Playa Esmeralda

Playa Esmeralda runs along the coast east of Miches, a stretch of pale sand backed by coconut palms with a reef offshore that holds the swell off and leaves a shallow lagoon of clear green water inside it. Until recently it had almost nothing on it, and resort development has begun to arrive on this coast. Fishing boats work from the shore and small beach restaurants operate at the access points. The bay sits at the foot of hills that run steeply down to the coast, which keeps the road above the beach and the shore itself largely free of building.

What you actually see

• The reef lagoon - shallow clear water held inside the offshore reef.
• The palm backing - the coconut stands running behind the sand.
• The fishing boats - the working craft pulled up along the shore.
• The quiet - a coast only now beginning to see resort development.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the calmest. Hurricane season runs June to November. Weekends bring local visitors.

Honest expectations

Development on this coast is moving fast and access arrangements change. The track down is rough in places. Facilities are small restaurants and nothing more.

Nearby

Miches is west, and Macao Beach is southeast.