Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica and is one of the best places for first timers for many good reasons. First, it’s insanely beautiful. Pair that with incredible wildlife watching, stunning sunsets and lush jungle and you can easily see why visitors fall in love with the area.
So if you’re planning on visiting Manuel Antonio and wondering “What is there to do in Manuel Antonio besides beach?” don’t worry! Manuel Antonio has plenty of fun things to do to keep your days busy. Whether you’re staying 2, 3 4 days, or even a whole week, you won’t be bored. Here are our top things to do in Manuel Antonio and you can also check our day trip recommendations, Manuel Antonio hotel recommendations and travel tips.
Don’t forget, if you need help booking any tours in Manuel Antonio, you can also get our Manuel Antonio tours discount! We have discounts for most tours on this post such as a guided national park walk, white water rafting, Damas Island mangrove kayak/boat and more!
This post was updated May 24, 2020.
Map of Activities
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Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
This is definitely a must for things to do in Manuel Antonio. Forbes once called Manuel Antonio National Park one of the most beautiful in the world! The national park has well maintained hiking trails with the perfect combination of jungle and beach and is absolutely teeming with wildlife. In 2019, they opened a brand new universal trail so it’s handicap friendly too!
The national park is open Wednesday – Monday and the entrance fee is $16 USD plus tax per adult foreigner. There are buses that run from Quepos to the national park entrance all day long and they make stops on the hill. If your hotel is on the hill and you don’t have a car, take this bus which costs 340 colones. You can get off at the last stop and walk to the park entrance.
You can easily hike the national park in one day. There are several trails that lead to beaches and viewpoints and along the way, you can run into monkeys, frogs, snakes, deer and more. We wrote a guide to hiking Manuel Antonio National Park you can read here.
Should You Do a Guided Walk?
Since a lot of wildlife live in the park, you can hire a guide if you’d like to learn more about the flora and fauna in the area. Most guides have a telescope so you can see the animals up close and use your phone to take a photo. The first sloth I ever saw was thanks to a guide in Manuel Antonio National Park!
If you really want to see a sloth in Costa Rica, this is one of the best places to see them and having a guide with trained eyes will almost guarantee you a sloth sighting.
We highly recommend hiring a guide or booking a tour if you want to learn more about the flora and fauna and see more animals. Great experience for kids!
Go on a Night Walk at the Si Como No Private Wildlife Refuge
If you want to see more wildlife, go on a night walk at the Si Como No Hotel private wildlife refuge. This is an excellent option for wildlife photographers who want to get macro shots of frogs, insects, snakes and more. It’s one of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio at night!
During the 2 hour walk, your guide will point out the different creatures that come out when the sun goes down and it’s a great opportunity to learn more about them. The jungle changes completely when night comes around! This is also a nice tour for kids who want to see more wildlife since the national park closes at 4 PM.
It costs $39 for adults and $29 for kids under 12. You can book the night tour at the Si Como No Hotel online or when you get there. The luxury hotel is on the hill between Quepos to Manuel Antonio.
Parasailing
On Playa Espadilla Norte, the beach outside the national park, you can go parasailing. You get a spectacular view of the national park from the air, a view that you can’t get any other way!
A lot of things to do in Manuel Antonio aren’t cheap but it’s worth splurging! You can take a 15 or 30 (luxury) minute ride. It costs $85 USD for a single for 15 minutes, $140 USD for a double and $185 USD for a triple. I did a 15 minute ride with my parents which was one of the BEST things we’ve ever done together. It was so much fun and I’m really happy I got to experience it with them!
You can book it right on the beach or contact the parasailing company Aguas Azules. They offer transportation to and from hotels in Manuel Antonio.
Visit Kids Saving the Rainforest Sanctuary
This sanctuary works hard to rescue and rehabilitate injured animals in the Manuel Antonio area and it was indeed founded by kids, in fact two 9 year old girls in 1999. Kids Saving the Rainforest helps the local communities to educate, promote and raise awareness about the environment. Visitors can take a tour of the sanctuary to learn about how they heal and rehabilitate various wild animals such as monkeys and sloths.
