Wherever you go, go with all your heart. – Confucius
We totally agree. And especially when visiting the Pacific Coast town of Manuel Antonio. You’ll want to take in all the beauty of this little place. You’ll not only want to savor the food, but also the scenery, the wildlife and the people. Plus, you’ll get a bonus town of Quepos, as you’ll have to travel through Quepos to get to Manuel Antonio. Look through the guide below to find ideas on places to eat, stay and explore.
Things to See and do
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
As you travel down the Pacific Coast on Highway 34, you’ll pass through Parrita and then arrive in Quepos. Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio.
Quepos is also known for its sportfishing. We’ll get back to Quepos in another post because this is all about Manuel Antonio!
The town of Manuel Antonio sits atop cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean, so the views are astounding. The main attraction in Manuel Antonio is the National Park that I mentioned earlier. The park gets very busy during peak season.
When we went, it was the beginning of August, which is the rainy season. It was not crowded, but there were still lines for changing rooms and concessions.
NOTE: The park is closed on Tuesdays, but otherwise open year-round, including holidays. The hours they operate are from 7am to 4pm.
As you enter the park you will be greeted by guides who want you to spend money on a guided tour. You don’t need to do this to enter the park. I’ll touch on this more in a bit. You do, however, have to stop at the ticket booth to show them the tickets that you purchased online prior to arriving. You will immediately start down the main, wide path that runs from the entrance of the park to the beach. Take your time, look up above and enjoy the beauty of this national park while you search for a glimpse of wildlife.
When you near the end of the trail you will see a concession stand and just beyond that you will arrive at a beautiful white sand beach with the most magnificent aqua blue water. This is Playa Manuel Antonio. Between the beach and the concession stand you will find the changing rooms. There may be a bit of a line, especially during peak season.
While swimming, be sure that someone in your party stays with your belongings. Never leave them unattended on the beach, as either a person, a raccoon or a monkey may take your things.
Costs and Budget
On the way to Parque Nacional, off of route 618, there is a bank on the left side with an ATM machine. Entrance tickets can only be purchased online and you will need your passport number. The admission fee is $18.08, children from 2 to 11 years old pay $5.65. Tickets may be purchased, only, online HERE.
To get a guide or to not get a guide, that is the question
We pondered that, too, as the cost of the guides is quite expensive. $65 for adults and $50 for children. That adds up when you have a family of 4 or 5. We felt bad skipping the guide, because we knew this was the way many of the locals made their money, but we were glad we did. It worked out well for us, because we could move at our own pace.
The guides we saw on the trails were, in fact, pointing out wildlife, but just by walking through the park, you’ll see many people stopping and pointing up in the trees to see the sloths or howler monkeys. That being said, if you can afford it, the guides do have special scopes to be able to zoom in and see the wildlife much better. They are skilled at spotting sloths, monkeys and other creatures and can tell you all about the animal, their habitat, what they eat and much more.
While walking on the main trail, you will see side trails that take you through the trees on an elevated wooden walkway. Look down every once in a while, because on the ground and under the walkway there are bright-colored, blue and red crabs that call the moist jungle floor their home.
What’s free
If you’re lucky, you may find free street parking for the national park. All other parking near restaurants and hotels are usually free.
Places to Stay
There are beautiful hotels and bed and breakfasts throughout Manuel Antonio and one to fit almost every budget. Here are some great options. You can find more information about places to stay here.
How to Get around and Where to Park
Prior to entering the park, there will be people dressed like rangers and they’ll stand in the middle of the road and try to motion you to park in their lot. Don’t be intimidated by them. Ignore them. Go all the way to the park entrance. If there’s no parking you can always turn around and park in the closest lot or side street. We drove until we saw the gates of the park and then someone directed us to drive down a very bumpy side street where we found the perfect spot within a block of the entrance. We tipped him for his help and then off we went to explore.
Best Time to Go
The best time to visit the park during peak season is right away in the morning. The park opens at 7am and gets crowded by late morning. During the rainy season, the park is not quite as busy, but it is still a good idea to get there early for the best parking.
Shopping
Most of the shopping in this area is off of the main road leading from Quepos to Manuel Antonio, route 618. Along this route you’ll find restaurants, galleries and gift shops.
Nightlife
If you’re looking for nightlife, many of the hotels have restaurants and bars in them. For something a little different, you could try the Ape Eclectic Social Bar or Bar Jolly Roger. These are small, fun bars that also serve food.
Where to Eat
We loved El Avion Restaurant. The view was spectacular! We at breakfast with an ocean view and a sloth climbing the tree next to us. The food was great, too. Other options can be found here.
Packing List
We created a packing list that can be used in almost any season. Even if you’re headed to Costa Rica in the dry season, the Southern Pacific can get an afternoon rainstorm, so we would suggest still bringing a light rain coat. You can find the packing list here.
Pura Vida!
As you can see, Manuel Antonio is an amazing place to visit. It can get quite busy, especially during peak season (Mid-December through April), so make reservations and book things early if you’re traveling during that time. When you’re back, we’d love to hear from you. Shoot us a note if you tried some places not listed here. Safe travels and Pura Vida!
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