For a tranquil day, overnight, or weeklong beach camping adventure, consider hidden Playa las Brisas, a few miles by the dirt road (turnoff sign near Km 36) through the village of Arroyo Seco.

About two miles long, Playa las Brisas has two distinct sections: first comes a very broad, white sandy strand decorated by pink-blossomed verbena and pounded by wild open-ocean waves. For shady tent camping or RV parking, a regal coconut grove lines the beach. Before you set up, however, you should offer a little rent to the owner/caretaker, who may soon show up on a horse. Don’t be alarmed by his machete; it’s for husking and cutting fallen coconuts.

To see the other half of Playa las Brisas, continue along the road past the little beachside vacation home subdivision (with a seasonal store and snack bar). You will soon reach an open-ocean beach and headland, backed by a big, level, grassy dune, perfect for tent or RV camping. Take care not to get stuck in soft spots, however.

The headland borders the El Tecuán lagoon, part of the Rancho El Tecuán, whose hilltop hotel you can see on the far side of the lagoon. The lagoon is an unusually rich fish and wildlife habitat.