Are you planning to visit Punta Uva (Manzanillo) and enjoy the views from the viewpoint during your trip to Costa Rica?
In this post I tell you what to do at Punta Uva beach, how to get to the viewpoint and bus transportation
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PUNTA UVA in Manzanillo (Costa Rica)
If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica (👉COSTA RICA GUIDE), you should know that it is a country characterized by the beauty of its beaches, mountains, volcanoes and the diversity of its wildlife.
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When browsing the internet during your trip, it is essential to use a 👉 QUALITY VPN to ensure your privacy and security. Additionally, bringing a ⭐ TRAVEL DEBIT CARD will help you avoid issues with carrying cash and reduce the risk of theft.
Punta Uva offers incredible nature and landscapes of Costa Rica. There are two areas: the beach and the Punta Uva viewpoint, from where you can see beautiful panoramic views. In addition, it is well connected by public transport.
It is a very versatile beach thanks to its location, since you can practice various sports and water activities. I am going to divide the options you have, so that you can prepare your excursion well.
What to do iN PUNTA UVA beach
Playa Punta Uva is located between Punta Uva and Playa Chiquita, before reaching the Manzanillo National Park. Its waters are calm, perfect for swimming and playing dead without worries.
The beach itself is wild, full of fallen trees and the scenery is really nice. You don’t see any type of construction, but there are kilometers of virgin beach to enjoy.
SNORKELing
They told me that you could snorkel in the area of the rocks, just before reaching Punta Uva. The day I went I went into the area that they indicated (I saw more people snorkeling), but the visibility was not very good so I could see few fish.
kayakING
Playa Punta Uva also offers other possibilities: as you can see in the photo below, there is a small cabin where you can rent kayaks to follow the coast but also to go up through the mangrove channels.
Before reaching the end of the beach there is an entrance to the river, where you can enter by kayak. The view is beautiful to see from the sand and surely even more interesting to see by water.
DIVING
Right there you can also rent small boats to go diving nearby and explore the rich Costa Rican fauna.
If you are a certified diver or find a tour that offers you the possibility, you will love Costa Rica since it is a country with an enormous diversity of species, and it surprises both inside and outside the water, it is an experience that you really cannot miss.
HAVE A PICNIC
Many Costa Ricans come to spend the weekend with the family and have a picnic right there, with tables, chairs and music included. So, if you want to have a quiet time, I recommend that you show up there during the week; If, on the other hand, you want to see what a typical Costa Rican weekend is like, Sunday is the best day.
PUNTA UVA VIEWPOINT
If you visit Playa Grande or Playa Punta Uva, this is a nice viewpoint that is just a walk away. It is surrounded by beaches and is located at the beginning of the Manzanillo National Park, very close to Puerto Viejo (Limón).
The nature and beaches of the area are totally spectacular, and if you go during the week there will be hardly anyone and you can enjoy the viewpoint and the waves like an inhabitant of a desert island.
How to GET TO THE VIEWPOINT
Instructions to get to the viewpoint where you can see the views:
- Walk along Punta Uva beach until you reach the end of everything (photo above).
- You will see that, following the beach, there is a forest of trees with huge roots where people usually park their cars. Walk through the forest towards the point and there you will see a path indicated.
- The trail will lead you to a small, half-hidden creek. If you venture down, the reward is well worth it. A natural bridge has been formed in the rock with the breaking of the waves and this small opening connects the two areas of the bay.
- If you continue walking along the path you will reach the viewpoint.
In the part of the viewpoint there are two levels, which is the first that you will find when going up and then there is another one a little higher, the path to go up is easily found. The views are truly spectacular as you can see in the photo below.
The beaches in the area communicate with each other, they are like a large elongated beach, and from the vantage point they can be seen as an endless line of sand. It is a good place to have a snack: you can take some sandwiches and take a short break and then continue visiting Manzanillo.
I decided to visit the park and that area in general in parts, due to its enormous size. It is much more relaxed and allows you to enjoy this little paradise more. If you decide to continue the excursion to the Manzanillo park, as a last note I will tell you that you do not have to pay an entrance fee to access it.
How to get to punta uva
It is easily and quickly reached by bus and costs around 600CRC from Puerto Viejo.
If, on the other hand, you stay closer, instead of going by public transport you can walk along the beach, there are very nice corners and dreamlike mini beaches.
👉 Shuttle from San José to Puerto Viejo
Here is the map with the exact location and activities you can do in Costa Rica:
Useful stuff for your trip to Costa Rica
Below, you will find some products that will be very useful during your trip to Costa Rica.
In addition, the options that I recommend are committed to the environment/social causes and are vegan.
Waterproof windbreaker
Carrying a waterproof windbreaker in your suitcase is essential in case temperatures drop, it rains unexpectedly, or to go hiking.
When traveling, it’s important to choose a jacket that is lightweight, takes up little space and that you can use in different situations; that is to say, that transpires, is waterproof and has a hood to protect you properly from bad weather.
