Explore the biodiversity of Manuel Antonio Park in Costa Rica

Located 170 kilometres from San José, the capital of Costa Rica, there is a spectacular park. Visiting Manuel Antonio Park is unavoidable when travelling to Costa Rica. The biodiversity combined with a variety of activities make this Costa Rican area a must-see destination in the Pacific.

It wasn't in my plans to visit Manuel Antonio Park, as I had planned to explore another site that was more difficult to access but even more fantastic: Corcovado, on the Osa Peninsula. However, a few days earlier I fell ill in Panama, before crossing the border, and I no longer had the time or energy to walk for long days through the forest. So I decided to visit Manuel Antonio and I haven't regretted it for a moment.

The only downside is that it's no secret that this is Costa Rica's most visited park. Don't let this put you off, though, as you'll be missing out on an extraordinary place - and now there are even limits to the number of people who can enter the grounds each day.

So let's get to some information and tips for visiting Manuel Antonio National Park.

Reasons to visit Manuel Antonio National Park

Still not convinced? If I told you that you can hike through lush forests, snorkel on white sand beaches, take in phenomenal views of the Pacific Ocean, and encounter incredible wildlife?

Wildlife

At 683 hectares, Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica's smallest national park, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in wildlife. Throughout the park you can find yellow-breasted capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys. The most popular, however, are sloths and iguanas. 

As well as these, I also saw lots of species of birds, crabs and snakes. We have already counted 352 species of birds, 109 species of mammals, a varied marine fauna and 346 species of plants.

If you really want to see wildlife and this is your main motivation for visiting Manuel Antonio Park, I recommend hiring a guide. I don't do it very often, but in these situations it pays off because they know better than anyone how to find the animals. They are trained to do just that. Book a morning excursion to avoid the crowds.

Hiking

Manuel Antonio National Park has a large number of hiking trails. The main route connects the park's beaches, is perfect for travellers of all ages, and is only two kilometres long. 

Another interesting walk is Punta Catedral, a circular route of around 1.5 kilometres, which can be accessed from Manuel Antonio Beach or Espadilla Sur Beach. Along the way you'll find three viewpoints where you can see various islands, some of which are home to seabirds.

In the rainy season, there is also a waterfall that you can admire and where frogs and snakes live. Punta Catedral was once an island, but is now connected to the coast by a narrow strip of land called "Symbol". This piece of land separates the park's two most popular beaches: Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio.

Still inside the park, you can climb up to the Puerto Escondido viewpoint, from where you'll have a great view of the Pacific Ocean.

Beaches

One of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica is in Manuel Antonio Park. The main beaches are Playa Manuel Antonio, Playa Gemelas, Biesanz, Espadilla Sur and Espadilla Norte.

The two main beaches within the park, Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio, are about a 30-minute walk from the park's main entrance. Playa Manuel Antonio is best known for its beautiful views, but if you want to escape the crowds, escape to Playa Espadilla Sur. In any case, when you visit Manuel Antonio Park you'll find beautiful beaches where you can relax at sunset, but also swim and snorkel.

Tickets for Manuel Antonio National Park

The park is open every day from 7am to 4pm, except Mondays. It also welcomes visitors on public holidays and on Christmas and Easter days, as long as they are not on a Monday.

Tickets cost 18 dollars (around 15 euros) for all foreign citizens, but children under 2 don't pay. I suggest you buy your ticket online on the official website to avoid the queues. Apart from the queues, another reason to buy in advance is that the authorities have started to limit the number of people who can visit Manuel Antonio. This was done to ease the pressure on the environment and the species that live there.

The entrance ticket is valid only once, so if you leave the park and want to enter again, you'll have to buy a new ticket.

What to take to Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is a beach and rainforest destination, so be prepared for both. Take comfortable trainers or sandals, light and fresh clothes and don't forget your swimsuit. With how hot it is, you'll definitely want to go bathing in the beautiful Pacific waters.

Don't forget sunscreen, insect repellent, water, binoculars and a camera. You can bring drinks (non-alcoholic), but according to the latest information, you can NOT enter the park with food. When I visited there was no such restriction. Perhaps this is a recent or temporary measure.

How many days in Manuel António Park

The park is small and the entrance ticket to Manuel Antonio Park is not cheap, so one day is enough. If you want to go to the beach, there are a few outside the park, with direct access to some of them. hotelsSo you don't need to pay for a ticket.

When to visit Manuel António Park

The dry season is between December and April and this is the best time to visit Manuel Antonio National Park. The climate is tropical, so it can rain even in the dry season.

From May to November is the so-called "green" season, when daily rains are the norm, although they happen more in the afternoon. September and October are the rainiest months in this region of Costa Rica. 

The temperature in Manuel Antonio is consistent all year round, usually around 30 degrees, but be careful because the sun is very strong. If you're lucky, you can spot whales and dolphins in the sea between December and March.

Internet and Wi-Fi

The most affordable way to access the internet is to buy this eSIM (with a 15% discount). Discover the world without worrying about roaming and access high-speed internet in over 190 countries.

Money in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's official currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC), but the US dollar is also commonly used. 

Several Costa Rican banks have branches and ATMs in the centre of Quepos in Jaco. There are reports that there are also some on the road to the national park, but I didn't realise this when I was there.

I use the Wise card and the Revolut card to avoid bank fees and commissions. I always travel with both.

How to get to Manuel António Park

The park is well connected to other tourist destinations in Costa Rica, so there are several ways to get to Manuel Antonio. 

Public transport

Manuel Antonio National Park is easy to reach by public transport. If you're in San José or elsewhere in the country, you'll need to get to Quepos first. This is the closest town to the park (about 6 kilometres) and has good connections with Uvita, Jaco or San José.

There are vans (the so-called "colectivo") leaving the airport at various times and taking around four hours to reach Quepos. From the centre of San José, buses leave the Tracopa terminal from 9am for Quepos and Manuel Antonio. The journey takes around 3h30 and costs around 5€. You can check the timetables and fares on this website.

Then, in Quepos, you have to take a bus that leaves every 30 minutes, takes around 20 minutes and costs 350 or 400 colones. The first bus leaves at 5.30am, so you'll be able to catch a bus to get to the park before opening time - 7am.

Tour

Another option - apart from public transport and renting a car - is to take a tour to visit Manuel Antonio.

There is no public car park and the private car park fills up quickly in the morning. Alternatively, go to the Hotel Manuel Antonio and park your car there, for around €3 or €4 for the whole day.

Where to stay in Manuel António Park

There's nowhere to stay in Manuel Antonio, but there are several hotels around the park, some with stunning views and direct access to the beach.

The town of Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park and this is where most visitors stay, as there are shops, cafés and restaurants. I was very well received everywhere and heard "Pura Vida" all the time.

1. Tico Tico Villas (9.3) *My recommendation
2. Millenium Manuel Antonio (9.2)
3. Hotel Playa Espadilla (9.2)
4. La Vela Boutique Hotel (9.1)
5. La Foresta Nature Resort (9.0)
6. Espadilla Gardens Hotel (9.1)
7. Makanda by The Sea (9.2) (Luxury hotel)

If you stay in Jaco, choose Hotel Ibiza or the Villa Creole.

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