hidden· Caribbean· quiet· Romantic
Punta Uva
At the quiet end of the Caribbean road — the beach the bus doesn't reach
4.8(4 reviews)
Puerto Viejo
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At the quiet end of the Caribbean road — the beach the bus doesn't reach
Punta Uva sits five kilometres south of Puerto Viejo, at a point where the coastal road runs out of anything to be near and simply ends. The beach curves around a small wooded headland in two directions; the forest comes directly to the edge of the white sand on the inland side without a gap for hotels or car parks. The water is turquoise in the shallows and deep blue past the point, warm year-round and calm in the protected cove. There are a handful of small lodges set back from the beach and a couple of local restaurants open on unpredictable schedules, and almost nothing else. At dawn before any other visitors arrive, the beach is entirely quiet — the Caribbean is flat, the light is horizontal, and the forest behind is full of birds. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Central America in those early hours. The road from Puerto Viejo is fifteen minutes by bicycle.
The beach curves around a small wooded headland with white sand and forest coming directly to the water's edge—no developed infrastructure interrupts the shoreline. Visit at dawn before other visitors arrive to experience the beach entirely quiet, with flat Caribbean waters and horizontal light; plan a 15-minute bicycle ride from Puerto Viejo to reach it. The protected cove offers warm, calm turquoise water year-round suitable for swimming, with a handful of small lodges and local restaurants operating on unpredictable schedules.
Best Time to Visit
Visit Punta Uva during December–April (dry season) when Caribbean swells are smaller and the water is calmest for swimming, with September–October offering fewer crowds though occasional rain; arrive early morning (before 9am) to find the beach nearly empty before day-trippers arrive from Puerto Viejo, and avoid weekends and holidays when locals and tourists increase significantly.
Getting There
From Puerto Viejo, head south on the coastal road for approximately 5 kilometres by bicycle (15 minutes) or by vehicle. The road ends at Punta Uva.
What to Bring
Safety Considerations
Who This Is For
“Arrive at dawn before other visitors to experience the beach at its quietest—the Caribbean is typically flat and the light is horizontal during these early hours. Restaurant schedules are highly unpredictable, so bring food and water if visiting midday.”
James P.
March 2025
The most beautiful beach I found in Costa Rica and the one I told fewest people about when I got home. At 6am with the Caribbean completely flat and a horizontal light coming through the palms, it was so good it felt private. We were there for four days and saw the same twenty people on the beach each day. By 10am people arrive from Puerto Viejo on bicycles, which is the right speed for this place.
Marcus W.
January 2025
The beach is genuinely excellent and the overall atmosphere is rare — relaxed in a way that feels authentic rather than manufactured. Small honest note: Puerto Viejo has a petty theft problem and you should not leave valuables on the beach unattended. This is not unique to Punta Uva but it is worth knowing. Other than that, close to perfect.
Elena R.
March 2025
The snorkelling here surprised me — I went in without equipment just to swim and could see the bottom clearly to four or five metres. Borrowed a mask from the lodge and found parrotfish, a large barracuda holding position in mid-water, and what I think was a small nurse shark under a rock. The reef is not extensive but it is alive and accessible.
Ana T.
February 2025
Stayed at one of the small lodges behind the beach for three nights. The forest behind the room had red-eyed tree frogs on the walls each evening. The beach outside was so calm we swam at dusk without thinking about it. A pair of toucans in the tree above the beach bar. The Caribbean coast here is a completely different Costa Rica from the Pacific and this is its best expression.
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Wildlife
Boat through rainforest canals watching caimans, sloths, and river otters
Swimming
One of Costa Rica’s most beautiful Caribbean national parks
Waterfalls
Three-tier waterfall at the end of a jungle trail twenty minutes from the village
Hidden Gems
Impossibly blue river deep in Tenorio Volcano
Swimming
A beach made entirely of crushed shells — no sand, only conchitas
Living traditions near this place
🪶 Indigenous Cultures
The original chocolate, in the hands it started with
🐟 Coastal Traditions
No roads reach Tortuguero. The fishermen leave before the tourists wake.
🪶 Indigenous Cultures
Wild cacao in the valley that fed the oldest chocolate trade in the Americas
🌙 Night Atmospheres
Where the Caribbean keeps its own hours