El Arrecife | Established Campground

August 15th, 2023 by katja.roe

Stayed at the parkinglot from the restaurant. Price C5000.— per van, no matter how many persons are inside. The parking is directly at the beach and not crowded at all. Price included: Electricity directly at the parking, wifi from restaurant, shower and toilets, use from the lounge chairs at the beach. Stayed almost a week there, my favourite beach at the carribean, cristal clear water and perfect for swimming. Pet friendly.

December 28th, 2022 by lilya

It is just a parking lot and pretty busy. Toilets and showers are ok. We payed 5000 per person and then he wanted 3000 for the car (pickup camper), what is pretty expensive for what you get, but we stayed anyway because it was already dark. Strange guy ran off to get the change but never came back. As I asked him where my change is, he said he already gave me and only after a lot of arguing he gave me my money back.
The gates stayed open throughout the night and there was no gard, neighbors played loud music and a lot of traffic in the night. Was not a pleasant experience...

September 5th, 2022 by mathi

Not sure if I can recommend this spot. You are kind of fare away from the beach and it is expensive for what you get. We paid 20.000 for 4 people in an offroad van. The worst was a hippy ceremony at the beach which was on all night long with drums and people vomiting. Would have been nice if the owner warned us before we agreed camping. Check out playa grande. Much better places to stay!

August 8th, 2022 by jetzevanzwol

Stayed two nights, nice spot good vibe at this beachy campsite. Sanitary is good but basic, bar/restaurant is a real addition for this location to enjoy the Caribbean life.

May 20th, 2022 by Struuners

Stayed here for 3 nights (15 USD per night for 2 persons). Quiet at night, during the morning and day some people around. In the weekend it's busy but even then after 7 not many people around. We prefered this place instead of the crowded Puerto Viejo.

March 5th, 2022 by follow_nadle

We stayed here for two nights and paid 15 USD for two persons one night. A littlebit expensive. The beach is just awesome! The toilet get cleaned every morning. The shower wasn't clean so we didn't used it. The staff mostly unfriendly. We were there on a sunday and the ticos took over the place. If you like it calm to not go on weekends. If you like to enjoy a wild camp spot a local swiss guy recommend playa grande. It's safer and quiet.

August 23rd, 2021 by cswendel

After passing the border from Panama we ended up here late evening and stayed for three nights. Although there is not much to add, we enjoyed the place. The Atlantic is great

May 18th, 2020 by eric_on_the_road

Stayed a long time here during quarantine, as the road where I was got closed by police, once beaches were closed.
This place is the best location you can get, but that’s all really. People are cool an super relaxed... so don’t expect to see clean facilities. Net up and down but ok for the region.
I negotiated 3k col as I stayed over a month.
Would I be here if it wasn’t the quarantine? Nope... I’d be free camping towards the end of the road, since where we used to camp, right next to here is no longer available.
Lots of ants. Height restrictions. Again... disgusting facilities. Nice people though...
Shower water from house next door (Diego’s) has potable water. Ask if you can fill your drinkable tank. That is from the city and good. All water inside Arrecife property is not suitable for drinking.

March 2nd, 2020 by nielsfremouw

Could be better. Toilet and shower needs cleaning, space for parking ur car is limited. Restaurant is oké.

October 21st, 2019 by Fuchur

Very nice beach. Very nice sea for swimming and snorkeling. Toilets and showers are very simple and dirty. For this price a cheek. The workers are very unfriendly and not very helpful. On weekends there is a lot going on. During the week it was very nice climate. Good alternative to the Pacific coast when it rains there. We were here for 7 nights and paid 4000 pP. There is a bus every 2 hours to the next town.

September 27th, 2019 by southboundseahags

Beautiful beach. Raw sewage leaking out from shower/ toilet block and from bar/restaurant restroom. No water supply. Restrooms and showers disgusting. Charger 10,000 colones per night with electric. WiFi slow and intermittent. Major, major flea infestation

June 10th, 2019 by lorene19

The camping is OK, but definitely not my favorite. One of the owners was very not friendly.
Notice that the WiFi was not working at all and the shower was a bit dirty, but the bigger problem was that we couldn't close them (hopefully, I was with my friend). Otherwise, it is on the beach and the view is good.
We paid 4000c/person

April 3rd, 2019 by lotte

Nice athmosphere, right next to a beautiful beach. Good facilities like a place to wash you dishes and a shower and toilet nearby are missing. There are a basic toilet and showers you can use though

March 31st, 2019 by Einmalrundum

Great beach camping with lots of shade under trees (be aware of falling coconuts!).
They charge C 5000 pp which was too much for us but we were able to get a deal for several nights for C 5000 per night (truck camper with 2 people).
Price includes water, electricity, toilets, shower and wifi

September 14th, 2018 by vismaplanete.com

4000C par personne et par nuit. Électricité, eau, douche, toilette, wifi et 1 lessive offerte. Garé à l’ombre sous les arbres à quelques mètres de la mer. Calme la nuit, pas de musique qui dérange. Le wifi fonctionne mieux côté restaurant. Les chiens sont les bienvenus. Équipe très sympa.
Endroit pratique pour se brancher en électricité ou profiter du wifi et la douche mais préférez les super spots gratuits de camping sauvage tout le long de al côte 👍

August 10th, 2018 by instagram.com/elantitour

New price is 5000 colones or 10usd per person/night so same price as a dorm in a hostel anywhere in CR.
Not worthy in our opinion - whole place is very run down, big flooded potholes in parking area so not level, loud music at the bar, dirty toilets and wifi doesn’t reach the parking lot.
Did not stay.

