Sitting on the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica is the bohemian beach town of Manuel Antonio. Mainly known for its extremely biodiverse national park, Manuel Antonio is the perfect place to visit for tourists looking for a relaxing but adventurous Costa Rican vacation. There are many amazing things to do here besides visiting the national park. This region of Costa Rica has beautiful beaches, stunning waterfalls, and a wide variety of wildlife- making Manuel Antonio a must-see spot on your itinerary.
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The best things to do in Manuel Antonio
Playa Espadilla Norte
This beach is one of Manuel Antonio’s best! It is connected to Playa Espadilla South which is inside Manuel Antonio National Park. But, this section of the beach is free to access and can be enjoyed at all hours of the day. Come hang out under the sun during the hottest part of the day, or catch the sunset during a beach walk in the evening.
Take a day trip to Nauyaca Waterfalls
Visiting the incredible Nauayca Waterfalls is an absolute must-do on any Costa Rica itinerary. Just an hour and a half away from Manuel Antonio by car, you will enter some of the most lush and beautiful rainforests you have ever seen.
Click here for detailed information on how to visit Nauayca Falls in our full travel guide!
Go ziplining through the jungle
Taking a zipline tour in Costa Rica is an unforgettable experience not to be missed. Whether you decide to do this in Manuel Antonio or a different region of Costa Rica, we highly recommend taking advantage of the lower tour costs and beautiful scenery in this country!
We booked a zipline tour during our stay in Manuel Antonio and really loved the experience. This tour took us deep into the rainforest and we were able to see exotic wildlife such as Poison Dart Frogs! Book this same tour through Safari Adventures.
Manuel Antonio National Park
This small but mighty national park is what Manuel Antonio is most known for and it should be at the top of your list when deciding what to do when visiting.
Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest in Costa Rica, but it is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. With specific animal species that are only native to this small area of Costa Rica, you are pretty much guaranteed to see some incredible wildlife here.
There are a few stunning beaches inside the park, including the southern portion of the previously mentioned Playa Espadilla Norte. They are all worth checking out and spending some time at. The beaches in this area are known to be some of the absolute best in all of Costa Rica.
Check out our complete guide to visiting Manuel Antonio National Park here!
Explore the town
The town of Manuel Antonio is actually pretty small. It only has one main road, but there are so many boutiques and shops to explore. Most restaurants in Manuel Antonio have a jaw-dropping view since the town is situated on a hill above the sea.
Hop on a boat tour
Exploring the Pacific coastline by boat is a great way to get up close and personal with Costa Rica’s marine life. Plus, it gives you a completely different perspective of the area as you are looking onto the land from the water. Manuel Antonio offers many different boat tours from mid-day snorkeling adventures to romantic sunset cruises. If you visit from October to April you may even get the chance to see whales!
Biesanz Beach
This beach is a hidden gem in Manuel Antonio. If you visit it, you will find a lot of locals hanging out and not as many tourists as the main beach and the beaches inside the park. This is because it is less accessible than many of the other beaches. But when you get here, you will be met with calm, warm waters in a secluded bay. The local wildlife love this area as well, so your chances of seeing sloths, monkeys, and birds are high. When we visited, we saw two sloths, a howler monkey, and a troop of squirrel monkeys playing in the trees. This was the only time on our trip that we saw squirrel monkeys and it just made our entire day!
To get to Biesanz Beach, you need to drive down to “Hidden Beach” on Google Maps. This is the location where you will park your car on the side of the road. On the right side, there is a small trail entrance that you will enter through and begin the walk down to the beach. It is easy to miss, but there is usually a nice old couple who is sitting near the entrance and will offer to watch over your car while you are gone. They charge a small fee, but we did not mind paying them since it helps them out and we know our car is safe.
The walk down to the beach is pretty short, about 5 minutes, and is easy! Once at the beach, you will find locals selling water sports gear such as kayaks to rent. They are all very friendly and will even help you spot wildlife.
When is the best time to visit Manuel Antonio?
Manuel Antonio falls in line with the same weather patterns as the typical Costa Rican climate. November – April is the dry season, and May – October is the rainy season. Since so many activities in Manuel Antonio are outdoors, it is best to visit during the dryer months of the year to avoid the rain interrupting your plans. When we visited in early June, we only experienced one rainy day. We were ziplining and for the majority of the time on our tour, it was raining.
It is important to note that Costa Rica can be a bit more budget-friendly during the rainy season when accommodation, flights, and activity costs are significantly lower.
Tip: If you plan to visit during the rainy season, try to avoid outdoor activities between 2 pm and 4 pm. Costa Rica often experiences afternoon showers. Try to avoid the months of September and October altogether.
How to get to Manuel Antonio & how to get around
By car, Manuel Antonio is located a little over an hour away from Jaco and about 3 hours away from San Jose
You can easily get to Manuel Antonio by renting a car and driving yourself. If you are not renting a car during your stay, you can take the public bus from San Jose or Jaco.
The nearest airport is in Quepos, and domestic flights are usually cheaper in the rainy season. You are also able to rent a car in Quepos after you land.
Find out more about renting a car in Costa Rica!
How expensive is Manuel Antonio?
This area of Costa Rica is considered to be very affordable. Costa Rica is known to be one of the most expensive destinations in Central America but in comparison to other destinations around the world, it is relatively budget-friendly. Hostels are plentiful in Manuel Antonio and you can even get a beautiful villa with a pool for less than $200 per night.
Where should I stay?
There are a lot of accommodation options in Manuel Antonio. From hotels to vacation rentals to hostels, whatever your budget is you can definitely find something here. We stayed in an Airbnb and had a small home with a pool in a great location.
Other recommended accommodations:
Budget: Selina Hostel, Hostel Plinio, Pura Vida Hostel MA
Mid: Millenium Hotel, MA Ocean View Home, Tropical Heaven Ocean View
Luxury: Makada By The Sea, Parador Resort & Spa
Best places to eat
Almost every restaurant in Manuel Antonio has a five-star ocean view, it’s amazing! You can find a lot of good breakfast places in town, good western cuisine, and affordable local sodas.
– Emilio’s Cafe 5/5 View, great service, breakfast & lunch
– El Avion 4/5 Quick breakfast, cool airplane, view!
– El Wagon 4/5 Great pizza, cool atmosphere, good to call in to go
– La Luna at GAIA Hotel 5/5 Best service I’ve ever had, amazing food, pricey but great for special occasions
– Falafel Bar Did not eat here but it came highly recommended!
Comment your Manuel Antonio tips and experiences below! 🙂