A tour costs $60 USD for adults and $45 USD for children under 12. The sanctuary is about 4 miles outside of Quepos on the Blue Bayann Inn property and a 4×4 is required. I did the tour with my parents and it was very educational. For a more hands on experience, they have a “volunteer for a day” where guests can learn how to prepare food, feed and care for the animals.
Another option is if you’re staying at the Tulemar Vacation Rentals and Resort, you can go on a sloth walk with the Sloth Institute to see more wildlife and learn about the work they do.
Catamaran Cruise
Experience the ocean by taking a sunset cruise or a snorkeling tour. The visibility in this area is not the best for snorkeling but it’s a super fun way to enjoy the gorgeous coastal views and possibly see some wildlife like dolphins. There are a couple of catamaran companies in Manuel Antonio, each catering to different travelers.
If you want to party on a booze cruise, go on the Ocean King. They have a huge boat that fits up to 250 people, has two floors with jaccuzzis, slides, bathrooms, showers and trampolines. For a quieter cruise, check out other companies like Planet Dolphin.
If you visit during the peak Costa Rica humpback whale season (August and September), there is a possibility to see humpback whale moms and babies!
Zipline/Rappel/ATV
For an adventure near Manuel Antonio, there is an adventure park called MidWorld that offers ziplining, ATV tours, rappel and more. If you want to add a bit of excitement to your vacation, this is one of the most fun things to do in Manuel Antonio. You can also check out El Santuario that is right in town.
Fishing
Near Manuel Antonio is the Quepos marina, home to many gorgeous million dollar yachts and luxury fishing boats. Quepos is one of the best places in Costa Rica go in shore and off shore fishing so if you love to fish, then you have to book a fishing charter for the day.
The marina is only a 10 minute drive from Manuel Antonio and you can check companies like Reel In Luxury Fishing, Quepos Fishing Charters or Jackpot Fishing.
Visit Playa Biesanz
Playa Biesanz is a fun beach to visit for the day. It’s close to the national park but with a little bit of a tricky entrance. You have to walk a ways to this beach and it’s very rocky so wear water shoes or closed toed sandals. Make sure to check the tide because it comes in really high so it’s best to go before high tide. If you don’t want to climb up the rocks back to the path, you can walk to the Shana Hotel.
The entrance to this beach is on the hill, all the locals know this beach so you can ask them for the directions. There are vendors selling drinks, offering chairs and umbrellas and renting snorkel equipment. Playa Biesanz is ideal for kids because it’s in a bay so the waves are very calm.
We visited Playa Biesanz on an ocean kayak trip. Although we tried to go snorkeling, visibility was very bad so we just hung out at the beach instead.
Damas Island Mangrove Kayak
The Damas Island mangrove is an excellent place to enjoy a leisurely day wildlife watching. You can kayak which is the best way to see wildlife as you are not disturbing them with a motor or take a boat ride if you don’t feel like exercising. Your guide will point out different wildlife like anteaters, snakes, birds and more.
We saw a crocodile, mangrove boa snake, woodpeckers, iguanas, monkeys, kingfishers and herons during our kayak and boat ride in Damas Mangrove.
Even though you can see plenty of wildlife in the national park, the mangrove is home to different animals. We highly recommend the kayak. It’s so peaceful and I love the feeling of gliding silently over the water to get up close to the wildlife, surrounded by only the sounds of the jungle.
Get our Manuel Antonio tour discount here for the Damas Island mangrove!
Watch the Sunset
You can’t miss watching the sunset! This is one of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio to wind down the day. Since all the high end hotels in Manuel Antonio offer a splendid view of the park and the beach, you’ll have a wonderful view of the sunset. The first time we visited Manuel Antonio, we stayed at Hotel La Mariposa which has an amazing infinity pool.
