We spent a month driving round Costa Rica and of all the places we visited, Manuel Antonio National Park was my absolute favourite. Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica’s smallest, but most popular National Park. If you’re planning to visit, buying tickets in advance online is highly recommended. We purchased entry tickets and explored the park on our own. If you prefer a guided tour, this can also be booked online. Alternatively, there are plenty of guides touting for business near the park entrance.
How to get to Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is around 60 miles south of the capital, San Jose. However, the most direct route is rather mountainous. The fastest way to Manuel Antonio is a 100 mile drive west along Route 27, then joining Route 34 (Costanera Sur) which follows the coast. Exit at Quepos for final couple of miles of the journey. We drove, but if you don’t have a car, there are a number of companies offering regular bus services between the two.
Getting around Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio runs for a couple of miles along Route 618 as it winds itself from Quepos to Manuel Antonio National Park. The road is lined with restaurants and a range of accommodation options. If you don’t have a car, there is a regular bus service between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. If you stay towards the southern end, everything you need (park, restaurants, shops, beaches) are within easy walking distance.
Where to stay in Manuel Antonio
We stayed at Hotel Manuel Antonio. This motel style hotel has large, clean rooms with balconies overlooking beautifully landscaped gardens. The hotel is literally at the end of the road. Route 618, which brings you to Manuel Antonio, concludes in a turning circle near the park entrance. The hotel is on this circle and backs onto the National Park. (When we arrived, there were deer peering over the fence between the National Park and hotel car park). As it’s adjacent to the park and opposite the beach, Hotel Manuel Antonio extremely conveniently placed. In addition, it has ample, free guest parking.
Manuel Antonio in 2 Days Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Manuel Antonio Tarcoles Bridge Jacó Viewpoint Quepos Accommodation – Hotel Manuel Antonio Playa Espadilla Dinner at Marlin Restaurante |
| Day 2 | Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio Sunset Dinner at Felafal Bar |
Manuel Antonio Day 1
Drive to Manuel Antonio
Today, we are travelling 120 miles south to Manuel Antonio, site of Costa Rica’s most popular national park. There’s a quota system in place, so we’ve already purchased our tickets and are raring to go. After one last encounter with the fluorescent fruit juice, we depart. It’s supposedly a 3.5 hour drive – factor in that the old man drives like an old woman, plus I have a few stops planned en route and it’s going take a while longer…
We descend from Monteverde through beautiful mountain scenery, then after a brief section on Route 1 through the port city of Punta Arenas, we turn onto the Pacific Highway.
Tarcoles Bridge
Our first scheduled stop is Tarcoles Bridge; a bridge over the Río Tarcoles, where my guide book promises the sight of crocodiles lazing on the banks. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the bridge – I needn’t have bothered. We round a corner to the sight of dozens of cafes and souvenir stands lined by dozens of cars and tour buses. I think it’s safe to say we’ve reached our destination.
We walk along the bridge and manage to spot 14 crocodiles lazing on the banks in the midday sun. After buying a $3 bottle of Coke and going for a $1 wee, we press on.
Jacó Viewpoint
Next stop is a quick photo op and to admire the view at a viewpoint overlooking the resort town of Jacó.
Quepos
At Quepos, we turn off the highway and proceed along a small road to Manuel Antonio. We park up in the small fishing town for the old man buys an ice cream. Meanwhile I go in search of a couple of cold beers and a sign selfie. Who doesn’t love a good sign selfie?
Accommodation – Hotel Manuel Antonio
We continue to tonight’s hotel, Hotel Manuel Antonio, which is literally at the end of the road, in a turning circle, two miles past the village of Manuel Antonio itself. I had imagined that once we passed Manuel Antonio, we would be in the back end of beyond. It’s more like Bournemouth on a particularly hot August Bank Holiday. The final part of the drive takes forever through all the traffic. My beer doesn’t make it to the hotel!
The hotel is very nice. The room is cool and has two double beds plus a balcony overlooking the garden, where iguanas bask among the tropical plants. It is sandwiched between the National Park and the beach.
