Manuel Antonio
A national park where rainforest meets white-sand beaches, with sloths and capuchin monkeys right in front of you, and Pacific sunsets from the hills of Quepos.
Manuel Antonio lies on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in Quepos canton, Puntarenas province. It comprises the port town of Quepos and the Manuel Antonio resort area on the hillside about 7 km to the south, and its heart is Manuel Antonio National Park, the most popular in the country: rainforest runs right down to white-sand bays, with sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys and Central American squirrel monkeys close at hand. The climate is hot and humid: December–April is the dry season, with plenty of sunshine and the best beach weather; May–November is the green season, with afternoon rain but a lusher rainforest and lower prices, and September–October are the wettest months. The area divides into three parts: the town of Quepos and Marina Pez Vela (the departure point for sport fishing and sunset cruises); the hotels and restaurants along the resort ridge, plus beaches such as Espadilla and Biesanz; and places within day-trip range, including the Damas Island mangroves, the Rainmaker rainforest reserve, Nauyaca Waterfalls, the surf town of Dominical, and Marino Ballena National Park in Uvita (humpback whales can be seen July–October and December–March). Getting there: about 2.5–3 hours by car from San José, with public buses and tourist shuttles available; Quepos has a small airport with domestic flights. We suggest staying 3–4 nights. Notes: the national park is closed on Tuesdays, and tickets must be bought in advance on the SINAC website under your own name; snacks are not allowed inside the park; beaches have rip currents, so heed the warning flags; mountain roads are steep and narrow, so be careful if driving at night; do not feed the monkeys.
Top sights
- Manuel Antonio National Park – A small national park where rainforest meets white-sand bays; sloths, white-faced capuchins and squirrel monkeys are almost always seen, an…
- Nauyaca Waterfalls – Two cascades with a combined drop of about 60 metres; the lower pool is wide and natural, ideal for swimming, and among the most spectacula…
- Marina Pez Vela – A modern yacht marina on the Quepos waterfront, where sport fishing, sunset catamarans and dolphin-watching cruises depart. Restaurants, ca…
- Playa Espadilla – A long public beach just outside the national park entrance, free to visit, with surfing, paragliding and sunsets. The liveliest beach in M…
- Playa Biesanz – A small bay hidden in rainforest north of the resort area, with calm, clear water. Suited to snorkeling and family wading, and monkeys ofte…
- El Avión Bar & Restaurant – A bar-restaurant converted from a 1954 Fairchild C-123 transport plane. Dining on the terrace beside the wing to watch the Pacific sunset i…
- Isla Damas Mangroves – A red mangrove estuary north of Quepos. Boats and kayaks wind through the waterways, where you can see white-faced capuchins, iguanas, caim…
- Rainmaker Conservation Park – A private rainforest reserve in the valley north of Quepos, with suspension bridges above the canopy and trails that follow a stream past s…
- Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Sanctuary – A wildlife rescue center founded in 1999 by two local primary school students. It cares for injured sloths, monkeys and birds, and tours ex…
- Villa Vanilla Spice Farm – An organic spice farm in the inland valley near Quepos, where you can tour the growing and processing of vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper an…
- Quepos – Once a port for bananas and palm oil, Quepos is now the transportation and daily life hub of Manuel Antonio, with a waterfront walkway, a m…
- Playa Dominical – A laid-back surf town with a long black-gray sand beach that has steady waves year-round. The town is full of surf schools, cafés and hippi…
- Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge – A national wildlife refuge north of Dominical covering rainforest, mangroves and beaches. Trails and canopy observation platforms are great…
Where to eat
- Emilio's Café – A hilltop café with sea and jungle views, known for eggs Benedict, brioche French toast and homemade desserts; breakfas…
- El Patio de Café Milagro – A garden patio restaurant run by a local coffee roaster, serving everything from banana pancake breakfasts to coconut-r…
- El Lagarto – A steak and seafood restaurant built around an open wood-fired grill, where you can eat freshly grilled steak, red snap…
Itineraries
- Costa Rica Four Regions Classic Loop – From the Caribbean canals to volcanoes, cloud forests, and Pacific rainforest beaches, experience all four major region…
- Pacific to Volcano Self-Drive 3-Stage Route – Self-drive down to the Pacific coast first, then head up to the cloud forest and Arenal, and finally return to the airp…
- Family Volcano & Beach Dual-Base Tour – Using only La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio as bases, this itinerary minimizes hotel changes while maximizing water activi…
- South Pacific & Osa Peninsula Wilderness Adventure – Head south along the coast past Whale Tail beach, take a boat into Drake Bay, explore Corcovado, and snorkel at Caño Is…