Manuel Antonio is known for its monkeys and macaws, stunning beaches, and luxe hotels. The heart of this beach town is the Manuel Antonio National Park, which is teeming with wildlife 365 days a year.
At just 3.5 hours from San Jose, it is a convenient, coastal destination. Travelers can experience the fauna and flora of Costa Rica, while also having the opportunity to relax on the beach!
Manuel Antonio is a great destination for families, and is one of the top three destinations in Costa Rica overall!
This guide will go over the best activities and tours in the area, where to get some fantastic meals, and the best places to stay in Manuel Antonio.
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What is Manuel Antonio like?
The town of Manuel Antonio is situated on the mountains surrounding the Pacific Coast, so you’ll find plenty of hotel and Airbnb options with incredible views. If you want to check the beach and wildlife (sloth, moneys, macaws, and more) boxes of your Costa Rica trip, Manuel Antonio is a fantastic spot!
Renting a car is a great way to take advantage of all this destination has to offer. Manuel Antonio is home to many amazing activities and awesome day trips in the immediate area. There is also a public bus if you want to stay within the immediate area.
The Best Things to Do in & around Manuel Antonio
There are a variety of tours and must-do activities when visiting the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio also has its own activities that can’t be experienced anywhere else!
🐒 Manuel Antonio National Park
The national park is Manuel Antonio’s claim to fame. There is no other park in Costa Rica quite like it! The wildlife is so abundant that it feels like a zoo! In just about any visit to the park you will see monkeys, reptiles, tropical birds, and sloths.
You can visit the park with or without a guide. I would suggest getting a guide if it is your first time. Their expertise in finding animals and the information they share makes your visit that much more meaningful, and it doesn’t cost much more than your normal ticket.
The park is open from 7am-4pm, with admission closing at 3pm. The park is closed on Tuesdays. You will need to book your tickets on the SINAC website ahead of time to ensure entrance into the park.
If the timing does not work for you, another great way to see wildlife is by going on a guided night walk.
🛥️ Catamaran Cruise – Morning or Sunset
A catamaran tour is one of the most relaxing tours you can do in Costa Rica. These morning or afternoon cruises include snorkeling at a pristine beach, a fresh lunch, and unlimited drinks! Manuel Antonio is a great spot for this because you have a good chance of spotting dolphins and whales!
Sea Crest, the company below, offers a lovely sunset tour where you watch the sun sink into the ocean. If you’ve never experienced that, I highly recommend!
🛶 Kayak the Mangroves
Another unforgettable experience is kayaking through the Damas Island mangroves. Experience this unique ecosystem where salt water meets fresh! This tour includes a knowledgeable guide and is available to children, 7 years old and up.
💦 Whitewater Rafting
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, whitewater rafting is a great time! There are several rivers in the Manuel Antonio area, each with a different intensity rating, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect tour for you. For more information on the different tours, check out this post.
🪂 Parasailing
Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to go parasailing in Costa Rica! Aguas Azules offers a wonderful parasailing experience.
🎣 Fishing
Sport, inshore, and deep sea fishing charters are all available in the Manuel Antonio area. You can also go on a half day spearfishing adventure in the clear blue Pacific waters.
🌳 Ziplining
One of the most exhilarating and popular activities in Costa Rica is ziplining! And Manuel Antonio, with all its gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and the rainforest, is a great place for it! The longest twin zipline in Central America is located in Manuel Antonio!
🏖️ Hit the beaches!
Known for their white sand and turquoise waters, the beaches of Manuel Antonio are some of the best in Costa Rica. Two of the most stunning beaches (Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur) are only accessible through the national park.
Espadilla Norte is the main beach right in town. It has tons of activities, from surfing to parasailing. Here you can rent umbrellas and chairs. Biesanz is another public beach that is a great place to rent a kayak and enjoy the gentle waves.
💧Visit Nauyaca Waterfall
A short 1.5 hours from Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s most impressive waterfalls. The sheer size of Nauyaca is stunning. It’s one of the best photo ops in Costa Rica and makes for a fantastic day trip! Pack a picnic and relax in the natural pools to make the most of it! You can buy tickets to the waterfall here, or check out these bundled tours.