Playa Espadilla
We take a stroll along the long expanse of golden sand which makes up Playa Espadilla. As we return, the sun is starting to set behind some rocks. Quite a sight!
Dinner at Marlin Restaurante
We round the evening off at a beachside restaurant, Marlin Restaurante. Sunset coincides with happy hour on cocktails. A mango daiquiri and a passion fruit daiquiri are most welcome after today’s hot drive. The food is good too…
Manuel Antonio Day 2
Manuel Antonio National Park
Today, we are going to Manuel Antonio National Park – our entry time slot is 9 to 9.40 am. No food is allowed in the park (although there is a small kiosk where you can purchase drinks and snacks). In addition, no single use plastic is allowed inside the park. If you bring your own water bottle, they will refill it at the kiosk with very welcome ice cold water for 500 colones. We stop at one of the many cafés which line the road to the park for breakfast and arrive at the entrance at the allocated time.
Sendero Perezoso
There are several trails and three beaches within the park. We opt to start with Sendero Perezoso (sloth trail), which takes you, either along a trail or a boardwalk, through the rainforest to a clearing which contains the cafe, toilets and access to some of the other trails.
We don’t see any sloths on the ‘Sloth Trail‘ but we do, however, spot monkeys. At first we are excited, peering up into the trees for a closer look. But as we approach the park kiosk, we realise there are hundreds of them, absolutely everywhere. The closer you get to the kiosk, the higher the concentration of monkeys!
We climb an observation tower which is more like a monkey living room! And they’re certainly not shy of humans, coming over to check us out.
Sendero Playa Manuel Antonio
From the kiosk, we take the Sendero Playa Manuel Antonio, which leads you, not surprisingly, to Playa Manuel Antonio.
Playa Manuel Antonio
Playa Manuel Antonio is a tree lined beach, where lizards bask in the sun. There are lovely beaches both inside and outside the park, so you are very much spoilt for choice. After a quick dip to cool down, we continue along the next trail.
At the end of the trail, you can climb an Observation Tower which is more like a monkey living room! And they certainly were not shy of humans, coming over to check us out.
Sendero Punta Catedral
Suitably refreshed, we continue on the steep, circular Sendero Punta Catedral (approximately 1.4 km) round the rocky peninsula of Punta Catedral. The trail has lots of steps and lots of gaps where steps used to be. Climbing it is quite a mission in the heat and humidity.
Finally, as you continue the circular trail onwards and upwards, you are rewarded with a view over the bay.
Unfortunately, we at the top to find the viewpoint cordoned off (it has been destroyed by monkeys), so we continued along the steps/ex steps back towards the beach.
There are other trails, in the park, but in the heat and humidity, I found this was sufficient and set off in the direction of the exit.
Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur
The Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur is a leisurely stroll through the mangroves and along the beach.
Playa Espadilla Sur
At the end of the trail, another beautiful beach; Playa Espadilla Sur.
Bahia
As you near the park exit, take the boardwalk through the mangroves to Bahia Beach. At this beautiful beach, you can watch pelicans diving into the rock pools for their lunch.
Manuel Antonio National Park is open daily except Tuesday from 7 am until 4 pm. Entry costs $18.08.
Manuel Antonio Sunset
Then it’s back to the hotel for a much needed cool down – we have walked over 5 miles in 32 degree heat and 80% humidity. We head for the beach and go for a dip in the ocean at 4 pm, that way we’re on the beach for another glorious sunset.
Dinner at Falafel Bar
We go in search of food around 7 pm. The place is like a ghost town. The restaurants have happy hour until 6.30 to entice day trippers to stay for dinner, but after this, everywhere is dead. We don’t fancy sitting in an empty restaurant alone, so we drive into Manuel Antonio itself to Falafel Bar. I order a Falafel Plate, which come with hummus, pitta, salad (Costa Rican food is predominantly fried and I’ve been craving salad) and chips (I still love fried food though).
Then it’s back to the hotel for our final night in Manuel Antonio. It’s been one of my favourite places, so I shall be sad to leave.
- Trip taken: January 2022
- Updated: March 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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