If your hotel doesn’t have a view, watch the sunset from the beach, Playa Espadilla Norte. It is equally as lovely!
Many restaurants on the hill also have a beautiful view and offer happy hour from 4-6 PM. Cafe Agua Azul, Rafaeles Las Terrazas, Emilio’s Cafe, Barba Roja and El Avion all have amazing ocean views and are great places to enjoy a drink and watch the sunset.
White Water Rafting
Looking for a fun outdoor adventure? Go white water rafting! From Manuel Antonio, you can raft El Chorro, Naranjo or Savegre. El Chorro is best March and April and is for extreme and experienced rafters, Naranjo is June to November and Savegre is all year round. Savegre is best for first timers or families.
Manuel Antonio Day Trips
If you plan to use Manuel Antonio as a homebase, there are many day trips you can take from there thanks to its excellent location. Here are some of our favorites.
- Nauyaca Waterfalls: These waterfalls are deep in the jungles outside Dominical. Hike, take a 4×4 truck ride or horseback ride to these gorgeous waterfalls. About a 50 minute drive one way. You can also take a tour with transportation with Paddle 9.
- Tortuga Island day cruise: Cruise through the Gulf of Nicoya to Tortuga Island’s beautiful white sand beach. Snorkel, jet ski, hike, banana boat or just lay out in the sun. From Manuel Antonio, tour companies usually require a minimum of 4 passengers. You can also drive to Jaco (1 hour) or Puntarenas (2 hours and 20 minutes) to meet the boat.
- Rainmaker: Nature park 30 minutes outside Manuel Antonio, great for hiking and wildlife.
- Los Campesinos Ecolodge Waterfall: This lovely lodge in the rainforests outside of Manuel Antonio has waterfalls, natural pools and hiking trails on their property. Great for a less touristic activity for those who love nature and hiking.
- Caño Island snorkeling: For great snorkeling, drive 1 hour to Uvita to do the Caño Island snorkeling tour. The Manuel Antonio area doesn’t have great snorkeling but Caño Island Biological Reserve does!
- Jaco: If you didn’t stop by Jaco on your way to Manuel Antonio, you can spend a day there to watch the surf competitions at Playa Hermosa or take a surf lesson (better in Jaco). Or just to see another beach town.
- Marino Ballena National Park: This national park in Uvita is completely different to Manuel Antonio National Park with dark sand beaches, way less people and awesome humpback whale watching!
Manuel Antonio Hotels
If you want to splurge on a luxury hotel, Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to do it, especially if you are on your honeymoon in Costa Rica! Otherwise, there are hotels of all price points.
High end luxury hotels ($250 and up)
- Tulemar (great for families, big groups and couples)
- Arenas del Mar (great for couples)
- Makanda by the Sea (they also have an adult only section)
- Si Como No (great for kids)
- Parador (Great for couples)
- Hotel La Mariposa (Gay friendly, great infinity pool and view of the national park)
- Gaia (very gay friendly)
- The Falls Resort (luxury apartments)
Mid Range ~$100, 150
- Costa Verde Hotel (cabinas with full kitchen and ocean views)
- Hotel Vela Bar (adults only and right at the entrance of the national park)
- Hotel San Bada (also at the entrance of the park)
Budget (hostels)
Manuel Antonio Travel Tips
- Manuel Antonio is 3 hours from San Jose. From San Jose, you can fly to the local Quepos airport or take the bus to Quepos (6, 9, 12, 2:30 PM, 6 PM and 7:30 PM from Calle 5, AV 19/20 Terminal Transportes Tracopa) and then take the bus from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. Or you can rent a car from San Jose and drive. The route goes through two main highways and are all paved.
- This area is very hot and a bit humid so bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat and mosquito repellent.
- The busiest times in Manuel Antonio are mid December – April and July/August. Quietest times are September – November.
- In rainy season, it is usually sunny in the morning and rains in the late afternoons. Go as early as possible for best weather.
