At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- Dry season, 4x4 on the coast road: about 1½ hours. Otherwise about 3 to 3½ hours via Paquera and Jicaral
- From Liberia airport (LIR)
- About 3 hours
- Swimming
- Not in the sea: strong rip currents. The small lagoon at the south end is calm and chest-deep
- Best for
- Couples and walkers who want solitude; families only for the lagoon, with close supervision
- Facilities
- Almost none. Supermarkets and restaurants in San Francisco de Coyote, about 7 km south. No gas until Sámara
- Getting there
- Coast road via Manzanillo and Coyote, dry season only; a daily bus runs from San Francisco de Coyote. See the Coyote coast
- Surf
- Good at low to mid tide for experienced surfers; closes out on big swells
What is Playa San Miguel like?
A long, straight beach of fine grey sand, backed by a scattering of holiday homes and very little else. On most days you'll share miles of it with a few walkers and the odd surfer. It's about 7 km north of the village of San Francisco de Coyote.
Can you swim at Playa San Miguel?
Not in the ocean: the rip currents are strong, and there are no lifeguards. The exception is a small lagoon at the south end of the beach, where the water is calm and about chest-deep. Children should stay within arm's reach even there.
How do you get there from Santa Teresa?
From January to April, in a high-clearance 4x4, follow the coast road north through Manzanillo, ford the Río Bongo and continue past Coyote: about 1½ hours. The rest of the year the Bongo can't be forded, so you go round via Paquera and Jicaral, about 3 to 3½ hours. Go in daylight and fill up with gas in Cóbano first.
Insider tip: Combine San Miguel with a picnic in the sheltered Punta Coyote cove, a few kilometers south. San Miguel is for the walk and the space; Coyote's cove is for the swim.
What's nearby?
- Playa Coyote, just south, with the calm Punta Coyote cove.
- Punta Islita, farther north, past Playa Bejuco.
Where should you stay?
There's little choice: a holiday-home rental if you're self-sufficient, or Hotel Punta Islita up the coast. Most visitors come on a dry-season day out from Santa Teresa or Sámara; see the Coyote coast guide.
Nearby beaches
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Playa San Miguel?
Not in the sea: the rip currents are strong. The small lagoon at the south end of the beach is calm and chest-deep, and that's the place for a dip.
How do you get to Playa San Miguel from Santa Teresa?
In the dry season, by 4x4 on the coast road through Manzanillo and across the Río Bongo, about 1½ hours. The rest of the year, via Paquera and Jicaral, about 3 to 3½ hours.
Are there hotels at Playa San Miguel?
Hardly any: mostly holiday homes. The nearest resort is Hotel Punta Islita, farther north. Most people visit from Santa Teresa or Sámara.
Is Playa San Miguel good for surfing?
For experienced surfers, at low to mid tide. It closes out when a big swell is running, and it isn't a place for lessons.