June 28th, 2018 by vanablog.com

Stayed 9 nights. We really enjoyed this place and the staff. We watched the World Cup daily. Restaurant is expensive but typical prices for a tourist area.
Tienda walking distance away. Someone helped us get our laundry done.
Lots of vendors selling food on the beach but are not aggressive, if you say no they are friendly and walk away. We loved Paulo’s burritos.
We also ate pizza from NY pizza often, right next door to the restaurant.
Careful pulling in and out. We got stuck in sand on the way in and out and we have 4 x 4 but had to use our wench!
You can plug into electricity. It is hard to reach and looks sketchy but it worked.
Lots of bugs.

June 10th, 2018 by christianvanmeel

arrived at the site and was welcomed in a very friendly manner. They gave me a spot right at the beach underneath a palm tree. Very nice and quiet place with friendly staff. Payed $40 for the night including 3 meals.
When you are there also pay a visit to the Ara Project, it's about 5 minutes down the road and an amazing experience to see the great green macaw.

April 7th, 2018 by marine.collard05

the beach and the snorkeling pas amazing. i stay luth my hammock in à place with a roof and it wasn't a problem to let my big bag inside the restaurant. The toilet was not very good but it work. i paid 3000 colones per night. WiFi ont fait and cut a lot

March 4th, 2018 by espritsoutdoor.com

Really nice place to stay with a beautiful beach and clear water.
The wifi works pretty well even in the camper we could use it. There is a little shower and toilets. The owner is nice. We paid 5$pp for 1 night.

November 14th, 2017 by cosmosian.co.kr

we paid 3000CRC pp include electricity. super quiet and beautiful. There are very nice snokle point 5 min away by walk. Can see lot of fishes and corals.

1인당 3천콜론, 한국돈 6천원 입니다. 전기를 쓰려면 연장선 필요 합니다. 5분정도 걸어가면 스노클 하기좋은곳도 있습니다. 주인장 (에두아르도)친절합니다

July 28th, 2017 by travelingtogether814

We were here on a Friday and Saturday, so maybe not a fair representation of the place. The guy running it is really nice. There are cabins to rent and a large group rented one for the weekend. It was someone's birthday and when they arrived at 4am they began to party hard. Loud music and screaming. Second night was shockingly worse! More people, louder music and it started earlier and went tell just a couple hours before we woke up, not that we ever fully fell asleep. Apparently there are no quiet hours. We chose to leave the next day. When we talked with the manager he was kind, understood, and did not charge us for the second night. We paid $15 for our first night and that is the per car fee. We were able to plug into electricity with extention cords. WiFi was decent in the restaurant. Toilets are in the bar and open all night. Shower is an outside shower. There is a sink to wash dishes. Parking is on sand and flat enough. Dog friendly. Ocean view. Food is just ok, and pricy even for Costa Rican standards. Bring Colones as the exchange rate is a rip off.

July 14th, 2017 by johnandmandi

We paid $15 or 7,500C per night and were not able to negotiate lower even though we stayed over two weeks. There are two flush toilets and a changing room, an outside surf shower, and an outside dishwashing sink. Parking area is beach front and we had multiple sloths visit the property during our stay. Snorkeling is within walking distance. Frequented by locals on the weekends but usually very quiet by 9. Restaurant is ok, prices range from 3,000C-5,000C per plate. Mosquitoes and sand flies weren't horrible during our stay but were unpleasant around dawn and dusk, probably worse during different times of the year.

May 20th, 2017 by syncrox.de

It's closed now! Not possible to camp any more, and we couldn't find out if they will re-open for the next high saison.

April 30th, 2017 by ducknotes.org

The bar staff and owner lady was 'eh' and the food was pricey. But the best beach we have been to! So nice to swim in! Stayed two days. $10 a day without power. Clean bathrooms and outside shower. Busy on weekends but not overwhelming. Unfortunately we didn't see sloths during our visit. :(

April 28th, 2017 by Waz & Iwona's Excellent Adventure

Beautiful! Camped right on the beautiful beach and didn't want to leave. Coconut trees, good snorkeling just there, warm water to swim in, shade. Perfect! The price is 2,000 per person, they charge more for large RVs and 2,500 if you want electricity.

February 4th, 2017 by Calderescapes

Price still $10 for two with power. Juan showed us two outdoor showers and there's an inside one with the banos behind the bar but it was flooded. Bano had seat and TP. good movistar reception. We saw a sloth right away! Wi-Fi very fast at night when bar closed. Beautiful beach; you can walk a long way in it. Sadly it kept raining so we left on third day.

