The small coastal village of Manuel Antonio is one of the top destinations in Costa Rica thanks to its plethora of luxury hotels, abundance of wildlife and beautiful tropical nature.
For these reasons, Manuel Antonio holds many of the bests in Costa Rica: one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica, best beaches in Costa Rica, one of the best destinations for families and best beach towns in Costa Rica.
If you’re planning on visiting, read our guide to Manuel Antonio help plan your trip.
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Manuel Antonio Beaches
In the Central and South Pacific of Costa Rica, this area is the best for white sand beaches and bright blue waters.
The main beaches in Manuel Antonio are Manuel Antonio, Biesanz, Espadilla Sur and Espadilla Norte.
To get to the beaches inside the national park, you have to pay the national park fee. Biesanz, Espadilla Norte and Playitas are free as they are outside the national park.
Playa Espadilla Norte is where all the action is. You can go parasailing, jet skiing, surfing and swimming there.
If you would like to rent beach chairs and umbrellas in Manuel Antonio, you can find them on Playa Espadilla Norte. Or book the beach day experience that includes round trip transportation from hotels, chairs, umbrella and beach concierge service.
This beach is the most popular beach outside the national park for tourists since it is easily accessible and very beautiful.
Things to Do in Manuel Antonio
Here are some of our most recommended Manuel Antonio activities.
Don’t forget to get our Manuel Antonio/Quepos tours discount if you’re interested in hiking, rafting, ziplining, food and kayaking through mangroves.
For those traveling with families, here is our things to do in Manuel Antonio with kids post. Tours are broken down by age so you can see what your kids can/cannot do.
Manuel Antonio National Park
You can’t miss the the national park! Hike, see wildlife, swim, lay at the beach and enjoy the gorgeous views at the most visited national park in Costa Rica.
We highly recommend walking some of the park trails to explore the rain forest.
The entrance fee is $16 USD + tax per adult and you have to purchase tickets in advance online to enter the park.
Check out our guide to Manuel Antonio National Park for more information.
If you’re interested in a tour to the park that includes roundtrip transportation, bilingual guide, national park ticket and refreshments included, click here to book this tour with our discount!
White Water Rafting
There are a couple of excellent rivers for rafting in the area. Raft through Class 2, 3 and 4 rapids surrounded by pristine rainforest!
The Savegre and Naranjo rivers are the best for white water rafting in Manuel Antonio.
Sailing Cruise
Go for a morning or sunset sail out of Quepos marina for snorkeling, beautiful ocean views and to see wildlife. Lots of fun for the whole family!
Unfortunately snorkeling in Manuel Antonio is not the best and it really depends upon conditions. The best beach to try snorkeling is Playa Biesanz, but it is not consistent or always calm, especially during the rainy season.
Fishing
Quepos is a world class destination for in and off shore fishing. World fishing competitions are held in Quepos every year, so don’t miss your chance for an epic fishing day!
You can read our post things to do in Manuel Antonio for more ideas.
Animals in Manuel Antonio
If you want to get up close with wildlife in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is one of the best places in Costa Rica to see monkeys and sloths.
Some of the most common animals in Manuel Antonio are 2 and 3 fingered sloths, white face, howler and squirrel monkeys, iguanas and raccoons.
A lot of hotels have wildlife on their property so you can see animals right from your balcony or the pool.
Manuel Antonio Hotel Recommendations
There are no shortages of hostels, resorts, apartments and hotels in Manuel Antonio. If you’re here for a romantic getaway or luxury vacation, you have many 5 star ocean view resorts to choose from.
Likewise, there are plenty of budget and mid range options and hostels.
Luxury Hotels
- Hotel La Mariposa: an upscale hotel with a great view of the national park and big pool.
- Si Como No: beautiful ocean view resort with its own wildlife refuge, spa, 2 restaurants, pools, and a separate family and adult only section.
- Makanda by the Sea: adult only hotel with direct beach access, spa and pools.
