Location
Costa Rica
Status
Unofficial / Tolerated
Suitable for
Families and adults
About Playitas Beach
Current status: Playitas is no longer described as a nude beach. Travel sources say nude use has moved to nearby Playa La Macha. Playitas, also called La Playita, sits at the far western end of Playa Espadilla in Manuel Antonio, near Quepos in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province. It was a well-known clothing-optional beach and a gay beach. TravelGay links the change to recent construction, with nudity ending after a hotel was built above the beach. The rocky headland at the west end cuts the beach off at high tide, so timing matters for anyone who wants to walk along it. The NudeBeachMap entry lists the beach as nudity optional and not guaranteed, but that is a user-contributed directory, and other sources call it a textile beach. The sources I found do not name a council, owner or law behind the change, and no date for the change is given. Some visitors still report that it is gay-friendly.
Getting there
The beach is at the western end of Playa Espadilla, and reaching it means passing a rocky headland. Lonely Planet says access is cut off around high tide, so check the tide before setting off. The NudeBeachMap entry notes food and drinks and parking on site, but my sources give no parking charges, bus routes or walking times. Accessibility and paths were not described in the sources I found.
What visitors say
Guides describe a gay-friendly beach at the western end of Playa Espadilla, where access depends on the tide. Several sources say nude use has moved to Playa La Macha since a hotel opened on Playitas. The NudeBeachMap entry lists it as nudity optional, which conflicts with the other sources. Little detail on crowds, facilities or the atmosphere now was found.
Summarised in our own words from public reviews and guides listed under Sources.
Amenities
Legal context
I found no official Costa Rican source on nudity at Playitas, and no legal ruling or sign about it in my sources. The change described by travel guides concerns use of the beach, not any enforcement action.
Naturism at Playitas Beach sits under Costa Rica's rules for de facto tolerance — usually left alone if you keep it non-sexual and low-drama.
Full country law: Costa Rica public nudity guide.
Researched 25 October 2026. No official source confirms naturist status, so treat it as unverified.
Location
View on interactive map
Approx. 9.3971, -84.1645
Visitor tips
- 1 Informal / tolerated site — be discreet and leave no drama.
- 2 Towel, water, sunscreen. Sit on your own towel.
- 3 No photos without clear consent.
- 4 Check access, tides, and parking before you go.
- 5 House rules and local custom can be stricter than the law.
More in Costa Rica
Frequently asked questions
Is Playitas still a nude beach?
Sources say it was clothing optional in the past, and several say nude use has moved to Playa La Macha. The sources conflict on whether any nudity remains.
Can you get to Playitas at high tide?
Lonely Planet says the rocky headland cuts off access around high tide, so check the tide times before you walk there.
Is it family-friendly?
The sources describe it as a gay-friendly beach and do not give a rating for families.
Sources
Important
Beach status changes. Verify current conditions before you go. This is guidance, not legal advice.
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