For more information about these activities, check out the Top 12 Things to Do in Manuel Antonio.
The Best Places to Stay in Manuel Antonio
One of the reasons why Manuel Antonio is such an incredible destination is the amazing options of where to stay!
🔹 Located right in town so you are walking distance to the Playa Espadilla Norte, restaurants, and the park entrance!
🔹 Has a cozy feel and beautiful gardens
🔹 A great breakfast is included in the $150/nightly rate
🔹 Charming and comfortable bungalows in the jungle at a great location in Manuel Antonio
🔹 Plenty of opportunities to see wildlife and a gorgeous pool
🔹 The $217/nightly rate includes a great breakfast
🔹 Manuel Antonio is known for its posh hotels. Parador stands out among them.
🔹 Guests enjoy multiple beautiful pools, elegant rooms, an outdoor jacuzzi, and opportunities to see sloths and other animals
🔹 A lovely breakfast is included in the $3,870/nightly rate
For a full list of stay options, check out Booking.com below.
Where to Eat in Manuel Antonio
When it comes to dining, Jaco has a lot of options! Here are some of the tried and true favorites of Jaco locals.
🔷 YOLO Social – A lively sports bar with incredible vibes, this restaurant has great cocktails and live music every night! It’s located in ECOTICA Boutique Hotel, one of the best places to stay in Manuel Antonio.
🔷 Mercadito Gastronomico – When you get to that part of vacation where you’re sick of eating out and don’t know what you want, check out the Mercadito! This is a open air collection of restaurants featuring burgers, traditional Costa Rican food, sushi, Peruvian, ice cream, and street food.
🔷 El Avión – This repurposed old cargo plane is one of the coolest places to get a drink or grab dinner in Manuel Antonio! This restaurant has some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean and has a great variety of food.
🔷 El Patio de Café Milagro – Great for breakfast, lunch, coffee, and even dinner! This is a cool cafe that has live music most nights. The ceviche and sea bass are to write home about.
🔷 Ronny’s Place – Nestled on a hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean is one of the most special restaurants in Manuel Antonio. Ronny’s Place has dishes with great flavor and local, fresh ingredients.
🔷 Café Agua Azul – A fantastic place to watch the sunset, this restaurant has fresh seafood, delicious sushi, handcrafted cocktails, and more.
How to Get Around Manuel Antonio
If you are hitting more than one destination, I generally suggest you rent a car. It gives you the freedom to explore at your leisure. Shuttle prices to and from the airport and between your destinations can add up quickly, so renting a car is often more economical.
Of all the companies, my favorite has been Adobe Rent a Car. It is a local, Costa Rican company with competitive prices and transparent pricing. I’ve used them so many times that I decided to partner with them. Costa Tica Travel readers now get 10% off their car rental and a free extra driver (as well as several other freebies) here!
If you’re not venturing too far out of Manuel Antonio, a shared or private shuttle is a good option. You can book your transfer from the airport to Manuel Antonio here. Ubers and taxis are also available in Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio also has a convenient public bus that runs every 15-30 minutes on the route between Quepos and the downtown area of Manuel Antonio. It only costs about 400 colones and takes about 25 minutes.
For an extensive review of transportation options in Costa Rica, check out this post.
Final Thoughts on Manuel Antonio
Conveniently located, a reasonable (4-4.5 hour) trip from both Monteverde and La Fortuna, and one of Costa Rica’s TOP destinations overall. Manuel Antonio is a fantastic place to visit for animal lovers, adrenaline junkies, avid hikers, beach go-ers, and luxe vacationers. The town itself has great restaurants and comfortable hotels for every budget. There’s a ton of fun tours and activities that are fit for the whole family, solo travelers, or groups.
Manuel Antonio a great destination to pair with Monteverde or La Fortuna to experience both the rainforest side of Costa Rica and the sunny beaches.
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More Essential Info for Planning Your Dream Trip:
🔹 Costa Rica Planning Guide – Everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip
🔹 When to visit Costa Rica – The best places to visit during the rainy and dry seasons
🔹 10% off your rental car – Support a local Costa Rican business that has earned its reputation
🔹 Safety Tips to live your best pura vida life in Costa Rica
🔹 The Ultimate Packing List for Costa Rica
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