- Parador: luxury modern hotel with ocean views, nature trails, fitness room, spa, restaurants and pools
- Gaia: adult only resort with their own private reserve, spa, pools and very spacious rooms. Lots of wildlife. Gay friendly.
- Hotel Costa Verde: ocean view rooms and a suite made from a refurbished 1965 Boeing 727. Has 4 restaurants.
- Tulemar: a luxury vacation rental that has its own private beach access and offers an exclusive sloth walk to guests. You can rent 2-5 bedroom houses or 1 bedroom bungalows. Great for large groups, families or couples. Tons of wildlife.
Mid Range
- Hotel San Bada for the closest location to the national park. They’re literally right in front of the entrance and they have a nice pool and restaurants.
- Jungle Beach Hotel: a comfortable “rustic” hotel very close to the beach.
- Plaza Yara: a boutique hotel and art gallery with apartments and suites.
- Tico Tico villas: Adult only fully furnished apartments, available for short and long term rent.
Budget/Hostels
- Plinio: Hostel with dorms and shared bathrooms. Off the road so can get loud. Has a pool, no ac in dorms. Also has standard hotel rooms with private bathrooms.
- Hotel La Colina: Good budget/mid-range option for rooms on the bottom floor, but rooms on top floor have ocean view and better furnishings. Has a pool, restaurant and parking lot. Tons of steps
Vacation Rentals
Lots of rentals available on Airbnb and VRBO. A good option if you’re visiting with a big group and want to have the comforts of a home.
We stayed in a house in Quepos with my parents (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom) that I found on Airbnb for a good price. Quepos is normally cheaper than Manuel Antonio.
If you stay in Quepos, it can get noisy and you’re further from the national park.
Location
Manuel Antonio is 170 kilometers (105 miles) southeast from San Jose on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Puntarenas province.
The closest town is called Quepos and the area from Quepos to the national park is known as Manuel Antonio.
How to get to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Click the link for more details on getting to Manuel Antonio from San Jose, Guanacaste and other destinations. Below is a brief summary.
Driving
Manuel Antonio is approximately a 3 hour drive from San Jose International Airport. This entire route is on a well paved highway.
Want to rent a car in Costa Rica? Get our Costa Rica car rental discount to save some $$ and receive our personal customer service!
Safety tip: The road from Quepos to Manuel Antonio National Park is super narrow and curvy. Make sure to drive carefully! Additionally, street parking is quite tight. You may need to have a passenger help you since cars drive fast.
Whenever you park, make sure not to leave any valuables visible and to roll up windows and lock doors as majority of parking is street parking.
Flying
Quepos has its own local airport. It’s about a 10 minute flight from San Jose and costs around $75-$150 USD one way with Sansa Air. The local airport is 5 minutes outside of Quepos.
A lot of people don’t want to drive through San Jose all the way to Manuel Antonio.
What they do is take a local flight to Quepos, rent a car in Quepos during their time there, return the car and then fly back to San Jose.
Public Bus
There is a daily direct bus from San Jose to Quepos with Terminal Transportes Tracopa at 530 AM and 12 PM. This takes about 4 hours and costs around 4500 colones (~$8 USD).
From the Quepos bus station, there are buses go the national park entrance every half an hour or so starting at 530 AM and ending at 930 PM. Costs ~380 CRC.
It makes stops along the way to the park, so it’s a great option for those staying in Manuel Antonio to get to the park or to Quepos.
From Jaco, there is a direct bus to Quepos and then you’ll switch buses to get to the park. You can find more information in this guide to taking the bus from Jaco to Manuel Antonio.
Shuttle Van
You can take private or shared shuttles. A private shuttle from San Jose to Manuel Antonio is around $220 USD for 1-5 passengers and from Guanacaste Airport is around $550 for 1-6 people.
Contact us if you’d like a private shuttle quote.
A shared shuttle from San Jose is around $75 USD per passenger. Get 10% off your shared shuttle with Interbus in the link.
How to Get Around
If you do not plan to rent a car, you can easily get around via the public bus that runs between Quepos and the national park. You can also walk.
