Playa Manzanillo: A place of calmness and authenticity

Featuring a charming off-the-grid character and delightful natural environs, this white-sand beach shines as one of the Nicoya Peninsula’s best-kept secrets.

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula stands out from the rest of the country, and the whole world, for the way it safeguards traditional rural living, pristine natural environments, and an all-encompassing aura of wellness. The latter is not only palpable in the laid-back atmosphere but has actually been a case of study, given the area’s certification as one the planet’s few Blue Zones of longevity, where locals consistently boast impressive lifespans beyond the century mark.

Manzanillo, a quiet fishing village just north of the Peninsula’s Playa Hermosa is one of the best embodiments of what the Nicoya lifestyle is all about. This secluded oasis can only be reached via a rugged and bumpy road that follows along the spectacular coastal sights, or alternatively, by heading up the hillsides of Santiago and marveling at the expansive farmlands before reaching the tranquil waters of Manzanillo. Given its location, it’s no surprise that Manzanillo retains its quaint charm and rural authenticity. For example, as soon as you arrive you’ll notice how motor vehicles rapidly give way to the more effective horseback riding, given the terrain.

Manzanillo’s local population still consists mostly of fishermen and their families, real sabaneros that work cattle ranching (a tico variant of the US cowboy or South American gaucho), and an international community fully in line with the love of rural and small village living that’s inherent to this beach town. Those who live there get to rejoice in the expansive and normally uncrowded, titular white-sand beach, and the rich biodiversity of the Caletas-Ario National Wildlife Refuge.

With a set of water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, and paddle boarding at your disposal, and amazing local restaurants within reach, Manzanillo presents a perfect blend of convenience with an immersive tropical experience. Be it with an ocean view home perched on the hills, or a development lot steps from the beach, Manzanillo presents itself as one of the Nicoya Peninsula’s hidden gems.