Manzanillo, Santa Teresa

• Description of Manzanillo
• Santa Teresa Area Map
• Road Map to Playa Coyote
• Rio Bongo

The beach of Manzanillo is shaded by thick palms and old almendro trees leaning far out over the sand. Bathing is possible at mid to hight tide. During low tide be careful of underwater rocks.

Manzanillo Beach

At low tide you can walk over the rocks to a large lagoon which is protected by a rocky reef. It's a good place for snorkeling and has the best light in the morning hours.

The best place for swimming is on Playa Ario, a 10-min hike north, across the Rio Manzanillo.

Fisher boats on the beach

Although Manzanillo is only a 20 min drive away from bustling Santa Teresa, the tranquil beach community here has not been built up as yet but it's slowly growing as the infrastructure for water and phone lines becomes more available.

At this point in time, there is a selection of small hotels and B&Bs including a nature lodge hidden in the hills. The few bars and restaurants serve traditional Costa Rican fare with a focus on fresh-from-the ocean seafood.

The sandcastle contest in Manzanillo

In Manzanillo, the highlight of the year comes in March when the annual sandcastle contest takes place. People stake their claims in the early morning and spend the entire day building works of sand art.
Late in the day, when the tide comes up the sea will take most of the creations back to the ocean. But the party continues even when the castles have been washed away featuring beer and music late into the evening. Unfortunately, this event has become more of a commercial fiesta for the area and less of a sand castle contest.