Travel guide · Central Pacific · Quepos
Manuel Antonio
Rainforest that meets the beach: monkeys, sloths, and white-sand coves around one of Costa Rica’s best-loved national parks.
Gonzalo’s picks
What to do in Manuel Antonio
A few favorites to get you started. Tell Gonzalo what you love and he’ll suggest more, plus the hotels and restaurants he trusts.
Must see
Manuel Antonio National Park
Forest trails that end at white-sand beaches. Book your tickets ahead and go with a naturalist guide: they’ll spot animals you’d walk right past.
Wildlife
Sloths and monkeys
Sloths, white-faced capuchins, and squirrel monkeys live in and around the park. Keep your eyes on the treetops.
Beach
Playa Espadilla
The long public beach just outside the park, with waves, beach chairs, and a front-row seat for the sunset.
At sea
Boat tours from Quepos
Head out from Marina Pez Vela on a catamaran or a fishing trip: snorkel and watch for dolphins and, in season, humpback whales.
Kayak
Isla Damas mangroves
Paddle or float through the mangrove channels near Quepos, looking for birds, crabs, and monkeys.
Getting there
Airport → Manuel Antonio
A private transfer from SJO airport takes ~3 hrs, door to door.
On the wayA stop at Tárcoles Bridge
Plan your transfer
Plan your days in Manuel Antonio with Gonzalo
Gonzalo drives you there and shares his favorite picks along the way: trusted hotels, tours and activities, and the spots only locals know about.
Photo credits. Activity photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under their licenses.
- Playa Manuel Antonio, the crescent beach inside Manuel Antonio National Park · RAMDOM X · Public domain
- Brown-throated three-toed sloth among the leaves in Manuel Antonio · Petra Becvar · CC BY 3.0
- Playa Espadilla Sur, with forested headland and calm surf, Manuel Antonio · WiDi · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Boats moored at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos under a blue sky · Hanay · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kayaking through the flooded mangrove forest of the Isla Damas estuary near Quepos · diego_cue · CC BY-SA 3.0