- Quepos is the closest town to Manuel Antonio and there is a bus from Quepos to the national park that runs all day and costs 340 colones.
- It is best to book tours before your trip in high season (December – April).
Read about other things to do in Costa Rica below!
Awesome things to do in Puerto Viejo
Best things to do in La Fortuna
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LD says
Your website has been SUCH an amazing resource.. thank you!! Right now, we’re planning on flying into San Jose, spend the night (late flight) then drive to La Fortuna the next day. We’d like to stay there a couple of days and then drive from La Fortuna to the national park. I can’t seem to find how that road is. Would we be ok driving that as first timers? We’ll stay there a few days before heading back to the airport. We only have a week and thought those two locations could give us the volcano, the beach and rainforest. Thanks again for all your information!
Sammi says
Hello! The road between LA Fortuna and Manuel Antonio is fine, actually I have an itinerary for exactly your plan, you can read more details about it here: Costa Rica 1 week family itinerary (it says family itinerary but it works for anyone)
LD says
Oh my!! I don’t know how I missed that! That’s awesome. Thank you!!
Sammi says
You’re welcome 🙂
Tracy Redman says
Hi there! Manuel Antonio website states they are closed on Tuesdays. Can you confirm? Thank you
Sammi says
Hi, yes that is correct. They changed their closing day recently so it’s open Wed – Mon.
Angela says
Thank you for all the great information! I was wondering where along the pacific coast would you say is the best snorkelling? We are planning to go to La fortuna, then Monteverde then to somewhere on the coast. We are planning on not renting a car hopefully.
Sammi says
Gulf of Papagayo and Cano Island snorkeling (from Uvita)
Baylee Lawson says
Hello! I was wondering if you know if we are allowed to ENO hammock on the beaches in the palms? They dont damage the trees at all, have you ever seen anything doing this?
Sammi says
Hammocks are really common at the beach in Costa Rica, we have our own ENO hammocks that we bring sometimes.
Sammi says
They have an animal sanctuary where guests can see the animals they have in permanent care there, usually they have sloths but it is whatever they have at the sanctuary at the time since their goal is to release the animals that can be rehabilitated. You can message them beforehand to see.
Amy says
Hi
Really useful info, thanks! I’m visiting in February – really keen on seeing sloths and have already booked the Manuel Antonio park guided tour, plus Bogarin trail in La Fortuna. I am considering booking the Kids saving the rainforest tour but wondering if I will actually be able to see sloths up close there or not?
Sammi says
Hi Monique, you can read our post about Paquera, Costa Rica here.
Monique says
Your blog is very informative. A group of friends and I are travel to Costa rica in October. We’re staying in Provincia de Puntarenas, Paquera. We’re trying to figure out which airport should we fly into. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Max says
Hi There,
Thank you for all this info.
My wife and I will be traveling to CR in late Feb, a total of 9 nights. We are thinking of doing 4 nights in La Fortuna and 4 nights in Manuel Antonio. Generally speaking, is this enough time to explore both areas?
For Manuel Antonio, if we spend 4 nights there, is it worthwhile to go to Jaco or Uvita for a day each?
For La Fortuna, what would you recommend for a 4 night stay?
Thanks so much!
Sammi says
4 nights in both places is a great amount of time, I love Uvita, Costa Rica and highly recommend visiting the Marino Ballena National Park
You can read our La Fortuna guide for information.
Brooke says
The bus is now 340 colones
Robyn Casper says
We want to do some snorkeling around Manuel Antonio. Can you suggest some good beaches for snorkeling in that area??
Sammi says
There isn’t really good snorkeling at Manuel Antonio unfortunately. You can try to take one of the boat trips where they take guests to a spot for snorkeling off the coast but it’s not very good.