However, the hill is very steep and doesn’t really have sidewalks or street lights. In the rainy season, you may need to rely more on taxis and Ubers to avoid getting drenched.
We recommend choosing a hotel that is within walking distances to restaurants, supermarkets, and other places if you do not plan to rent a car.
Things You Need to Know About Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
- Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations for gay travelers in Costa Rica.
- It is expensive.
- There are many local hawkers near the national park.
- You will also find lots of “parking guards” who will stop your car and try to steer you into their parking lot. Do not stop, keep driving all the way to the park entrance for the closest parking.
- For the national park, the best places to park are marked on Google Maps as “Parqueo Privado Manuel Antonio” or “Parking Manuel Antonio (Prive) – 5000 CRC).
Our tip: Eat at local places or bakeries, avoid the touristic restaurants.
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica Weather
Manuel Antonio weather is hot and humid with year round average day time temperatures in the mid to high 80°s F (29°-30° C). Average nighttime temperatures are around mid 70°s (23° C).
This area experiences typical tropical weather, though it may have a tad bit longer rainy season being the tropical rainforest.
The tropical dry season is from roughly beginning of December – end of April and rainy season from beginning of May to end of November.
February and March are generally the driest months in Manuel Antonio. September, October and November are the rainiest months.
In rainy season, daytime and nighttime temperatures stay about the same as the dry season. Mornings are usually sunny and clear and it can start raining on and off in the afternoons and nights.
Read more about Costa Rica weather here.
Best Time to Visit Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is beautiful any time of year. There are a few things to keep in mind though.
The busiest time is mid December – end of April after Easter week.
This is high season and this area gets incredibly busy. You will have the best weather but the most people and more expensive prices. July is also a busy month.
September, October and November are the least crowded times in Manuel Antonio.
May is not that busy either, as it is the start of rainy season and before the summer vacation travel.
However, those are rainy season months, with October being the rainiest month in Manuel Antonio.
Tips for Visiting Manuel Antonio During the Rainy Season
- If you visit during the rainy season, many tours do not run in the afternoon such as night walks and sunset catamaran cruises.
- Book your activities in the morning as it tends to rain more in the afternoons, evenings and nights. Mornings normally are still dry.
- Never leave your hotel without your rain jacket!
- It’s extremely humid. Stay hydrated and wear light clothing that dries fast.
Prepare for the rainy season in Costa Rica and find out what to pack for rainy season in our guides.
Where to Eat in Manuel Antonio
- Cafe Agua Azul: Nice ocean view, yummy smoothies, good sandwiches and burgers. Great place for happy hour and ocean view. $$
- Cafe Milagro: Best place for coffee and cake. Also has good dinner and a really nice patio with live music. They have their own coffee. $$-$$$ For just coffee, they have a small coffee shop in Quepos (Cafe Milagro Coffee Roasters, no food).
- Emilio’s Cafe: Nice place with a beautiful view for a fancy dinner. $$$
- Restaurant El Arado. Good place for typical Costa Rican. $$
- En TODAS: Beachside “food struck” from a school bus, serves burgers on Playa Espadilla $$
- Rafaeles Las Terrazas (Raphael’s Terrazas): Beautiful view, great place for sunset happy hour, has great sushi.
- Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar. Healthy, delicious wraps and falafel. $-$$
- Colina Steak House: Go for the pizza, not steak. Their pizza is one of the best in the area
- Barba Roja. Nice ocean view restaurant with burgers, wraps. $$
- Z Poolside Bistro. Steakhouse, seafood, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $$
- Sancho’s. Mexican place with good tacos and fun vibe. $$
- El Chante Soda (Costa Rican restaurant). Cheap traditional Costa Rican restaurant right by the national park office behind the Coopealianza office.
- Musmanni: Cheap bakery with pastries, sandwiches, etc.
- Soda Angel: A cheap Costa Rican restaurant.
