Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s most famed destinations, and for good reason! It’s a gorgeous area, full of wildlife and beaches. If you’re looking for a little bit of everything in your vacation – relaxing by the pool, sunsets over the ocean, hiking through the jungle – then this is the place to go! While there are endless ways to fill your time on a trip to Manuel Antonio, I’ve rounded up my favorites for you.
Here are my top things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica!
Top Things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio is located in the central pacific region of Costa Rica. Named after its famous national park, there are plenty of things to do in this area!
One of my favorite views of Manuel Antonio. The whale tail from above.
Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is ironically one of Costa Rica’s smallest, but also busiest, national parks! Filled with wildlife and biodiversity, as well as several beautiful beaches, you can spend the day hiking and spotting monkeys and toucans, or just swimming and catching some rays.
It’s not surprising then, that as one of Costa Rica’s top destinations, Manuel Antonio National Park can get quite busy. For this reason, the biggest piece of advice I can give you when visiting this national park is to arrive early! We woke up before sunset to get to the park when it opened and were the second people inside. It was a magical feeling to wander around and feel completely alone – especially on such pristine beaches! Plus, if you’re looking to see wildlife, they’re often much more active first thing in the morning.
This coconut stand was right outside the entrance to the park – talk about delicious!
Entrance Fees and Rules
Entrance fees to the park are approximately $18 per person for foreigners. In order to protect the wildlife from overtourism, the park caps entrances at 600 – 800 people per day. Even more reason to head out early and avoid the line! Keep in mind that the park is also closed on Tuesdays.
To keep the beaches looking so nice and to protect the wildlife, there are very strict rules in place regarding what you can bring into the national park. Security will search your bags at the entrance. External food and drinks are not allowed to be brought inside (with the exception of water). As with most national parks, drones are not allowed.
To make matters even more complicated, once you enter the park, you cannot leave and re-enter without purchasing a new ticket. This combined with the strict food rules makes it difficult to plan a long trip to the national park, especially if you want to enjoy some time on the beaches. However, if you time it right, it can be done! Just know what you’re getting into before you go to avoid frustration.
Parking
Parking at the national park can be a little hectic. There’s no official parking lot, so you’ll have to find a place along the street near the entrance. There will be tons of parking attendants walking into the street, trying to flag you into their lot. Don’t be intimidated! We kept driving until we got to the gate of the park, then turned around and went into the nearest parking lot, which was about $5 cash.
If you don’t want to deal with that, consider a short taxi or rideshare to the park entrance.
By arriving early, we got this pristine beach all to ourselves!
Trails and Beaches
Once inside the park, there are several wonderful trails you can explore, along with two beaches. There is a ton of wildlife in the park! However, the animals and birds often are in the canopy of the trees, so hiring a guide may be beneficial. There are typically several guides outside the entrance to the park to hire, as well as many others available through Viator and other apps if you book ahead of time.
We hiked a few trails to make a loop to the beach and back. This included hiking the main trail to the universal (Bahia) trail, then along the Playa Espadilla Sur beach. We wanted to go on the Punta Catedral trail, which takes you up the hill at the end of the beach to some beautiful vistas. Sadly it was closed during our visit.
The nice thing about the universal trail is it is on a new elevated platform so as to not disturb the wildlife beneath it. It weaves through some marshy mangroves before opening up to the beautiful beach.
Once at the beach, you can walk along the sand or the trail. There are changing stations and restrooms at the beach you can use if you didn’t wear your suit into the park.
Don’t forget to check out the beach on the other side of the peninsula, Playa Manuel Antonio! Each beach is completely gorgeous, full of palm trees, soft white sand, and crystal blue waters. We relaxed here for a while before the crowds came in for the day and it was magical to have such a pristine spot all to ourselves.
We left the park late morning before it could get too crowded. As you leave, quench your thirst with a fresh coconut from the stand right outside the entrance. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Just picture perfect.
Relax at Manuel Antonio Public Beach
If you want a traditional day at the beach filled with music, food, and drinks, then the public Manuel Antonio beach is for you. Also known as Playa Espadilla, this stretch of sand outside of the national park is full of lounge chairs and umbrellas you can rent. For this reason, it’s a popular spot and can fill up quickly with other tourists. However, it’s still a great option for a beach day to soak up the sun.
One way to get around the drone rules at the national park is to fly your drone from this beach. You can still get spectacular photos of the ‘whale tail’ in the national park while still keeping your distance and respecting the wildlife.
While this isn’t the exact boat we went out on, it was nearby!
Get Out on the Water
I’m a firm believer that one of the best ways to experience any coastal destination is to get out on the water! It’s one of my favorite things to do, and in Manuel Antonio, this was no exception. You get a whole new perspective on the area, and often a good chance to see aquatic wildlife.
There are several good options for trips out on the water. We went with Ocean King Catamaran Adventures, which included an afternoon sailing trip along the coast of Manuel Antonio National Park, a stop for snorkeling, and dinner and drinks during sunset on the way back to the marina. Depending on the time of year, you will likely see whales and dolphins on the way as well! This region has quite a few humpback whales that visit during the winter months for breeding.
