Punta Uva
The quiet end of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast — reef, forest and very little else.
Activity guide
Everything below is within a short walk, pedal or tuk-tuk of the gate. Tap an activity to find it on the map; the linked pins open in Google Maps. Ask us about any of it — arranging things is part of hosting.
Playa Arrecife — thirty steps
The reef offshore takes the swell out of the water, making this one of the calmest swimming beaches on the coast — and one of the world's 50 best. Big trees mean natural shade all day, and mornings are near-empty. Weekends get lively; that's when locals walk to Playa Grande.
Snorkelling the point
On flat days, swim out to the same reef that calms the bay. Visibility is best in the calm-sea months — September and October are the glassy ones.
Playa Grande — the long, quiet beach
About five kilometres of open sand stretching toward Manzanillo. When Arrecife fills up on a sunny weekend, this is where everyone who lives here goes for peace and quiet. Walk the shoreline or ride a bike.
Kayak the river and the sea
A small river winds about a kilometre into the forest — quiet paddling under the canopy — and on calm days you can kayak the sea around the point. Rentals at the river beside the beach road.
Ara Manzanillo — great green macaws
A reintroduction project for the endangered great green macaw, up the ridge behind Punta Uva. Feeding-station viewing at close range. Book a few days ahead — visits are by reservation.
Gandoca-Manzanillo refuge & Punta Mona
Jungle trails through the wildlife refuge lead to a string of wild, empty beaches and on to Punta Mona. Sloths, monkeys and toucans keep their own schedule — early is best.
Morning yoga at Dragonfly
A beach retreat a short walk west runs morning yoga classes, with massage and other treatments too. Several other studios and healers work nearby — ask and we'll point you.
Surf at Playa Cocles
The surf beach of the coast, a short ride toward Puerto Viejo — boards and instructors right on the sand. Waves run roughly December to March; several beaches within walking distance catch smaller days.
Puerto Viejo
The coast's town: restaurants, shops, nightlife and the famous Salsa Brava wave. Ten minutes by car, a pleasant ride by bike, or a tuk-tuk/Uber for about $11–15 each way.
Restaurante Arrecife
Directly across the lane from the gate — seafood with your feet in the sand, and live music on weekend afternoons and evenings: reggae nights, DJ sets, sunset and beach parties (you'll hear it from the porch; it winds down at night). Their Facebook page has what's coming up.
Jaguar Rescue Center
The coast's wildlife rescue at Playa Chiquita, caring for injured and orphaned animals — sloths, monkeys, snakes and more — with guided close-up visits. The most-recommended stop on the whole coast.
Nativo Canopy — ziplines
Zipline runs through the rainforest canopy inland near Hone Creek, with pick-up available from the coast. The close-to-home adventure fix before committing to a full day tour.
Cahuita National Park
A half-day up the coast: an easy shaded trail runs for kilometres right along the shoreline — capuchins, sloths and snorkelling stops the whole way. Kelly Creek entrance is donation-based.
On calm days, our board
A 3-metre hard SUP paddle board lives at the property and is free for guests when the sea is small — an easy alternative to renting kayaks.
Bikes & horses
Bicycles rent for about $7–10 a day and the jungle-lined coast road is made for them. Horseback rides go out on trails and along the beach — ask us for current prices.
Day tours further afield
Exploradores Outdoors runs full-day trips from the coast: white-water rafting, ziplining, and visits to indigenous Bribri villages. We can help you book.
The stretch of coast the apartments sit on, filmed from above.
When to come
The Caribbean side runs on its own calendar, roughly opposite the Pacific's. September and October are the local secret: the driest skies of the year and a sea calm enough for snorkelling — with October–November usually the gentlest waves. December through March brings the surf; the reef still keeps Arrecife swimmable when the outer beaches are working. July and the turn of the year are the rainiest stretches — warm rain, and rarely all day.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waves | ●●●●● | ●●●●○ | ●●●●○ | ●●●○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●○○○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●●●○ |
| Rain | ●●●●○ | ●●●○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ | ●●●●● | ●●●●○ | ●○○○○ | ●●○○○ | ●●●●○ | ●●●●● |
| Good for | Surf | Surf | Surf · drier | Mixed | Quiet | Quiet | Green season | Quiet | Snorkel · calm | Snorkel · calm | Calm sea | Surf · festive |
Typical pattern, not a forecast — the Caribbean makes its own plans. The reef in front of Arrecife keeps the swimming gentle in most conditions.
Playa Punta Uva — the beach Arrecife shares its point with — was voted #41 of the World's 50 Best Beaches 2025, the only Costa Rican beach on the list (Tico Times), and holds a long-running top rating on Tripadvisor.
Eating nearby
Three restaurants and a café within walking distance — no car needed for dinner.
Restaurante Arrecife
Across the lane, on the sand. Fresh seafood, cold drinks, and live music events on weekend afternoons and evenings.
La Sirena
Caribbean cooking a short walk along the beach road — the reliable second table when Arrecife is full.
El Colibrí Azul
The newest kitchen in the neighbourhood, also within walking distance. Ask us what they're cooking lately.
Indigo — café
Coffee, breakfast and baked things for slow mornings when the porch kitchen stays cold.
Getting here
Rental car — the flexible way. About 4½–5 hours from San José airport via Limón, then down the coast road through Cahuita and Puerto Viejo; Punta Uva is ten minutes further. A fully insured compact runs about $150–160 a day (Alamo, recently checked) plus fuel. A trick we use ourselves: rent at SJO, drive out, and return the car at the Puerto Viejo office a couple of days later for roughly a $50 drop fee — car for the arrival days, none to babysit after.
MEPE bus — the budget way. Direct buses run San José → Puerto Viejo from the MEPE terminal (about 25 minutes / ~$25 by Uber from the airport), roughly hourly between 6 AM and the last departure at 4 PM, for around $12–15 a person. From Puerto Viejo it's a short taxi, tuk-tuk or bike ride to Punta Uva. Airport taxis in San José are famously overpriced — insist on Uber or an agreed fare. Going home, buy the San José ticket a day ahead at the Puerto Viejo MEPE office (tickets are only sold at the San José, Puerto Viejo and Limón offices), and note the local bus stop is a ten-minute walk from the gate — cash only on board. Online-bookable shuttles like Caribe Shuttle are the no-planning alternative.
Shared shuttles & private transfers. Door-to-door shuttles exist but run on their own clock — expect hotel-circuit pickups that add 2–3 hours over driving. Private transfers can usually be negotiated somewhere around $180 one way. Or just ask us — we'll quote a shuttle with your dates when you book.
Once you're here. Tuk-tuks and Ubers run up and down the coast road (about $11–15 to Puerto Viejo), bicycles rent for $8–12 a day, gas scooters for $40–50 — plenty of guests never touch a car after arriving.
The property is on the lane directly opposite Restaurante Arrecife, behind a private gate, with a big shared tropical garden. Exact directions and the gate code come with your booking confirmation.