The first thing you will notice is that the beach is mostly pebbles and coral. So, wear flip-flops or water shoes for this beach. Soldado is one of our favorites for sunset, but not many people make the drive out to this beach (golf cart rental shops don’t allow it) because it’s rocky and steep- better if you’ve rented a Jeep or Bronco. This beach also has very little waves and is a good spot for snorkeling once you go out a bit from the shore, but beware the jellies depending on the time of year.

Melones shares a parking area with Playa Sardinas, and the two beaches are separated only by a narrow peninsula.

The Melones side is an excellent beach for snorkeling. The beach is a little rocky and there are a few sea urchins here and there, so beach shoes are a plus. On the north side of Melones, you will see a lot of corals and seafans, and Melones is also home to many turtles because of the amount of sea grass that grows here.

Pro Tip: try a night swim to see some bioluminscence!

With trees providing shade all day, Dátiles is perfect for a picnic with the kids. 100 feet out into the water, and you’ll still have water only to your ankles. As is with any beach, make sure you take your trash with you!