This cruise was a good value for the price ($69 for four hours on the water, including four alcoholic drinks, dinner, and equipment to snorkel). Be cautioned that they do cater to a younger crowd, and have fairly loud music playing throughout. It won’t be a quiet nature adventure, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t for you! However, we had a great time and loved the energetic atmosphere.
There’s not much better than some gelato on a warm day!
Explore the Local City of Quepos
When we visited Costa Rica during the coronavirus pandemic, many of the shops in downtown Quepos (the town near Manuel Antonio National Park) were closed. However, their waterfront has several restaurants and shop options to explore, all complete with views of the marina and the ocean. Stop by Runaway Grill for lunch and then top it off with gelato from Gelateria Amorosi for a perfect afternoon treat!
If you’re looking for souvenirs to take home, try Altair Souvenir & Gallery Shop.
I’d be remiss if I also didn’t recommend a visit to the Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar. This tiny street-food inspired restaurant has some of the best falafel I’ve ever tried! Enjoy a falafel plate and a homemade smoothie in their shaded al fresco dining area for a welcome break from the heat.
The sunset was gorgeous, but it was the monkeys that really captured my heart.
Watch the Sunset at El Avion
Okay, hear me out on this one. I know it’s a tourist trap. I know it’s filled with Americans. But I honestly loved it here. The entire restaurant has gorgeous views of the Pacific, which are made even better if you visit for sunset. Plus, we were entertained by these goofy monkeys (which were more than we saw in the national park)!
The food isn’t anything to write home about, but the drinks were great! And who doesn’t love a delicious tropical drink while watching the sunset over the ocean? Paradise.
Know Before You Go
This region is incredibly popular during the weeks between Christmas and New Years, as well as around Easter. These are the times when Americans come down to vacation during the holidays. Prices skyrocket during this time, so if you can, avoid visiting during these peak times! However, even during non-peak season, prices in Costa Rica will likely be higher than most other Central American countries (especially near popular tourist destinations). Be sure to factor this into your budget. During our visit, prices for meals and hotels were near the same as we would pay at home in the U.S.
Additionally, due to the large number of American tourists that visit, prices are often listed in Colónes and USD. Dollars are accepted as cash in many locations.
Getting There
Most tourists fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, not to be confused with California’s San Jose airport!). This airport is located on the western side of Costa Rica’s capital city, San Jose. From here, you can take a regional flight or local bus to Manuel Antonio, or my preferred option, rent a car. While there are many tour companies that can take you sightseeing around the country, for the ultimate freedom to come and go as you please, I recommend renting a car. We used Adobe, a popular local agency.
Costa Rica is a fairly small country with tons of things to do outside of Arenal, so it’s easy to visit multiple destinations on one trip, like we did during our Costa Rican road trip!
The ultimate way to relax!
Where to Stay
There are plenty of beach view resorts and local hotels that you can stay at across a variety of price points. We stayed at Shana by the Beach, which was a nice mid-priced resort-style hotel. If you stay in this area, you can consider challenging yourself to the short but steep 10-minute hike down to Biesanz Beach. Otherwise known as Hidden Beach, it is a small crescent of a beach near an inlet. Google Maps said it used to be a gay beach (which piqued our interest), but it seems to be a ‘regular’ beach now!
Packing Considerations
It is fairly humid in Costa Rica year round, so pack breathable clothing. We brought very light raincoats that were perfect for protecting us from the odd rainshower, but light enough that we weren’t too warm. Swimsuits for the beach are a must. I also recommend exercise clothes for hiking and hiking shoes if you have them. They will make the trails (which can sometimes be muddy during rainy season) much more manageable.
Basics such as sunscreen and bug spray are a given – you’re exploring a tropical destination near the equator, after all!
For spotting wildlife, a pair of small binoculars would be helpful. If you’re a photographer, don’t forget your zoom lens!
It doesn’t get much more romantic than empty, pristine beaches.
LGBTQ+ Considerations
Costa Rica is one of the most queer friendly destinations in Central America! This was the main reason we chose to visit. While I’m all for breaking barriers and reducing stigma through travel, sometimes you just need a relaxing getaway where you can be yourself. That’s how we felt on this trip. No one questioned our choice of single bed or gave us weird looks as we held hands walking around the beach. While we did visit more tourist-heavy areas, which likely contributed to our experience, it was nice to not have to worry about being a lesbian couple while on vacation. As an added bonus, Costa Rica passed marriage equality in mid-2020! We felt good supporting a country that was making progressive and inclusive political decisions.
Read more: Top Safety Tips for Queer Travelers
Overall
There are tons of things to do to soak in the beauty of Manuel Antonio, from hiking through the rainforest to relaxing on the gorgeous beaches. No matter what you pick, you’ll be sure to enjoy!
What are some of your favorite things to do in Manuel Antonio? Let me know in the comments!
Read more: Costa Rica Travel Guide
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