Playa Biesanz
Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Playa Biesanz hides in the trees between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica, a small crescent bay so sheltered it barely has waves, more like a warm natural pool than open ocean. Sloths and monkeys move through the branches overhead near the beach, and vendors sell coconut water and rent snorkel gear right on the sand.
A genuinely calm, sheltered cove with real wildlife overhead, though the steep, slippery trail down keeps it from being an easy stop for everyone.
Watch your footing on the trail down. It's a short walk from the road near Hotel Parador, but the path is steep with loose pebbles and can be slippery, especially after rain.
Park near Hotel Parador on the road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio, then walk the short jungle trail down to the beach.
The trail down is steep with loose, uneven footing, not suited to strollers or limited mobility, though the beach itself is calm and flat once you arrive.
The dry season from December through April brings the sunniest, driest conditions, while the wetter season from May through November brings Costa Rica's characteristic afternoon rain showers.
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