Punta Uva
Punta Uva is divided into two beaches with white and golden sands and a turquoise sea that hides valuable and delicate coral reefs teeming with marine life. It is ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world.
They are protected within Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, at 8 kilometers south of Puerto Viejo. The beaches of Punta Uva are separated by a small cliff known as Red Cliff, covered by wild and lush tropical vegetation. It has two entrances, the first takes you to the beach known as Playa Punta Uva, a small bay protected by the Red Cliff which gives its waters the ideal tranquility for swimming and a characteristic green tonality that makes it one of the most exotic beaches in the Southern Caribbean.
The beach known as Punta Uva Arrecife, is on the North side of Red Cliff and extends up to the point covered by slender palm trees and tropical forest , where you can find one of the best coral reefs of the Caribbean. In its shallow and warm clear waters the necessary conditions are given for the formation of coral reef that adopts the most improbable and extravagant shapes and colours of the animal kingdom, huge cerebriformes masses, elkhorn or abanico de mar, where sea urchins, starfish, lobsters, sea turtles and fish like loro, el payaso o el angel live.
The main activities in Punta Uva are the sea related ones. Its beaches invite us to enjoy the beauty of its splendid nature, its calm waters ideal for long baths under the sun or to immerse in its sea bottom. Snorkeling or diving are activities that you can´t miss in Punta Uva, where you can also be certified as a diver, a plus to take home from your vacations.
Other activities you can do are kayaking through the mouth of the river or the sea, horseback riding or boating along the coast and feel the salty sea breeze on your skin and enjoy a cocktail or a delicious Caribbean food. In these beaches there are accommodations and waterfront restaurants where you can enjoy a wonderful and calm day lying on the golden sand under the shade of a palm tree or in a hammock rocking to the rhythm of the sea.
Fotografías de Paco Salmerón
Texto de Juan Carlos Lorite y Paco Salmerón