Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio  is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica due to its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. It is in the Central Pacific region the country.

Understand
The area that is Manuel Antonio stretches from the town of Quepos and then along an approximately 8-km road up a mountain and then back down, finishing at the entrance of the Manuel Antonio National Park and the beautiful Playa Espadilla. The road to the beach and park is surrounded by hotels and restaurants.

Get in
From San José, Manuel Antonio can be reached by either bus or plane, via the airport 5 min outside of Quepos. Tracopa has several direct public buses daily from San José to Quepos and Manuel Antonio for US$8. A shuttle service can be hired for about US$170 for all the places in a mini-van one way. Duration of travel is 2½-4 hours. Several shuttle bus companies have daily routes that can take from San Jose and many other cities. From SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio Hotels shuttles depart at 4:30AM, 10AM, 3PM, and 5:30PM. There is another company, Daytrip, which offers a shared shuttle service to Manuel Antonio from San Jose a few times a day. They depart from the Selina Hotel in downtown San Jose, San Jose International Airport, or custom pickup locations in the morning (6:50AM, 8:55AM) or afternoon (2:35PM). Passengers can get off at either Quepos, Selina Manuel Antonio, or the center of Manuel Antonio at the roundabout in Playa Espadilla. Prices start at US$30, and tickets can be booked in advance to guarantee a seat.
 * Skyway Airlines has two flights daily between San Jose (Pavas) and Quepos airports. Price is about US$52 per way and flight time is about 20 minutes.
 * Aerobell Airlines runs two daily flights in between San José (Tobias Bolaños Airport in Pavas) and Quepos. From US$60 per way.
 * Sansa Airline runs several flights a day between Quepos and San Jose (SJO) airports. Price is about US$82 one way.
 * Costa Rica Green Airways runs three flights a day between Quepos and San Jose (SJO). Price is about US$99 one way.

Get around
Buses run up and down the mountain every 30 minutes during the day stopping at many places along the way. Cost is ₡315. Taxis are also readily available at about US$8 from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. Scooters and cars can also be rented by those who feel a little more adventurous.

See
Must-sees include the Manuel Antonio National Park and the beautiful beaches. Don't miss the monkeys crossing the road in the afternoons or the spectacular sunsets which can be seen from many of the restaurants and hotels along the road.

Do
The list of activities in Manuel Antonio is endless. Some of the most popular activities include trips to the park and zip-lining and snorkeling.


 * Park tours: Guides can be found very easily around the entrance to the park from early in the morning. Prices per person can be around US$25
 *  Scuba diving and snorkeling: There are around 15 local dive sites and offshore sites in the Manuel Antonio area. Sites vary in ability and wildlife and Try Dives for those that have never been before are also available.
 * Snorkeling and coastal tours with whale watching are also available. Depending on the season humpback whales can be spotted near shore, and dolphins feeding is a regular occurrence during the afternoons.
 * Avoid the sunset tour. They claim they sail on the sail boat and do snorkeling but they just run the engines and the water isn't clear. It's a huge rip off.
 * Zip-lining. Canopy tours are available in this area. They involve zipping through the trees at high speed. Depending on the company, some tours also involve rappels and Tarzan swings so are not recommended for those that have an aversion to heights.
 * La Selvita has 16 sequential lines, one being nearly 800 m (half a mile) long and 180 m (600 feet) off the ground. The guides are truly bilingual and very friendly.  The pictures they take are a bit pricey but worth every penny.
 * White Water Rafting: Two rivers are near Manuel Antonio, the Naranjo and the Savegre. Depending on the season the rivers will vary in strength and speed from a Class II - III during dry season up to a Class IV during wet season. The Naranjo tends to be the faster river with a particular stretch further upstream known as El Chorro sometimes reaching a class V even during the dryer months.
 * Horse-back tours: Tours are available along the beach and to some of the local forest areas and waterfalls. Most companies provide a selection of different tours.
 * Mangrove tours: Take a trip through the mangroves checking out some of the incredible wildlife.
 * Spice Tour: Check out the local vanilla farm and get to sample some of the amazing products produced by Villa Vanilla.

Buy
Check out the large selection of souvenirs and gifts being sold along the beach and by the entrance to the park. The Regalameart gift shop offers the widest selection of higher end, but pricey souvenirs.

Sleep
Manuel Antonio area stretches from the town of Quepos and then along a 6-km serpentine road uphill and then back down to the beautiful Playa Espadilla and the entrance of the Manuel Antonio National Park. The road to the beach and park is surrounded by a large number of hotels and restaurants, offering the visitor a selection of places to stay and eat.

The road is rather busy and lacks sidewalks in some parts. If you plan to visit Manuel Antonio National Park or go to the beach, the accommodation options located near the Manuel Antonio National Park entrance might serve you best. The beach is 200 meters away from the park entrance. From the hills you can enjoy cooling sea breeze and ocean views.

Around the Easter and New Year period, vacancies can be hard to find so it is wise to book ahead. A lot of houses and apartments are also available to rent and many come with personal chefs as well.



Stay safe
Do not leave anything unattended on the beach, even for a short time, especially after dark. There have been opportunistic thefts on Manuel Antonio beach. Take the same safety precautions you would in other parts of Latin America.

Go next

 * San José. See the "Get in" section for flight information.