We also recommend to go down to Quepos or Marina Pez Vela to check it out. We like Soda Sanchez, Tiquicia Delicias, and Mira Olas in Quepos.
In Marina Pez Vela, Doublehook has a fun bar atmosphere and nice view of the sunset and marina.
Shopping
There are a bunch of souvenir stores near the entrance of the park where you can find typical Costa Rican souvenirs like shirts, dresses, clothes, and little trinkets.
For more variety, there are some nice stores like Jungle AV Artesanal, Cafe Milagro gift shop, Yara art gallery, Besos Locos, BamBamBoo, Modern Primitive living, Altair and Mariposa gift shop and gallery.
Home Base or Stay for a Few Days?
You can definitely use Manuel Antonio as your home base.
There are plenty of things to do and see in the area. All services are available such as hospitals, clinics, supermarkets, laundromats, pharmacies, banks and gas stations.
We highly recommend renting a car if you’re staying for more than a couple nights to get around and explore. That way you can visit other great places like Dominical, Uvita, Jaco and Ojochal.
Most people stay an average of 3 nights in Manuel Antonio if they are not using it as a home base.
Itineraries
Here are some sample itineraries we’ve made that include this destination.
- One week Costa Rica itinerary: San Jose, Jaco, Manuel Antonio, Uvita
- 10 day itinerary: San Jose, Puerto Viejo and Manuel Antonio
- 10 days chasing waterfalls: Liberia, Rincon de la Vieja, Bijagua, Bajos del Toro, Manuel Antonio, San Jose
- 1 month road trip: San Jose, Puerto Viejo, La Fortuna, Monteverde, Playa Hermosa, Samara, Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Drake Bay
Costa Rica Vacation Checklist
- First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
- Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
- Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
- Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
- Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
- Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels. Save more money with our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.
J.R. says
Hey Sammi! My wife and I are going to Costa Rica next month and we couldn’t be happier that we found your blog, it has been so incredibly helpful as we prepare. And your rental discount was awesome!
We were wondering for the guides at the park, how can you tell who is actually certified and who isn’t? And what is a fair price for the 2 of us to bargain for with someone who is certified? Lastly, are there some guides to book with inside the park or is it just outside?
Thanks again!!
Sammi says
Hi JR!
They should have their badge with them that is ICT certified to be a guide, so you can ask them to show it to you. As for 2 people for a guided tour, last time I was there they offered my friends and I $20 or 30 (Can’t remember exactly) per person for a 2 hour guided walk I believe but we went in September so the price may be different for March as it is our peak travel season. There are only guides outside the park.
Cynthia says
What are the options and prices from Jaco in November to Manuel Antonio?
Sammi says
You can take the bus, drive or a shuttle/tour. Here is our post on taking the bus: Jaco to Manuel Antonio bus
Dane Moore says
Do you know if one member of a party can show up early to buy tickets for everyone and then come back with them a little bit later and go directly in? Or does everyone have to be present at the time of purchase for immediate entry? Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Dane, I’m pretty sure you don’t all need to be there, only if there is a Costa Rican citizen because then they will need to show their ID.
Christine says
Hi. First of: love your blog!!! We want to come to CR march 2019 for two Weeks my haubans,me and my two kids. I want to do Cahuita, Monteverde and after that is it better to go to Manuel Antonio or in Guanacaste ??
Thanks!!!
Sammi says
Hi Christine, if you’re flying out of San Jose Airport, I would recommend Manuel Antonio as it’s closer.
Christine says
Thanks guys!!!!
Wayne says
I have enjoyed your blog and it’s really getting us excited for our upcoming trip! We are taking our 9 and 10 years old to M.A. Great info and I’m looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.
@sd_wayne
Steven Delforce says
Hello,
First and foremost, you guys have a great blog and instagram page with loads of informations and recommendations :-).
In February we are coming to Costa Rica for 3 weeks. We will be driving a 4X4 car with rooftop tent from Nomad America. Do you know a good campground or camping near Manuel Antonio National Park?
