Most surf guides to Costa Rica's Caribbean coast stop at Puerto Viejo and Salsa Brava. Keep driving another ten minutes south and the road runs out at Manzanillo, with Punta Uva's curved double bay in between, two of the most photographed beaches on this coast and still a working surf stop rather than just a postcard.
Why Punta Uva and Manzanillo?
Both beaches sit inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, a protected strip of rainforest meeting reef that has kept this stretch undeveloped while Tamarindo and Jaco built out their skylines.
→ The wide beach between Manzanillo village and Punta Uva is a genuinely popular local surf spot, not a secret, with waves peeling along a sand and reef bottom in front of a wall of jungle.
↪ Because the refuge regulates development so tightly, there is no strip of surf shops here. Rent a board in Puerto Viejo or Cocles before you come this far south.
What you get in exchange for that extra driving is a version of the Caribbean coast with almost nothing built on it: howler monkeys in the trees above the sand, sloths moving slowly through the canopy, and a reef visible through clear water at Punta Uva that makes this one of the better snorkeling stops on the whole coast, surfboard or not.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Fly into Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) near San Jose, then drive or bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, about four to five hours by car on Route 32 and the coastal Route 36.
- → From Puerto Viejo, continue south on the coastal road through Cocles and Playa Chiquita. Punta Uva is about 10 kilometers further, Manzanillo about 13.
- ↪ The paved road into Manzanillo village only arrived in 2003. Beyond the village, the sand road into the refuge gets rough fast, so a 4x4, a bicycle or your own feet are the realistic options.
- A local guide is strongly recommended for walking the refuge trail past Manzanillo, both for spotting wildlife and for general security on the less trafficked stretches.
When to Surf
Surf season: Like the rest of this coast, the Caribbean side runs opposite the Pacific calendar, with the main window roughly November through March, driven by cold fronts pushing down from the north.
Swell and wind: Expect the most consistent surf on northeast swells with light offshore wind, the same pattern that lights up Cocles and Salsa Brava a few kilometers north.
Safety notes: Ask locally about riptides before paddling out at either beach, standard advice all along this coast. Because this is a wildlife refuge, respect any posted restrictions around nesting turtles and protected zones, which can affect beach access at certain times of year.
Surf Breaks
- Punta Uva:
Wave: A popular beach and point setup wrapping around the headland, generally more sheltered and forgiving than the reef breaks further north.
Level: Beginner to intermediate. - Manzanillo:
Wave: The wide stretch between the village and Punta Uva, a straightforward beach break.
Level: Beginner to intermediate, with size picking up on bigger northeast swells.
Photographing Punta Uva and Manzanillo (Surf Snaps)
A surfer walking out past the tree line at Punta Uva with the reef and rainforest in the same frame is a harder photo to get than most surf shots on this coast, and a better one to sell. If that gallery is sitting on your memory card, upload it to Surf Snaps, where there is no subscription, no listing fee and no storage bill, just a 10% revenue share paid monthly whenever a photo sells, and you keep copyright the whole time. If you were out at either beach recently, search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date, with photos starting at $8. For more on shooting fast moving water sports in general, Surf Snaps also has a how it works page worth a look before your first upload.
Where to Stay
→ Options here run from a beachfront cabina in Manzanillo village to an upscale lodge inside the refuge itself.
Budget ($)
Cabinas Manzanillo Caribe, Manzanillo (2 minute walk to Manzanillo Beach)
A simple beachfront property right in the village. Approx. CA$95/night (about $68 USD), for a stay on November 27, 2026, per Expedia, seen October 30, 2026.
Mid-Range ($$)
Villas del Caribe, Punta Uva
Beachfront villas between Punta Uva and Manzanillo. Approx. $104/night, seen October 2026, per Booking.com.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Almonds and Corals Boutique Hotel, inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge
An eco lodge built into the rainforest with direct beach access. Approx. $147/night for a deluxe room with two queen beds, seen October 2026, per Kayak.
Food and Drink
→ KOKi Beach Restaurant and Bar at Punta Uva is the clearest sit down option at this end of the coast, with a menu that runs from Caribbean lobster tail at $42 to jerk chicken skewers at $28, a whole fried fish (pescado entero frito) at $35 and a vegan cashew curry at $25, all prices seen October 2026. In Manzanillo village itself, the handful of open air sodas serve the same Caribbean staples, rice and beans with fish or chicken, found all along this coast, generally at standard soda pricing rather than resort prices.
FAQ: Surfing at Punta Uva and Manzanillo
Is Punta Uva good for beginner surfers?
Yes. Punta Uva's beach and point setup is generally more sheltered than the reef breaks further north at Puerto Viejo, making it a reasonable choice for less experienced surfers.
Can you surf at Manzanillo too?
Yes, the wide beach between Manzanillo village and Punta Uva is a genuinely popular local surf spot, a straightforward beach break that picks up size on bigger northeast swells.
Why is there so little development here compared to Tamarindo or Jaco?
Both beaches sit inside the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1985, which strictly regulates construction and development along this stretch of coast.
What is the best time of year to surf here?
Roughly November through March, the Caribbean coast's main season, driven by swells generated by cold fronts further north.
Where can I find photos of my session at Punta Uva or Manzanillo?
Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to find galleries from your session.
