Playa Grande
A quiet, forest-backed stretch between Punta Uva and Manzanillo with little development.
Blue Flag beach Protected area
Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Playa Grande is a long, less developed beach between Punta Uva and Manzanillo village, backed by the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge forest. It sees more open surf and fewer facilities than the beaches closer to Puerto Viejo, drawing a mix of walkers and wildlife watchers rather than swimmers. Two sections of this beach were awarded Bandera Azul Ecológica stars in 2025. Note this is a different beach from the more famous Playa Grande near Tamarindo in Guanacaste.
Good for
- Walking
- Wildlife
- Sunsets
Getting there
From Puerto Viejo, follow the coastal road southeast past Punta Uva toward Manzanillo; the beach runs alongside the road for several kilometers before the village.