Kind regards from Belgium
Steven
Sammi says
Hi guys, thanks for the nice words! Regarding campsites, I recommend downloading the iOverlander app and I see on there that you can camp at Beach Packers, Kacha Hostel and you can also check out the day time parking lots.
Randy says
Hi Sammi,
My kids (ages 7 and 9) and I are going the area in early May. Is it possible to get a private tour of the park? Thirty people in a group sounds like a lot for them (and my weak ears). Thanks! Randy
Sammi says
Hi Randy! Yes you can definitely get a private tour. I recommend booking one beforehand and you can book one through tour companies like Jacamar. You can also wait until you get to the park and hire a guide, but just make sure they are ICT certified naturalist guides (there are some people who try to pass off as guides and charge a ton of money).
Jackie says
The guides that are onsite are awesome! They each will carry a telescope and can look up into the trees to show you up-close the animals they see. Our guide was super helpful in taking pictures thru his lens from your phone camera so you can actually look back and see what you spotted high in the trees! Well worth the few $ to get a guide! This is a MUST if you’re heading to Costa Rica…Manuel Antonia is such a beautiful park, but the ‘end’ of the tour is breathtaking!!
Jen Hollandsworth says
I will be arriving from La Fortuna by bus at 115pm. I will need to check in to room first and would like to head over immediately to see the guided tour of the National Park. Will we be able to get a guided tour around that time? Or will it be too late? Only have one other day and want to do the beach. Thanks!
Sammi says
Hi Jen, the park closes at 4 PM so you won’t have a lot of time in the park. You can probably still get a guided tour but it won’t be very long. There are beaches inside the national park so you can do a beach/hike day at the park because a couple hours at the park won’t really be enough.
Amy says
Hello! We will be visiting Manuel Antonio NP early May this year. I was wondering if you can get in and out the park with your ticket the same day? Let’s say we want to go at 7am to watch the wildlife, then go out for lunch and come back to enjoy the beach the rest of the afternoon.. is this possible? I read somewhere that you can if you leave through the main entrance/exit and the rangers sees your ID. Not sure how reliable this information is though…
Do you know?
Thank you for your help!
Amy
Sammi says
Hi Amy! I believe you can, I would let the ranger know when you enter the park (the one who checks your bags) and keep your ticket. I am not positive in May though since during high season, they will only let people go in as they go out and there’s always a long line during the busy months. May is still busy but not quite as crazy as February – April but I would let the ranger know, and ask the person who you buy the ticket from if they have a stamp or can initial and date your ticket to show when you go back in.
Johanna says
Hi Sammi!
My husband and I are going to Costa Rica the first part of July, and we’re hoping to visit Manuel Antonio National Park, but we have a question about food. You mentioned that things like sandwiches and fruit are okay, but foods like peanuts and chips are not allowed into the park. Does that include all nuts? Can we bring trail mix? What about beef jerky or power bars, or other bite-sized foods? Are there any places near the park to buy appropriate, but packable lunch food?
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Johanna, any kind of snack food like chips aren’t allowed, I brought in granola bars before and they said they were fine but I don’t recommend bringing trail mix since that has nuts and raisins and bite size things too. There are a lot of restaurants around the national park entrance and lots of convenience stores/snack stands to buy food.
Shelley Williams says
I have a question and can’t seem to find where I can type my own question. Sorry I have invaded your post!
Are the trails accessible for someone using a walker? We are wanting to travel with my mother in law who needs a walker some. How accessible is the park?
Sammi says
Hi Shelley! I have a post about the trails in this national park here: Hiking Manuel Antonio National Park with pictures. Most of the trails are gravel/dirt, there is only the sloth trail that is on platforms and the small section down to Playa Manuel Antonio from the bathrooms has a concrete sidewalk. Unfortunately most of the national parks in Costa Rica are not very handicap friendly but if she can walk on her own to the platform sloth trail, she can use the walker there and then on the concrete sidewalk down to the beach. It is maybe like… a quarter of a mile from the park entrance to the sloth trail platform.