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.
This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Listed prices are quoted in USD and are estimates. More info: Disclosure
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.
Beam says
Thank you very much for your recommendations!
This is regarding Where to eat in Manuel Antonio. The name of the soda behind Coopealianza is “El Chante.”
My partner and I went there today, 5 October 2019. It’s 3,500 colones for a combo with fish fillet; but only 2,800 if one prefers a combo with chicken or pork. We also had a big, whole fish with fries and salad for ~$10. The food over there are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
We barely spoke any Spanish word, and the ladies at the soda didn’t speak English; but everything went well.
“El Chante” is highly recommended!
Sammi says
Thank you Beam! I was kicking myself for not taking down the name of the place so that’s super helpful.
Cindy says
Your blog is so amazing. Too good in fact, as we now want to see everything lol. Obviously that’s not possible, but we are trying to fit as much in as possible, so I hope you don’t mind a couple of questions. We are flying into San Jose airport and staying around the area of Monteverde. There is a Lodge we want to stay at that is about 1/2 hour away. We are looking for something different, not just a hotel or B&B and this place was perfect. However, the tour company is suggesting we pick lodging closer to the area. In your opinion, do you think 1/2 hour is too far? It would just be at the beginning and end of the day we’d need to get there and back. Also, we really want to sleep behind the waterfalls at the Diamante Falls and then go to Manuel Antonio Park. Of course, it is too far south by car, so do you know anything about a local flight. I know Sansa flies, but just wondered if you think that would be too much of a hassle, or worth it? We might not ever get back to Costa Rica, so really want to try and make it work if possible… is that too crazy to try? We appreciate your feedback so much.
Sammi says
If you guys are renting a car, then distance is not really a problem but if you aren’t renting a car and need transportation, then usually tour companies will charge an extra fee or they won’t pick up at places far away. There are no domestic airports at Monteverde so if you’re going from Monteverde – Manuel Antonio, the only way is by land. There is a local airport in Quepos so you could fly there and then pick up your rental car there if you decide to rent a car.
Liza Bisaillon says
This is by far the best site for planning a trip to Costa Rica. Thanks for the great tips, videos and beautiful pictures !
We are a family of 4 ( two adults and two teenagers) and we have 6 days to plan for a beach vacation, after having stayed at La Fortuna and Monteverde. We enjoy surfing, snorkeling, as well as swimming on calm beautiful beaches. Should we stay 6 nights in the Quepos area ( Playa Hermosa) or Uvita ( Parque Ballena) , or spend 3 nights at each ? We would prefer to stay in one place the whole time, but are afraid of missing out on a beautiful spot. Thanks for your help!
Sammi says
I would personally stay 3 nights at each and it’s not a far drive between the two places but if you prefer to stay in one place, it will depend. Quepos is much more lively, more tourists, Uvita is quieter, more laid back and not as many restaurants and things like that. With active teenagers, I’d recommend Quepos if they want to have more of a nightlife as Uvita is pretty quiet and 6 nights in Uvita would be a lot of quiet for teens.
Gwanaelle says
Wow, this blog is incredibly complete ! It helps us a lot planning our trip:)
We are going to visit Costa Rica end of October till mid November. Hope it will not be too rainy and too muddy but Im sure that we will have an amazing luxurious flora !
Is there anything we should really be carefull during this period concerning the hiking ?
Thanks!
Sammi says
Make sure to bring lots of bug spray and don’t go off the path! And bring a waterproof backpack or rain cover because it can (and will during that time of year) unexpectedly rain and it can rain very hard so keep your belongings protected.
Kelly says
Thanks for all those info! Just a few questions and clarifications if you could help please!
1. There’s an entrance fee to the park. Is there one for the beach?
2. If you only go to the beach, is there an entrance fee?
3. How long do you need to visit the park?
4. Are the restaurants/ bars on the beach?
Sammi says
There is a public free beach outside the national park, that’s free. If you want to go to the beaches inside the national park, then you need to pay the national park fee. There are restaurants/bars by the beach outside the park, none inside. You could spend anywhere from 1 hour to all day at the national park, it just depends on what you want to do (hike, relax, beach)
Kelly says
Thanks so much! Your blog is so helpful! I keep reading about monkey stealing! Are there lockers or a place we can leave our bag filled with extra clothes. What about important belongings like passports etc.
Sammi says
There aren’t any lockers or storage areas in the park. Don’t bring your passports, leave those in a safe place in your hotel room, you won’t need your passports for the park (unless you are driving, then the driver must have their original passport with them when they are driving).
Hinika Harpavat says
Hi,
Love your site, it is so helpful in planning our trip. Couple of questions:
We only have 6 days, we are going to Arenal Volcano National Park.
1) Would you recommend going to Monteverde Cloud reserve or Playa Hermosa.
2) How crowded will it be to visit Manuel Antonio National Park around May 14th?
Sammi says
If you want to go to a beach, then Hermosa. Monteverde is a cloud forest so has good hiking, birdwatching etc. May is generally not too busy of a month so shouldn’t be as packed.
Sammi says
Hi Kara, I don’t think so. Even though there’s a hill going from Quepos to the national park, you don’t see the cliffs or anything because it’s not super high and there are a bunch of buildings on both sides of the road so you’ll see just forest and buildings. Then when you get down to the national park, it is all flat.
Kara A Sherk says
I am extremely afraid (phobia) of driving on steep roads with a lot of cliffs, but not walking on them. Do you think I will panic on the road into the park? Thanks.
Barbara Hale says
You were 100% correct on hiring a guide for Manuel Antonio for seeing wildlife. I joined a group just before going in (after checking that he was certified). There were 4 of us with one guide. It costs me $25. He did a great job finding animals, birds and insects. He even took my iPhone and took amazing photos and videos through his scope. I saw several people with huge cameras trying to figure out what we were looking at without any luck. I had been debating whether to hike a tour guide and your blog helped me make the right decision. Thank you.
Sammi says
I’m glad to hear that Barbara! Some people think they can find the animals on their own and don’t want to pay extra but without trained eyes (and those guides do it everyday!) it’s incredibly difficult to see unless it’s right in front of you. We always recommend a guide for anyone who wants to see animals and I’m glad you did and had a great experience!
Diane says
Hi,
Great post ! Question, is 40 usd for a certified guide with round trip transportation reasonable ? Seems a but steep to me. Thanks !
Sammi says
Is it per person? I just checked with Iguana Tours and they charge $59 per person with transportation but it also does include the national park fee which is $16 per adult.