Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica is an incredible destination for wildlife and nature. It’s a place where you can see sloths climbing in the trees, hike through the rainforest, and swim at a gorgeous beach all in one day! If you’re planning on visiting this gem of a park, you’ll want to plan ahead. This guide covers activities at Manuel Antonio, tips on planning your visit, and where to stay near the park.
What is Manuel Antonio National Park?
Manuel Antonio National Park is located along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, and it’s one of the country’s most visited parks. Why, you ask? Manuel Antonio has a unique ecosystem where the tropical rainforest meets a few rocky coves along the coast. In this park, you’ll find a huge range of biodiversity: sloths, monkeys, lizards, butterflies, and many species of birds. The coastal coves also make for some truly stunning beaches connected by hiking trails. And all of this is packed into an area of just a few square miles.
Of course, Manuel Antonio’s combination of features also means the park is extremely popular. The park limits the number of daily visitors with a timed ticket system (more on that below). Even with the daily limits, it’s a small national park that can feel crowded at times. You need to go in with a plan to make the most of your visit.
Activities at Manuel Antonio National Park
Guided Wildlife Watching
Wildlife! This is why you’re going to Costa Rica, right? The animals at Manuel Antonio are the stuff of childhood dreams: sloths, monkeys, colorful birds, blue morpho butterflies, iguanas. But I’m here to warn you that animals can be hard to spot in the dense rainforest.
If you want to make sure you get a good look at Manuel Antonio’s amazing wildlife, your best bet is to hire a local guide. The guides are experts on where to find different animals, and they carry spotting scopes to help you see them up close. Even better, guides are eager to teach you about the animals you’re seeing.
A tour with a certified naturalist guide runs around $30 USD per person depending on tour length. (And not including the $18 USD admission ticket.) There are some guides you can book in advance, or you can check with your hotel to find one. Be careful, as there may be some “guides” hanging around the area with little expertise. And yes, you can certainly go wildlife watching without a guide. Just be prepared to slow down and probably see a few less animals.
For more wildlife watching, you should definitely check out Monteverde too. The cloud forest is a totally different environment that’s worth visiting if you’re in Costa Rica.
Hiking
Manuel Antonio is a beautiful place to wander even if you aren’t committed to wildlife watching. There are several hiking trails to explore beyond the main road/path through the park. They are less crowded than the main route too!
I highly recommend hiking the trail around Cathedral Point (Punta Catedrál). It’s a short loop that takes you around the rocky point at the end of Manuel Antonio Beach. You’ll pass though more rainforest and climb up to a series of amazing viewpoints of the Pacific Ocean. I also saw a bunch of capuchin monkeys and an agouti along the trail.
Swimming
Manuel Antonio Beach is picture-perfect! And since it’s sheltered from the heaviest waves of the Pacific, it’s an ideal beach for swimming. This is the most popular spot in the park, so get there early if you’re hoping for a choice spot along the beach. You’ll find changing rooms just uphill along the main path.
Manuel Antonio Beach is part of a tombolo, a land form created as sand is deposited between the mainland and a nearby island. On the other side of this sandy land-bridge is Espadilla Sur Beach (Playa Espadilla Sur). This beach is less protected from waves, so dangerous rip currents are common. Not recommended for swimming!
Relaxing at the Beach
Even if you’re not swimming, the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park are worth a visit to relax and enjoy the tropical scenery. Manuel Antonio Beach is the most crowded, so head across the peninsula to Playa Espadilla Sur if you want more space.
There are a couple other beaches you can hike to further into the park, but check with park rangers about conditions before you head out.
Regardless of which beach you’re on, beware the monkeys! Manuel Antonio’s capuchin monkeys are cute, but they can become aggressive if you get too close. Also they are known to steal bags or items left unattended.
Snorkeling
It’s possible to snorkel off of Manuel Antonio Beach, though it’s not an ideal spot. I snorkeled at a nearby cove outside of the national park. Cloudy water and strong waves made it a bit challenging, and I suspect Manuel Antonio Beach will have similar issues. If you want to give it a shot, your best bet is the south side of the beach where there are some large rocks. Personally, I’d prefer to spend more time on land.
