Stay Between Manuel Antonio & Uvita
Playa Matapalo sits on the coastal road between Quepos and Dominical, with Manuel Antonio to the north and Uvita to the south. If you want to stay between Manuel Antonio and Uvita, rather than in either one, this is the stretch of coast with no town around you, where the beach is steps away and the jungle comes right down to the sand.
BaliBala is four private stays in shared gardens here, steps from the beach. It is not in a town, and that is the point: the national parks are the day trip, and the quiet is the reason you come home.
Where you are on the coastal road
BaliBala is at Playa Matapalo in the district of Savegre, Puntarenas, on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast. There is more than one Matapalo in the country, so it is worth checking the map before you set your navigation: ours is the one on the coastal road between Quepos and Dominical.
The road past Playa Matapalo has one lane in each direction. Quepos and Manuel Antonio lie north; Dominical and Uvita lie south. A car is recommended, because public transport is not available and the national parks are worth the drive. BaliBala also makes a natural stop when you are travelling between San José and the south of the country.
Between Manuel Antonio and Uvita, by road
Manuel Antonio is about a 50-minute drive north along the coastal road, which makes it a comfortable morning trip. It is Costa Rica's most visited national park: sloths, capuchins, and toucans on compact rainforest trails that end in postcard beaches. Go early, take water, and book a guide at the entrance if you want the wildlife pointed out.
Dominical is a short drive south, the area's surf hub, a laid-back town of board racks, sodas, and cafés with a well-known beach break. Good for a morning surf lesson, an afternoon of browsing, and grocery runs. Nauyaca Waterfalls sit inland from Dominical, in the hills.
Uvita and Bahía Ballena are a drive south along the coastal road, the gateway to Marino Ballena National Park and its famous sandbar, the Whale's Tail, walkable at low tide. In season, whale-watching tours run from here. Corcovado makes a long, rewarding full day trip: roughly 1.5 hours south to Sierpe, where the boats leave down the mangrove river. Go with a licensed guide and book ahead; park entry is regulated.
A quiet base, not a town
Seen from the air, the layout makes sense: three luxury safari tents in their own clearings, the No-Footprint House behind its own gate, gardens between them, and the Pacific a short walk through the trees. Everything is private, and nothing is far from anything. The waves are audible from the house, and tent guests write that they can hear them too.
The tents were shipped from South Africa and built from four layers of canvas. Each has two lockable bedrooms, a king bed, open-air hot-water showers under the canopy, and a fully equipped kitchen; two have a deep plunge pool built into the deck and one, the Hideaway, has no pool and the deepest quiet. The house is teak-built, part of the No Footprint House series by A-01, with a private pool inside a fully fenced garden.
Monkeys cross the property daily and macaws are frequently seen from the decks. Sloths make slower appearances. None of it is scheduled, and none of it is guaranteed. Two restaurants and a small supermarket are within walking distance for groceries and a cold drink after the beach.
Playa Matapalo itself
An endless, largely empty stretch of Pacific sand with plenty of natural shade: guests regularly report having it almost to themselves. The hosts provide beach towels and chairs, so walking out empty-handed is part of the point. The sunsets are ones the hosts call Costa Rica's best, and guests tend to agree.
The surf here is open Pacific, strong at times. It is a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling rather than confident swimming, and conditions change day to day. Some spots around Uvita and Bahía Ballena can be more sheltered, depending on tide, season, and daily conditions; the hosts can point you to current options.
As Franziska wrote in February 2024: "Tent super close to the beach, you can hear the waves."
Travelling with children
BaliBala sits in open jungle, and wildlife moves through the property. None of the accommodations are fully childproof environments, so adults need to supervise children. Sound travels easily in open-air buildings, and all guests, families included, are asked to help keep the place peaceful.
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two pool tents: the pool is deep and unfenced. Families with younger children should look to the No-Footprint House, whose private pool sits within a fully fenced garden, or the Safari Tent Hideaway, which has no pool. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
Playa Matapalo, Savegre, Puntarenas, on the coastal road between Quepos and Dominical
About a 50-minute drive to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Dominical and Uvita lie south along the coastal road; Quepos and Manuel Antonio north
Roughly 1.5 hours to Sierpe, where the Corcovado boats leave from
A car is recommended: public transport is not available
Four private stays: one house sleeping 4 and three safari tents sleeping 5 each
Children under 10 are not permitted in the two pool tents
Personal welcome by Linda or Flory, our local host
All four stays share the same base between the parks; the house sleeps 4 with a fenced garden, the pool tent sleeps 5 for guests aged 10 and over, and the Hideaway is the quiet no-pool option.
No-Footprint House
4.78 · 18 reviews · Guest FavouriteA teak-built home from the internationally awarded No Footprint House series, open-air sustainable architecture with a private pool, steps from Playa Matapalo.
4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Entire villa
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Safari Tent with Pool 1
5.0 · 11 reviews · Guest FavouriteLuxury glamping at its best: a two-bedroom safari tent with a deep plunge pool built into the deck, two open-air hot-water showers, and a garden that ends where the beach begins.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
Children under 10 are not permitted in this unit: the pool is deep and unfenced.
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Safari Tent Hideaway
New listingThe quiet one: the same two-bedroom luxury glamping comfort, without a pool, a garden hideaway for guests who want nature at full volume.
5 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 baths · Safari tent
See this stayIs BaliBala closer to Manuel Antonio or to Uvita?
It sits between them on the coastal road. Manuel Antonio is about a 50-minute drive north, and Dominical and Uvita are a drive south, so both are within day-trip reach and neither is on your doorstep.
Do we need a car?
Yes, a car is recommended. Public transport is not available, and the national parks are worth the drive. The hosts can also help arrange airport pickups and day-trip transfers through local providers.
Can we swim at Playa Matapalo?
The surf is open Pacific and can be strong, so it is a beach for walking, playing on the sand, and supervised paddling rather than confident swimming. Conditions change day to day; ask the hosts about more sheltered spots around Uvita and Bahía Ballena that week.
Which stay suits a family with children under 10?
The No-Footprint House, with its private pool inside a fully fenced garden, or the Safari Tent Hideaway, which has no pool. The two pool tents do not accept children under 10 because their plunge pools are deep and unfenced. Always confirm current house rules on Airbnb before booking.
Can we visit Corcovado from here?
Yes, as a full day trip. Drive roughly an hour and a half south to Sierpe, where the boats for Corcovado leave and run down the mangrove river to the peninsula. Go with a licensed guide and book ahead.
How do we book?
Reservations run through Airbnb, and each stay page links straight to its listing. For questions about dates, which stay fits, or booking more than one tent, message the hosts.
Where to stay
The coast is the day trip. BaliBala is the reason you stay.
Compare the four stays and go straight to the Airbnb listings, or message the hosts with your dates and who is coming, and they will reply with honest advice on which stay fits best.