December 18th, 2016 by 42Strong

Nice camping spot right on the beach. Cold, but not private shower, toilets with running water and electricity via an extension cord to the main building. Fast wifi, but only in the restaurant area. Juan, the owner, is a nice guy. Charged us US$10/5k colones for the two of us. Then we broke his table. :( He wasn't thrilled, but everything was taken care of and he was pretty cool about the whole thing.

Couldn't ask for a nicer location.

December 1st, 2016 by larouteducafelenoirlacroix

Wonderful! That place is just Wowww . 5k colónes/dia for two and very nice persons here. Bathroom is ok. Outside cold shower. Very very Nice place .

October 4th, 2016 by Instagram.com

we stayed here for 4 nights and left our vehicle here whilst we went out to Bocas del toro for a week. the camping area is next to the restaurant in front of a lovely Sandy/palm tree area. we paid 5k colones with four of us in the van. toilets are available and kept clean and open all night. no indoor shower only an outdoor shower which worked fine. we plugged into electricity with no problems and used the WiFi next to the restaurant. we had a sloth above us in the trees and there are a few sloths in the trees if you walk down the beach towards the cliff. we used the WiFi in the restaurant, the restaurant is closed in the evenings so perfect to sit and use the WiFi. he charged us 2k colones a night to leave the van when we went to Bocas. all in all a lovely spot, stunning beach,friendly staff!

September 2nd, 2016 by findingdestinationsblog.wordpress.com

The place was easy to find and has a big flat sandy area, but watch out for coconut trees and falling coconuts. You park essentially in the front of the beach. All people were very nice and friendly. We could wash our clothes and the payment was per tip. We could use the rather clean toilets of the restaurant and the outdoor shower (no walls). It was also possible to plug in the car, but the Wi-Fi does not really reach the campingspace. We payed 5000crc per night for two people in a car.

June 18th, 2016 by nicknameinternational.com

nice little shaded sand lot beside a restaurant with electric hook up. he charged us $15 including electric. awesome beach. great place for hammocks. the restaurant looked nice enough but we didn't eat there. there were a lot of backpackers using the facilities so they weren't the cleanest. but the camping area was chill and is a nice spot. we could not get the wifi in the camping area but could get it in the restaurant. big rigs over 3meters will need to lift the cables and at 3.5M tall we were about the max that could clear the lines.

June 6th, 2016 by BK EXPLORE

Beautiful beach!! Great place to stay and hang out. We stayed for 2 nights, and paid 5,000 colones per night . We were able to plug in and use the washer machine which was great. No dryer but plenty of sun. Did not eat at the resTaurant. The wifi code is [Password removed by moderator.]. The owner looks a little bit like Richard Gere but not much lol his name is Iñaki and he is from Spain. Staff were helpful.

May 11th, 2016 by instagram.com/thismustbethepace

Super nice place with very friendly owner and staff. After Reading about Punta Uva robberies we decided to play it safe. The location is really just as beautiful right on the beach with outside shower and decent toilets. We biked to Puerto Viejo And Manzanillo, both recommended for daytrips. We didn't eat at the restaurant but it looks decent. We didn't use it in the end but owner (who looks like Richard Gere) was willing to let us plug in. WiFi in the restaurant and watch out for branches and cables at the gate if you're above approx 3m. We are higher but it was easy to move the cables

May 11th, 2016 by vremsbottom

nice staff. camped for 1 night. toilets are fine. no sand flies but lots of ants where i put my tent. paid $5 usd. dogs allowed. note: there are many pit bulls in this town. 2 are resident pits here. older male is chill but new puppy is fiesty.

March 28th, 2016 by nowak.joel

3000 p.P. Nice Beach, big Waves. Quiet ar night. toilets & shower. Stayed one night

October 1st, 2015 by facebook

A few locals told us not to camp at the end of the point by ourselves but to stay around Arrecife. Asked owner (?) Julio if we could camp he said they don't really allow camping (even though the sign at the end of the road offers camping). He either has owned this place for 2 weeks or has only been working there 2 weeks but told us if we wanted to free camp the parking spaces to the right of the restaurant were free otherwise we could camp in their private lot on the other side and pay whatever we thought was fair. Another rig and a few cars were taking up the free spots so we went on the other side and paid $10 for both of us and ordered a beer and some ceviche. Shower outside in front of a house and toilets run down but usable. We stayed one night. Beautiful beach and quiet at night.

March 12th, 2015 by thelongwayhome.us

Beautiful beach. An ok place to stay directly on the beach facilities are not usable. Restaurant on site. Snorkeling available and rooms to rent. An hour from the panama border. $15 a night. Alex speaks english watch out for sand flies( biting)

February 5th, 2015 by roveda.ch

Nice Place on the Beach. After a Storm it was not possible for our class C Motorhome to park there.

May 1st, 2011 by unurban.no

A fantastic beach camp right on the Caribbean Ocean. Good swimming and snorkeling, and there were several restaurants near by. The toilets were a little run down, but okay. We planned to stay one night, ended up staying three, but if we hadn't had a shipping appointment we would have stayed longer...

Price: 5000 colones