Central America is home to amazing snorkeling! Check out my post on snorkeling in Belize for some inspiration.
Planning Your Visit to Manuel Antonio National Park
Tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park
To visit Manuel Antonio National Park, you’ll need to purchase a timed entry ticket. The number of daily visitors is capped at 2500 people, so make sure to book tickets in advance if you can. Tickets are $18 USD for adults and $6 USD for children 12 and under. You can buy them through the official park website. Manuel Antonio National Park is open to visitors from Wednesday to Monday from 7:00 a.m. at 3:00 p.m. Closed Tuesday. Try to get there early if you can–the animals are active and the temperature is cooler (a little).
There are a few tour operators that offer packages including local transportation and admission. Check to make sure what’s included if you’re booking one of these tours!
Eating at Manuel Antonio National Park
Ok listen up: you are NOT allowed to bring any food or drink into Manuel Antonio National Park. Seriously–they search bags at the entranceNo. Single use plastics like water bottles are also not permitted. What can you bring? A reusable water bottle. That’s it.
The reason for this strict policy make surprise you: it’s the monkeys. In the past, visitors to Manuel Antonio used to enjoy feeding the monkeys. This was not just bad for the monkeys’ health, but also led to monkeys acting aggressively.
Nowadays the only opportunity for a bite to eat inside the park is a cafe built inside of a fenced-in cage. As you might expect, this cafe is both overpriced and not the greatest food. I would plan on eating a snack or a light lunch only. And make sure you eat a good breakfast before you get to the park!
Want to Wear to Manuel Antonio
Deciding what to wear to Manuel Antonio can be tricky because potentially you’ll want to hike in the rainforest and swim at the beach. My advice is to wear light athletic clothing like a t-shirt and shorts. It gets hot there! Personally, I think wearing sneakers or hiking shoes is the move. You probably don’t need water shoes unless you’re super committed to snorkeling. Then bring your bathing suit and a towel (a microfiber one is ideal). I recommend packing them in a waterproof day bag if you have one.
Sun protection is a must: sunscreen and sunglasses at a minimum. Insect repellent is also a good idea. I didn’t notice many mosquitoes during the dry season, but your results may vary.
Scammers at Manuel Antonio
Tons of tourists visit Manuel Antonio, so there’s lots of money to be made. Beyond the usual sales pitches, I’ve heard about expensive parking schemes, fake ticket scams, and unlicensed “guides.” Make a plan in advance to avoid getting ripped off! And don’t be afraid to ask your hotel for last-minute advice if you need help.
Getting to Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio area is about a 3.5 hour drive from San Jose. Renting a car is probably your best bet to get there. You can also book a shared shuttle bus for around $50-75 USD. I don’t recommend trying to figure out the long distance public bus system.
Alternatively, you could do what I did and visit Manuel Antonio as part of a longer group trip through Costa Rica. It’s a great option if you ask me!
From your local lodgings, it’s easy to reach Manuel Antonio National Park by bus. There’s a public bus that runs from the bus station in Quepos along the main road through Manuel Antonio. The bus leaves you near Espadilla Beach, so you’ll need to walk up the road for about 5 minutes to reach the park entrance.
You can also drive to the national park. There is not official parking lot, but many private lots nearby offer paid parking.
Where to Stay: Manuel Antonio vs Quepos
There are a huge range of accommodations near Manuel Antonio National Park, from luxury hotels to backpacker hostels. They’re basically split into two areas: the resorty area of Manuel Antonio and the nearby town of Quepos. The national park is only a 10-15 min drive from Quepos. So unless you’re staying right on Espadilla Beach, where you stay is a matter of preference.
I stayed in Quepos and really enjoyed it! The town is very walkable, with lots of places to eat and a more local feel. Hotels in Quepos are on the cheaper end of the spectrum, so budget travelers should definitely check it out.
By contrast, Manuel Antonio is more surrounded by nature and has a touristy feel. Hotels are spread out along the main road, so it’s less walkable. But if you’re looking for a fancy hotel, this is where you should be looking.
If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, check out my posts about Monteverde and La Fortuna too. There’s so much to see ahh!
