Punta Uva and Manzanillo are two small laid-back coastal towns just south of Puerto Viejo, a popular destination in Costa Rica. Punta Uva and Manzanillo are conveniently located only a few minutes’ drive apart so you can easily visit both on your own as a day trip from Puerto Viejo.

Each town offers great beaches (dare I say better than the ones in Puerto Viejo) so they’re definitely worth a visit if you want a change of scenery and to experience a few new beaches.

There’s also a couple notable attractions along the way which we’ll outline at the end of this article in the sample day trip itinerary.

So if you’re looking for a fun adventure beyond Puerto Viejo, taking a day trip to Punta Uva and Manzanillo may be the perfect way for you to get out and see what else this beautiful stretch of Costa Rica has to offer.

How to Visit Punta Uva & Manzanillo From Puerto Viejo

If you have a rental car, you can easily drive yourself to both Punta Uva and Manzanillo.

But if you chose the budget route and took the public bus to Puerto Viejo from San Jose, you will need some kind of transportation to get there because it’s not feasible to get there on foot.

Luckily you can also get there by tuk tuk (taxi), bus, or by rental scooter or bike.

What to Know About Renting a Scooter in Puerto Viejo

Renting a scooter is a super easy process that can be done at various shops in town.

We went with Manu Bikes because they were conveniently located next to our hostel and gave us a good rate.

(If you’re curious, we stayed at the Beachfront Oasis Hostel in Puerto Viejo. I highly recommend them if you’re looking for a quiet, non-party hostel. Plus, they have super affordable private rooms).

Scooter Rental Costs

We paid $30 USD for two people. This was for an entire 24 hours.

Also, expect them to take a security deposit (ours was $100 USD) that they will return to you after you return the scooter. I’d recommend paying all this in cash (they take US dollars and colones) because it’s just easier and most places charge a fee for card transactions.

Since they charge by the scooter, not the person, this is a great excursion especially if you’re traveling with a friend or partner. This makes it a little more budget-friendly.

Tips for Renting a Scooter in Puerto Viejo

• Shop around town to find the best deal. The first shop we went to was going to charge us $50 USD. So don’t just go with the first place you go to.
• Rent the scooter a day or two before. Especially in peak season (December-April), sometimes shops can run out of scooters. If you don’t have much time in Puerto Viejo, you’ll want to make sure that all the logistics of your day trip are taken care of before you head out. It’s nice to just be able to pick it up in the morning and not have to worry about payment or anything.

What to Expect Driving to Punta Uva & Manzanillo From Puerto Viejo

The entire drive to Punta Uva and Manzanillo from Puerto Viejo is a two-lane road. It is completely paved. There are some slight curves and a few hills, but it’s nothing crazy. It’s a pretty easy drive.

It’s very doable on a motor scooter. Even if you’ve never driven one before, you will be fine on the drive. Just be cautious of cars around you and let them pass. And of course always wear your helmet. Your rental shop should provide them with no extra charge.

No one was ever driving crazy fast on this road, and there are a ton of other scooters driving by too. Both locals and tourists.

There’s beautiful scenery on the way, and you just can’t beat the feeling of cruising through the jungle and letting the breeze cool you off from the region’s intense humidity.

What to Bring for a Day Trip to Punta Uva & Manzanillo

• Lunch/snacks and plenty of water. There are some restaurants in Punta Uva and Manzanillo, but the options are limited. Especially if you have dietary needs I suggest packing a lunch or lots of snacks. As well as plenty of water for the day with you.
• Beach towels. You’ll likely be spending most of the day at the beach. Don’t forget to throw some beach towels in your backpack to dry off with later on.
• Sunscreen. So you don’t get sunburned spending all day out in the sun.
• Bug spray. If you want to hike through the jungle in Manzanillo, bug repellent is a must.
• Snorkel & mask. Not sure I’d recommend spending the money on renting gear before you head out, since sometimes the waves can be a little rough for snorkeling. But if you brought your own snorkel to Costa Rica, make sure to pack it just incase visibility is good.
• Cash. For visiting any extra-fee destinations or going out to eat.

Manzanillo & Punta Uva Day Trip Sample Itinerary

1. Playa Manzanillo

We decided to drive all the way down to Manzanillo first and work our way back up. There’s also more to do around Manzanillo so we didn’t want to spend too much time in Punta Uva and not have time to do everything we wanted in Manzanillo later on.

Manzanillo Beach is located near the very end of the road. It’s lined with palm trees with picnic tables you can use beneath the coconuts and swaying green palms.

The sand at this beach was so unique to me. It’s tan, but looks nearly black when it’s wet. It’s beautiful and incredibly soft.

If you visit in the morning hours the water is known to be calmer and better for swimming than it is in the afternoon. However, this is not known to be a hot spot for snorkeling in Costa Rica.

If you’re up for a short walk, head north along the beach to the Yicel Shipwreck. You’ll be able to see it from just about anywhere on the shores of Playa Manzanillo.

In 2017 this small cargo ship was sailing north along the coast toward Limón, when it started taking on water due to a hull failure. Unable to pump out the water, the captain deliberately beached the vessel where it still sits today, about 40 miles south of its intended destination.

2. Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge

After our time at the beach we went to the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge. This is a massive protected area that stretches along Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast and is home to a mix of tropical rainforest, beautiful beaches, wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs. Only a small portion of the refuge is open to the public, but fortunately you can easily access an amazing section of it right from Manzanillo.

The parks operating hours are between 8AM-4PM. There are restrooms and drinking water on site.

What I find special about the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Refuge is that, unlike other parks in Costa Rica, it’s completely run on donations.

We donated 2,000 colones ($4 USD) which I think is a pretty standard donation. They didn’t pressure us into donating either which was nice, it felt completely voluntary. But I do think it’s good to leave something to help keep the place up and running. 

The main thing to do here is to hike. The one notable trail in the park is the Miss May Point Trail.

This is a quick 1 mile hike that takes you through the jungle and to a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean. There is some slight elevation gain here, but it’s an easy terrain. You can easily hike in sandals.

3. Visit a Wildlife Sanctuary

If you want to squeeze a little more into your day you can visit one of the two wildlife sanctuaries in the area: Ara Manzanillo or the Jaguar Wildlife Rescue.

Especially if you’re only in Costa Rica for a short amount of time, a wildlife sanctuary is a great way to learn more about the animals who call these jungles and beaches home. Wildlife sightings are guaranteed, and you’ll never have to hike too far to see them.

4. Playa Punta Uva

The town of Punta Uva is surrounded by stunning white sand beaches that are known to be some of the best in Costa Rica. The water is crystal clear and perfect for swimming and snorkeling on a calm day.

Playa Punta Uva is the most popular beach to visit, but there’s so many different beach access points in the area.

I enjoyed the beaches near the point of Punta Uva itself. Such as Playa Arrecife which is just located a little bit further down the coast from Playa Punta Uva. This area is much less crowded and you can easily find a spot to park in the palm trees right next to the beach. All the beaches are pretty similar, and you’ll get great views wherever you decide to go to.

The Punta Uva beaches are great places to spend a few hours at relaxing and soaking up the sun, while enjoying a change of scenery from the beaches in Puerto Viejo.

If you don’t have a rental car and want to explore as much of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean Coast as possible, renting a scooter for a day and visiting Manzanillo and Punta Uva is worth having on your itinerary! It’s an easy and fun day trip to take from Puerto Viejo.

I hope this article gave you everything you need to know about visiting these two wonderful destinations and thank you so much for reading!