Viejo. The inhabitants are mostly Afro-Caribbean. You’ll find many of the locals hanging around Manzanillo Beach just “Chilin”.

The beach in Manzanillo is excellent for Water Sports such as Scuba Diving. It has the biggest reef on the South of Puerto Viejo and is also better equipped for Snorkeling than others in the area. Coral reefs offshore create a natural harbor, and there are usually a number of boats moored there. The water is usually calm and perfect for swimming.

South the Coast of Manzanillo is the Gandoca Wildlife Reserve. The jungle in this region is unspoiled, and there are numerous trails leading through the wilderness. Find a place to park your vehicle for there are no roads here. Ask around in Manzanillo, you can easily find a local guide to take you on an incredible Nature Walk through the forest teeming with wildlife. You can also arrange Boat Tours in Manzanillo, Snorkeling Tours, Dolphin Watching and Diving Expeditions. Transportation out to Punta Mona (Monkey Point) is also available.

The road is paved all the way from Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo. There used to be nothing but dirt roads past Playa Chiquita in Punta Uva, but the newly paved roads make Manzanillo much more accessible. Since the road improvement, the Tourism on this Southern Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica has seen rapid growth. It is now becoming one of the top Surf and Vacation Destinations in the Caribbean. Manzanillo is where civilization stops and the jungle begins. A great spot for Nature Lovers and definitely worth exploring during your Costa Rican Vacation.