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Gopro 11 Black
The GOPRO 11 (👉 PRICE) is a great choice if you are visiting natural areas, practicing adventure sports or want to make videos underwater, e.g. while scuba diving or snorkeling.
In addition, with its stabilization and Horizon Lock function, it will allow you to make incredibly stable videos even in adverse situations (such as walking, running or riding a motorcycle). In addition, it comes with an amazing 5.3k image quality.
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3-in-1 hiking shoes
These La Sportiva shoes are designed to run in the mountains, thanks to this you can use them for hiking, go out to run and do tourism ; saving space in your suitcase.
They are made with goretex, which means they protect you from the inclement weather weather (such as rain, ice or cold) and are adherent to the ground. This makes them ideal for traveling due to their versatility.
👉 Price shoes for MAN and for shoes for WOMAN
Tours & activities in Costa Rica
The amount of activities and places to visit in Costa Rica is enormous. It is a small country, but it has a lot of natural wealth and its fauna is very varied.
Here you’ll find a list of the tours and activities that you can do around the country, to delve even deeper into its secrets.
What to do near Punta Uva
In the vicinity of Punta Uva and Puerto Viejo is where the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica are located. There are many places to visit and activities to discover.
I will tell you (with a brief description) what are some of the obligatory stops in the area. I hope you like them and enjoy them!
Playa Cocles
If you are thinking of practicing or learning to surf during your trip to Costa Rica, this beach is the best in the area to do so. Playa Cocles is a bit far from the center of Puerto Viejo, but well connected by bus or on foot.
If you do not have your own equipment, you will find people renting boards on the beach itself; And, surely, if you ask, they will be able to recommend an instructor.
Playa Cocles is quite long and has a nice viewpoint where you can see the entire coast. It has fewer facilities (hotels and restaurants) than Puerto Viejo, but you can spend a few days there perfectly.
Playa Chiquita
Of the beaches in the area, this is one of the quietest. The only time you will see more people is during the weekends, as people come to spend the day or have a picnic.
Playa Chiquita has the peculiarity that small natural pools are formed on its coast where the water is much calmer. There are people who take advantage of it to go with the children to bathe.
Take advantage of your visit to relax, drink a coconut and do some snorkeling. It is located near Punta Uva and you can see both places on the same day; although, if you feel like it, you can also spend a few days on this beach, since it has accommodation options.
Manzanillo National Park
It is a natural park located in the south of the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. It stands out for its nature, fauna and the activities you can do.
Manzanillo National Park has the best preserved coral reef on the Atlantic coast and is an ideal place for snorkeling and diving. Here you can observe sea turtles, manatees and dolphins.
In addition, crocodiles and alligators also live in the interior area, although to see them I recommend that you hire a tour.
Is Costa Rica SAFE to Travel?
Costa Rica is a moderately dangerous country, where nothing should happen to you if you go carefully and take precautions. Remember to follow these recommendations:
- In case of robbery, do not resist physically.
- Do not show a high purchasing power, that is, do not go with jewels, bags, etc … that are expensive.
- Be careful if you go out at night, and stay in crowded places where you are surrounded by other people.
- Thefts are usual, so don’t go with the camera or mobile in your hand or hang out of your neck.
- Try to avoid carrying the backpack on the back. Put it in front of you, or use a belt pouch or a cross bag.
Personally, I spent 3 months traveling alone in Costa Rica (I visited San José, Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero, Dominical, Uvita, Bay Drake and Puerto Jiménez) and I did not find myself in any really serious situation.
Going down the street with the camera, several Costa Rican people approached and warned me that they were carefully with robberies, since they told me that they are very frequent.
In my case, during the trip they tried to steal 2 times and, luckily, I realized on time and I could avoid it. In any case, it is always a good idea to have travel insurance (👉5% discount) that can compensate you financially and help you if a medical emergency occurs.
If you are interested in traveling alone, I recommend this article about the reasons and benefits of traveling alone and this other article with tips for traveling alone being a woman. I encourage you to try it since it is a great and very profitable experience for oneself.
Eating VEGAN in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is not a country faced with vegan food. Anyway, they have some traditional dishes that are vegan or that you can ask without egg or sauces such as the pico of rooster (rice with beans for breakfast), black bean soup or rice with vegetables.
You should always ask if the purés or soups are made with some type of dairy product or meat broth, since at first glance they might seem vegan dishes but not be.
In San José you can find some vegan restaurants, but when you leave the capital the offer is very limited or non -existent. Next, I make three recommendations and in this link you can read tips to travel vegan.
- Try to stay in hotels that are characterized by cooking vegan and vegetarian dishes. This is the best option and the most practical for not having to be looking for places where to eat comfortable without always repeating the same dishes.
- Before going on a tour that includes a meal, always mention that you are vegan or vegetarian, so that they can adapt the food.
- Costa Rica is a country where you can find a variety of fresh products (fruits and vegetables) to prepare salads and breakfast with fruits. In any city or town, you will easily find some supermarket or stalls on the street where you can buy groceries.
Have a great time in Punta Uva and I hope this information helps you on your trip!