The increasingly popular beach resort town of Manuel Antonio has grown on the side of one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park, offering some of the best beaches in Central America, as well as rain forests teeming with wildlife and activities from hiking to rafting, diving and snorkeling, and from horseback riding to canopy tours and mountain biking.
Small but popular. Located in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica close to the town of Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park lies 3 miles from the resort area of Manuel Antonio. This Costa Rica's smallest national park established in 1972 was discovered by backpackers in the 1970 and has since become one of the most popular travel destinations in Central America, mainly because of its combination of pristine sandy beaches and lush tropical jungle. In addition to Manuel Antonio town, you can also explore the park from the nearby town of Quepos that has more local flavor.
Manuel Antonio resort town has plenty of local tour operators, offering a great variety of tours from snorkeling and diving in Manuel Antonio area to whitewater rafting and canopy tours, mangrove tours, farm tours and so on. Rafting in Manuel Antonio area is good along Naranjo and Savegre Rivers, varying from easy to challenging depending on season. Wildlife watching in Manuel Antonio National Park is easy and popular, and experienced local guides are available. You can also do souvenir shopping along Manuel Antonio’s beach, or visit the nearby Fincas Naturales private rain forest reserve and butterfly garden that has nature trails and a sound-and-light show at night.
Small but popular. Located in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica close to the town of Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park lies 3 miles from the resort area of Manuel Antonio. This Costa Rica's smallest national park established in 1972 was discovered by backpackers in the 1970 and has since become one of the most popular travel destinations in Central America, mainly because of its combination of pristine sandy beaches and lush tropical jungle. In addition to Manuel Antonio town, you can also explore the park from the nearby town of Quepos that has more local flavor.
Sights and activities in Manuel Antonio: beaches, wildlife, hiking, rafting & diving
Manuel Antonio National Park is a great place for combining outdoor activities like hiking, horseback riding and rafting to lazing around in some of the best beaches in Central America. The scenic area offers a great amount of activities, including snorkeling, diving, canopy zipline tours, wildlife watching, horseback riding, mountain biking, sea kayaking, whale watching and farm visits. Trekking in Manuel Antonio National Park is both popular and rewarding, as you will see both a great amount of wildlife and amazing tropical beach scenery. The four popular beaches in Manuel Antonio area are Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondido and Playita. They are all very scenic and offer great possibilities for sunbathing.Manuel Antonio resort town has plenty of local tour operators, offering a great variety of tours from snorkeling and diving in Manuel Antonio area to whitewater rafting and canopy tours, mangrove tours, farm tours and so on. Rafting in Manuel Antonio area is good along Naranjo and Savegre Rivers, varying from easy to challenging depending on season. Wildlife watching in Manuel Antonio National Park is easy and popular, and experienced local guides are available. You can also do souvenir shopping along Manuel Antonio’s beach, or visit the nearby Fincas Naturales private rain forest reserve and butterfly garden that has nature trails and a sound-and-light show at night.
Manuel Antonio travel information and practical tips
The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has a warm tropical climate with some rain throughout the year. The main seasons here are the hot rainy season from May to November and a dry and a bit cooler winter season from December to April.
Photo: kristinpia, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
The wettest months are between May and September.
Traveling to Manuel Antonio is best done via the nearby town of Quepos. It has an airport with domestic flights to the area from the capital city San José. There are also buses to Quepos from many parts of Costa Rica. From Quepos, there are frequent buses to Manuel Antonio.
Touring options. The resort area of Manuel Antonio is small enough to walk around, with only one road. The national park can be reached from there by foot, but there is also a ferry to the park during high tide. Guided tours are available to and in the park. Car rental in Quepos is also a good way to explore the area. There is an entrance fee to Manuel Antonio National Park, and the number of simultaneous visitors is limited to 600 on weekdays and 800 on weekends.
Accommodation & services.There are a lot of hotels in Manuel Antonio that provide accommodation near the beaches and the national park. The nearby town of Quepos also has many hotels to choose from. Some restaurants in Manuel Antonio can be found along the road, but Quepos has a better selection. Nightlife in both Quepos and Manuel Antonio is lively.
Safety. The resort area of Manuel Antonio has some reputation of having petty crime and scams, so it is good to take caution while visiting there. The national park is open daily until 4 PM, after which the high tide cuts off the exit and allows the crocodiles to enter the area. The beaches in the national park do not have lifeguards.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Jaco, San Jose, Monteverde, Bocas del Toro
