In a nutshell
- Manuel Antonio is the smallest but most popular national park in Costa Rica — and honestly one of the most beautiful.
- This article covers everything you need to know: tickets, guides, beaches, wildlife, and where to stay.
- Book a guide — they’ll spot animals you’d walk right past and share fascinating insights. Our pick: Guided Tour through Manuel Antonio National Park.
- Our top hotel pick is the Hotel Plaza Yara — a uniquely decorated property with a pool, tucked right into the jungle.
What You Need to Know About Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest national park in the country, but one of the most beautiful attractions in Costa Rica.
This compact park has almost everything that makes Costa Rica special: rainforest, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and a whole lot of amazing wildlife.
The trails are extremely well maintained, and many can easily be navigated with a travel stroller or wheelchair.
While the ideal time to visit Costa Rica’s national parks is during the rainy season between May and November, Manuel Antonio is really worth visiting year-round.
Where Is Manuel Antonio National Park Located?
To give you a sense of where Manuel Antonio actually is, we’ve marked the national park on a map.
Manuel Antonio is located on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast.
Everything You Can Do in Manuel Antonio National Park
Wildlife Watching in Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a fantastic place to watch wildlife. You’ll find an incredible variety of bird species, sloths, small insects, and capuchin monkeys.
You can even get really close to the monkeys — they’re not shy at all. We think that’s pretty awesome!
Hiking to Lookout Points
From the various lookout points in Manuel Antonio, you get a stunning panorama over the park, the beaches, and the ocean. The trails leading to them are very well marked.
We especially recommend the Mirador Trail. It’s about a kilometer long and a bit steeper and more challenging. But at the end, you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking vista.
Beautiful Beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park
After your hikes, you should kick back on the beach and swim in the ocean. The beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park are among the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.
The most well-known are Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur. These are absolute must-sees on your Costa Rica trip. You can even go snorkeling here and explore the coral reefs.
How to Buy Your Online Ticket for Manuel Antonio National Park
Tickets for Manuel Antonio National Park cost approximately $18 for adults and about $6 for children between 2 and 11 years old. Tickets can only be purchased online through the official national parks website.
In our national park guide, we walk you through exactly how to buy your tickets online, step by step.
Read our national park guide to find out how to easily buy your ticket online
How to Best Book Your Guide for Manuel Antonio National Park
You can visit the national park with or without a guide, but we strongly recommend booking a guide.
A guide will spot every animal, no matter how well hidden, and share loads of fascinating information about the individual animals and plants.
If you’re buying the guide and the park ticket separately: make sure when booking your park ticket that the entry time slot matches the time of your tour.
If you book a tour in advance online through Get Your Guide, you also have the option to purchase the tour with the ticket included.
All in, visiting Manuel Antonio National Park with a guide will cost you a little over $60 in total.
Guided tour through Manuel Antonio on Get Your Guide
Two other options for booking a tour:
At your accommodation: Once you’re there, you can ask your hotel if they can arrange a guide for you.
At the national park entrance: There are almost always guides here who will approach you. However, these guides are officially discouraged — they’re reportedly not reliable.
Where to Stay Near Manuel Antonio National Park
You cannot stay overnight in Manuel Antonio National Park itself. However, the small town of Manuel Antonio, right next to the park, has plenty of hotels for every budget.
If you don’t want to stay in a hostel, expect to pay at least $90 per night for a double room — and even more depending on the time of year.
Almost everyone heading to the national park stays in Manuel Antonio. If you prefer something a bit quieter, look for a hotel between Manuel Antonio and Quepos. From there, it’s only about a 15-minute drive or bus ride to the park entrance.
Our hotel recommendations
Hotel Villa Prats: A small, affordable place to stay. Super close to the park entrance and with parking available.
Hotel Plaza Yara: Unique decor, with a pool and set in the jungle — between Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
Peace of Paradise: Affordable during the off-season. Relatively close to the park entrance and includes a free tour.
Hotel Playa Espadilla: Beautiful grounds with a pool, surrounded by greenery and close to the national park entrance.
Getting to Manuel Antonio National Park by Car or Bus
Getting There by Car
Getting to Manuel Antonio National Park is very straightforward. If you’re doing your Costa Rica road trip by car, just plug the national park into your GPS.
Easy Parking at Manuel Antonio National Park
There are several parking lots around the park entrance. All of them cost $10 per day.
Getting There by Bus
From San José, a bus runs directly to Manuel Antonio. From the Tracopa Bus Terminal (view on Google Maps) in San José, the bus departs multiple times a day between 6:00 AM and 7:30 PM.
You can find the exact schedule on the Tracopa bus company website. The ride takes about four hours and costs approximately $12.
The final stop in Manuel Antonio is right at the beach. From there, it’s a 5-minute walk to the park entrance.
Checklist for Your Visit
- Check the opening hours on the official website in advance — Manuel Antonio National Park is closed one day a week, currently on Tuesdays.
- Book a guide. Our recommendation: Guided tour through Manuel Antonio.
- Book your ticket online in advance.
- Don’t bring food — if you get hungry, you can grab something at the kiosk inside the park.
- Only water and natural juices are allowed in the park. These may only be brought in a glass or recyclable bottle. Single-use plastic bottles from the supermarket are not permitted.
- Bring a rain jacket, your swimwear, sunglasses, and a hat — the weather in Costa Rica is unpredictable.
- Drones and pets are not allowed in the national park.
Our Personal Tips for Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
Arrive as early as possible. In the morning, animals are most active, the trails aren’t too crowded yet, and after your hike you’ll still have plenty of time to relax at the beach.
Watch your belongings. Manuel Antonio National Park is full of monkeys that will steal sunglasses, phones, and more right out of your bags. There are also reports of pickpockets in particularly touristy areas of the park, so keep an eye on your stuff.
Seriously, book a guide. You’ll spot so many more animals and pick up some really cool insights along the way.
