Manzanillo
The road ends here. The jungle begins.
The road from Puerto Viejo runs south through Cocles, Chiquita, and Punta Uva — and then it just stops. Manzanillo is the last village on the Caribbean coast before the Panamanian border, and that's exactly what makes it worth the trip.
There's no through traffic here. No one passes through Manzanillo on the way to somewhere else — everyone who arrives came on purpose. The village has a handful of restaurants, a beach that goes on forever, and the Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge starting right at the edge of town.
We've been picking up passengers here since day one. It's one of our favorite places on the coast.
What to do in Manzanillo
This far south, the coast is still wild. Here's what to do with your time.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge
One of the most biodiverse wildlife refuges in Costa Rica. The jungle trail runs along the coast from the village toward the Panamanian border — howler monkeys, sloths, poison dart frogs, and over 300 bird species. No crowds, no infrastructure. Just jungle.
Dolphins & snorkeling
The waters around Manzanillo are known for dolphin sightings, particularly bottlenose and spotted dolphins. The reef near the village offers good snorkeling on calm days.
The beach
Manzanillo beach runs for kilometers south of the village with almost no one on it. Wide, palm-lined, and usually empty on weekdays. The kind of beach people travel across the world to find.
Sea turtles
The Gandoca lagoon, a few kilometers south of the village, is one of the most important leatherback turtle nesting sites in the Caribbean. Between March and July, turtle nesting is active.
Maxi's
The restaurant at the end of the road. Fresh fish, cold beer, and a dock over the water. It doesn't need to try hard — the location does the work.
Guided tours with pickup in Manzanillo
Our Gandoca-Manzanillo Jungle Hike departs with a pickup stop in Manzanillo at no extra cost. Local guide, small group, real jungle.
Gandoca-Manzanillo Refuge Jungle Hike
- Pickup in Manzanillo included
Getting to and from Manzanillo
Manzanillo is about 20 minutes south of Puerto Viejo. Our shuttles serve the village as a first pickup point on routes heading north or south — including all routes to Bocas del Toro and Panama.
From Puerto Viejo
- Private van
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
To San José / SJO Airport
- Private van
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
To Puerto Viejo
- Private van
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
Before you go
End of the road
The paved road ends at Manzanillo. Beyond the village, the only way forward is on foot through the wildlife refuge. Plan accordingly.
Connectivity
Mobile signal is weak in Manzanillo and nonexistent in the refuge. Download offline maps before you arrive and let someone know your plans if you're hiking.
Insects
The refuge is jungle — bring insect repellent and wear long sleeves on the trail. The mosquitoes are serious, especially near the lagoon.
Swimming
The beach at Manzanillo is generally calm but check conditions locally before swimming. The open Caribbean can have strong currents.
Common questions
By private van — about 20 minutes, from $25/vehicle. There's no regular shared shuttle directly to Manzanillo, but our private vans serve the route on demand. Book online or ask us on WhatsApp.
The main trail from the village is accessible without a guide. For a deeper experience — wildlife spotting, the lagoon, and the coastal trail toward Gandoca — our guided hike is worth it. Small groups, local guide, pickup included.
Yes — Maxi's is the landmark restaurant at the end of the road. Fresh fish, local Caribbean food, and a dock over the water. A few smaller spots in the village round it out.
Yes. Our shared shuttle picks up in Manzanillo on the daily Bocas route. From $30/person, border crossing assistance included.