Brooke says
You can snorkel at Playa Biesanz and see coral and fish
Nicole says
Hello,
Thanks for all of the excellent information. It is very helpful in planning our trip to Costa Rica. I have two boys who would like to surf. We have a limited amount of time so I’m wondering how the surfing is in Manuel Antonio? They are beginner to intermediate surfers. Thanks.
Sammi says
Manuel Antonio, I have heard is usually good for shortboards so sounds like they can do it being beginner to intermediate surfers. You can also check out Dominical, not too far from Manuel Antonio.
Jb says
Manuel Antonio surf school is amazing with kids. We have done two lessons two different trips and the kids loved it.
Sammi says
Thats great to hear! Thanks for the feedback.
Cathy says
Can you leave the park for lunch and return later that day without paying?
Sammi says
I believe you can (I am not 100% positive though because they are doing a lot of changes to Manuel Antonio NP so don’t quote me), the thing I know is that they only let a certain number of people in the park a day so if they hit the limit, they won’t allow you to go back in. I would ask your hotel to be absolutely sure if you can leave and go back in without paying, I have usually heard it is OK if you keep and show your ticket to the entrance office but they have made a lot of chances to the parks’ rules regarding number of visitors this year.
Monica Pressley says
Hey Sammie,
Great website you have here. I just wanted to give a shout out to an amazing hotel I stayed at in La Fortuna. Brisas Arenal was a magical place to stay and the family that owns it are so sweet and welcoming. So if anyone is looking for a place to stay just a touch outside of town that is quiet, peaceful and beautiful they should consider this place!
Sammi says
Thank you for the recommendation and feedback. We are always looking for great hotels to recommend! Thank you for reading Mytanfeet and glad you had a good time in CR!
Alexa says
Hello, I was wondering where the best part of the Manuel Antonio area is best for snorkeling
Sammi says
Hi Alexa, Manuel Antonio doesn’t have that great snorkeling but you can try to go around Biesanz Beach or take one of the catamaran tours as they take you a bit further out to a rocky area for snorkeling
Corinne Scott says
Hi, can you just turn up at kids save the rainforest, and where is it, what time does it open?
Sammi says
No, they require reservations which you can make on their website, they don’t allow people to show up.
Ayan says
Thanks for your advice and help Sammi. Could you tell us where the best spot to park is to access Manuel Antonio park? I have been told there are people who lok like official park staff that try and make you park in their lots.
Would somewhere here work? I wasn’t sure where the parking lots were
Sammi says
There are parking lots near the entrance owned by locals, honestly parking is super tight in that area so anywhere you can actually find a spot will work. Last time I went there they charged I think like 3000 colones a day but it could be more now in high season (we went in September).
Ayan says
I’m debating which cities to do the night walk in. Is Manuel Antonio generally “better” than Monteverde in terms of night walks?
Sammi says
Yes, for night walks, Manuel Antonio is better because Monteverde is a much colder climate and so you don’t see as many frogs or amphibians up there. Manuel Antonio is more humid and is proper rainforest so you can see lots of frogs, snakes, toads and insects.
Ayan says
Hi Sammi, any tips where to book a kayak from? Are they in the park itself?
Sammi says
None in the park but you can check with Agua Azules on the beach, they offer jet skis, SUP board, surf boards and others so they may have kayaks for rent.
Aimee says
Hi there,
I’ll be travelling around Costa Rica next month, hoping to do lots of hiking so MA is definitely high up on my list! Still sketching a plan but thinking of coming down from Monteverde and staying awhile then on to Uvita / Dominical.
Just wondering how long you think is a good time for exploring the area? I was thinking maybe 5 days / a week but not sure if that’s too much – or not enough??
Also, what’s your view on the best place to base myself out of (really it’s probably the park and the beach I’m most interested in) – is Quepos better, or should I stick to MA itself? I’m undecided yet whether I want to rent a car so getting to restaurants etc. might also be a consideration.
Thank you so much – your site is really helping me planning this trip so I’m super-grateful to you guys for putting this info out there!
