Most expats seem to think only locals go to Playa Biesanz, in Manual Antonio, Costa Rica but they are wrong. And, if you follow the right path, it is easy to find this peaceful, unspoiled, beautiful beach.
In July, when I checked in at the Hotel Shana in Costa Rica, I was told of a beach “50 meters down the road,” which I later discovered was Playa Biesanz. What the heck is 50 meters in miles or feet? No one there knew, including me.
Loving the beach as I do, I decided to find it. I walked and walked. First down the road and then hiking up a long, steep hill to a dead-end where another hotel sat.
In perfect English, the guard there told me I should go 20 meters back down the road. I felt a little better when he also told me I am not the only one who missed the opening to the beach road. There have been many lost people arriving at his doorstep.
I walked back and could not believe I passed the opening yet again? This time an old man, inside a fence took pity on me. He pointed to five cement short poles with a slight opening to squeeze through.
Very, very easy to miss.
Tips on how not to miss the path to the beach:
- Walk or drive past the Shana Hotel on the right (white, colonial structure)
- Beyond the fork in the road, you will see this mesh structure on the right.
- A few feet past the structure on your right, you’ll see these cement poles with the opening.
- Squeeze through and head down the path.
- Warning: if you come to this yellow gate, you have missed the opening to the beach.
Once on the other side of the poles, I followed the dirt path filled with rocks and pebbles. I could hear roosters cackling away in the distance.
That noise, was my guide down to the opening in the trees, leading to the beach.
And then, beautiful blue water, a nice beach with plenty of space stretching to my left and waves breaking gently again the rocks. Only four locals scattered about in the distance, and a few splashing in the water.
Back near the tree line, there was an entrepreneur renting floats, two roosters, some ducks searching for food and red crabs playing hide and seek. And now me.
About one o’clock, the locals disappeared and other tourists arrived. I made two new friends, Karen and Ted, and we shared our stories and laughed about getting lost trying to find this place. The three of us hung out, took tons of photos and romped in the water.
The tide began coming up and not knowing how we would manage the trail once it became dark, we decided to leave.
All of a sudden, there they were.
Out of nowhere came 3 or 4 white-faced monkeys running, jumping, hanging upside down, scampering, posing along tree branches. I couldn’t snap enough photos. They were fascinating.
Camera shy? Oh no, these guys posed for us. They weren’t even afraid of the flash some people used. OMG. It was incredible being so close, watching them, laughing at us.
I looked back at the beach to see those wonderful waves rising to and fro, the three shades of blue within the water, rock formations and beautiful clouds roaming the skies.
The monkeys decided they had enough of us and as quickly as they had appeared, they disappeared back further into the trees. Poof.
It was almost time for happy hour back at the Hotel Shana with the beautifully glowing sunsets and the cold refreshing drinks.
My first day in Manual Antonio had been exciting, peaceful, full of nature and awe. I hope all my days in Costa Rica are as enjoyable.