All the best 🙂
Sammi says
Hi Aimee, 5 days is pretty good for Manuel Antonio, it’s a small area so I would even recommend less, like 3-4 nights. Most people spend one day at the park, one day at the beach and that’s it. If they stay longer, it’s usually because they’re using Manuel Antonio as their homebase for their vacation but since you’re planning to moving on to Uvita/Dominical then I’d say 3-4 nights is perfectly fine.
You can stay in either Quepos or Manuel Antonio. Quepos is the town so it’ll be more noisy and not as nice hotels but it also tends to be cheaper. There are restaurants everywhere in Quepos and Manuel Antonio so that’s not a really huge issue, but there are the nicer restaurants in Manuel Antonio. THere is a local bus that goes from Quepos to the national park every 30 minutes though so it’s easy to get around that area.
Angie says
Hi we are staying in playa del coco but have been all over..currently spending the night in manuel Antonio and really want to stay in a treehouse before we go back home..having no luck finding one, wondering if you have any suggestions..thanks
Sammi says
Hi Angie, I know of one in Nuevo Arenal and one in Samara and then Finca Bellavista in Osa Peninsula.
Sammi says
Both destinations for amazing, you can see lots of wildlife in both Manuel Antonio and Puerto Viejo. Hiking is better in Manuel Antonio because of the national park, Puerto Viejo doesn’t have like a designated hiking, but you can walk on the beach in Cahuita NP or down the other beaches to Punta Uva but for proper “hiking” Manuel Antonio NP is excellent for it. I wrote a post about it you can see here: Hiking Manuel Antonio National Park
Then for kayaking, I haven’t actually seen anyone kayaking in either destinations but Manuel Antonio has catamaran cruises and I’m not 100% sure but I think I have seen kayak rentals around there.
They are both touristic destinations, but Puerto Viejo is a small town, lots of Europeans go there and it’s not as developed or commercial. Manuel Antonio is super touristic with tons of luxury hotels everywhere, so if that’s something you guys you like/don’t like, that can help make your decision too. Puero Viejo has more rustic jungle hotels (there are a few with AC), Manuel Antonio has some of the most luxuriest and expensive hotels in CR (but they have awesome ocean views). Also you can surf in both destinations but surfing in Manuel Antonio is more for short boards due to the waves at Playa Espadilla Norte, the breaks aren’t long enough for long boards. Puerto Viejo has good surfing only certain times of the year.
ALso keep in mind that Puerto Viejo has Caribbean weather meaning it is a lot more humid and can rain all year long. June is actually one of the rainiest months for the Caribbean so it might be better to go to Manuel Antonio. June is rainy season but it’s the transition for most of the country so you may not run into any rain and just be cloudy or you may run into the occasional shower but generally, Manuel Antonio is very hot.
Jeremy says
Hi Sammi,
My wife and I going to Costa in June for the first time (first for me, she’s been before twice but stayed at a resort) for two weeks. We’re doing a week in La Fortuna, then our last week we want to stay in either Manuel Antonio OR Puerto Viejo. What do you think would be a better option? I’m into adventure sports (hence Fortuna) and surfing, and we both like easy hikes, kayaking, and seeing wildlife.
Chris says
Is there a day trip to Manual Antonio from Playas de Coco? Thank you.
Sammi says
Hi Chris, no there isn’t, the drive is about 5 hours so it’s too far.
Agness of eTramping says
Manuel Antonio seems like the perfect tourism destination. The photos are lovely, Sammi.
Sammi says
Thanks Agness!
John Miller says
Wow! There are so many things to do. It will probably take half a month to visit all those places and really enjoy them. Oh, and also, I’ve never seen a sloth in person. Do they let you come close?
Sammi says
Yeah there is just so much to do in Costa Rica! Amazing for such a small country. Usually sloths are pretty high up in the trees but if you see one on the ground or lower, they usually don’t get freaked out too much by people or are mean. But you should never touch/hug or anything to the sloth as it stresses them out.