Manuel Antonio National Park is a destination that makes it on to a lot of Costa Rica itineraries. This park is beautiful and offers something more most visitors. There’s hiking trails, loads of wildlife, and some absolutely stunning beaches. So it’s really not a surprise that Manuel Antonio National Park is constantly recommended.
I visited in February 2020, just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. That visit gave me a lot of insight of what to do, and more importantly what not to do on a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park.
Here is everything you need to know before your visit, including my list of the best things to do at Manuel Antonio National Park.
What is Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a small, protected park in Costa Rica. The park is home to numerous hiking trails and four beaches. Beyond just those activities, Manuel Antonio is home to over 100 species of mammals and over 150 species of birds. That’s a lot for a park that’s less than three square miles (7 square kilometers).
The Best Things to Do at Manuel Antonio National Park
When I talk about US national parks, there’s usually a long list of things to do. Here is different and my list of things to do at Manuel Antonio National Park is small. But just because it’s a small park, doesn’t mean it’s not fun to visit.
Hiking
The main paths through Manuel Antonio National Park are flat. So, you don’t have to do much climbing at all. However, there are numerous side trails and paths. These lead to some amazing viewpoints and you should consider doing some of them. If you take these side paths, be prepared to do some steps and some inclines.
During my time, I focused on hiking to two sights in the park. The first was to the waterfall, which was longer than I expected (because I didn’t read the sign right), but it was still a nice hike. For me, the best part was that I had arrived at the park early and I had the trail to myself. And don’t worry about getting lost. The trails are super well marked and it is impossible to get lost or off trail.
The other hike was a highlight for me. This hike was to Punta Catedral which is a stunning viewpoint in the park. It’s a 0.75 loop that takes you to the highest publicly accessible part of Manuel Antonio National Park. You’ll pass three separate views showing the ocean and the surrounding islands. I shared the trail with more people on this hike, but the views were fantastic and I didn’t even care that there were other people on the trail.
No matter which hike you choose, hike on at least one path. It’s a great thing to do at Manuel Antonio National Park.
Beaches
Manuel Antonio has some fantastic beaches. By the time I finished my two short hikes, it was only 9:00 and the beaches were nearly empty. It was glorious! Plus, what better way to cool off after hiking in the heat and humidity than a soak in the Pacific Ocean?
It should be noted that when I left two and a half hours later, the beaches were packed. So again, if you want some peace and seclusion, go early.
In my opinion, the best thing to do at Manuel Antonio National Park is visit the beaches.
Tips for Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
Now that we’ve covered the best things to do at Manuel Antonio National Park, let’s talk about some tips so you can have the best time.
Arrive Early
Manuel Antonio is a tourist hotspot and because of that, it can get busy. Since my hotel was right down the road from the entrance, I was easily able to get to Manuel Antonio entrance before it opened. But I wasn’t the only one. A line had already formed by the ticket counter (which didn’t open until 7:00).
My point is, you want to get here early so you can be one of the first people in the park. The beaches and the hikes are just so much nicer when there are fewer crowds. Even with the crowds, they can still be nice, but it’s less nice.
Now days, you can skip standing in line to buy your ticket. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.
Bring Plenty of Water
Before you actually enter the park, make sure you’ve brought enough water with you for the day. When I visited, I didn’t see any water available in the park. However, that may have changed, but it’s not something I wouldn’t rely on. If you’re going out for a day of hiking, or even relaxing on the beach, you should have all of the water you will need for the day.
I filled up my reusable water bottle before I entered, stupidly thinking that would be enough. But just before entering the park, I purchased one more bottle. There is a small store right across from the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park that will have everything you may need for the day. If you aren’t sure if you have enough water, stop and pick up another bottle. You’d rather have too much than not enough. And I can tell you that bringing an extra bottle of water was 100% the right decision.
Should You Take a Tour?
Some people may argue that taking a tour is one of the best things to do at Manuel Antonio National Park. I’m not sure if I agree.
You can take an organized day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park from many places in Costa Rica. If you are day tripping into the park by yourself, you still have the option to take a tour. Guides from the park run tours throughout the day that you can join. These tours do cost money, so you need to decide if it’s worth it for you.
I did not take one of the guided tours and just explored on my own. For me, this was perfect. However, if you want to learn more about the flora and fauna in Manuel Antonio National Park, you should really consider a guide. The guides are experts at spotting wildlife, so you’re more likely to see them if you have a guide.
In the end, the choice is yours. You can get a guide, but I didn’t feel like I missed too much by not having one. I’m not a big animal person, so for me, spotting animals wasn’t a huge priority.
In fact, I think that I think it worked out better for me to not have a guide. By traveling by myself, I was able to go at my own pace and jump ahead of most of the early tour groups. This meant that I had some hiking trails and beaches nearly all to myself. And that is just wonderful.
How to Get to Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is located in southwestern Costa Rica. It sights right on the Pacific Ocean, just outside of the town of Quepos. Since it’s such a tourist destination, getting here can be pretty easy.
If you have a rental car, parking is available outside the park for a fee.
If you’re traveling from another city by public bus, focus on getting to the larger town of Quepos. From here, you can get a public bus or taxi to Manuel Antonio.
Or if you don’t want to mess with rental cars or public busses, use one of the shuttle services. I used Interbus, which provides door to door hotel pick up and drop off. It’s super convenient, especially if you are staying in the small town of Manuel Antonio. From the town of Manuel Antonio, you can just walk into the park.
No matter where you are coming from, it won’t be that difficult to get to Manuel Antonio National Park.
How Much Time Do You Need
You only technically only a need a few hours to cover the top things to do at Manuel Antonio National Park.
With a half day, you have time to do a little hiking and to spend at least two hours on the beach. You could easily spend a whole day here and spend extra time on the beach. The only reason I didn’t stay longer was because I was super hungry and had no more food left with me. I headed back into town for lunch and spent the rest of the afternoon on the nearby public beach.
Entrance Fees
When I visited in 2019, I bought my ticket right at the gate when the park opened. However, now days you can purchase your ticket online in advance. In 2024, these tickets cost $16 USD plus tax.
Hours
Manuel Antonio National Park is open year round. It’s open every day EXCEPT Tuesdays. The hours are 7:00 am until 4:00 pm. For up to date hours, make sure to visit the website.
A Note About Snacks
At the time I visited, you were allowed to bring food into Manuel Antonio National Park. That is no longer the case. You are allowed to bring in water and sodas, but all food is banned to help protect the ecosystem.
If you get hungry though, there is a snack stand inside the park. If you choose to get something to eat, I have to recommend that you keep an eye on your food. When I was on the beach, a family was nearby. Monkeys came by and attempted to steal their sandwiches. They weren’t successful, but easily could have been.
Where Should You Stay
The choice is really yours. Because of its popularity, many nearby cities offer day trips to Manuel Antonio. There’s a tiny village just outside the park with a view hotels and restaurants called Manuel Antonio. This is where I stayed, simply for convenience.
Slightly further away, but still super accessible, is the town of Quepos. This is also a good option for a base to visit Manuel Antonio.
However I’ve also read of people day tripping to Manuel Antonio all the way from Jaco, which is nearly two hours away. If you have a car, this many be feasible but I’d be hesitant on taking that long of a day trip on public transportation. If you want to visit Manuel Antonio, I’d recommend staying closer to the park.
So Was It Worth It?
For me, absolutely. I spent nine days in Costa Rica with my last two days at Manuel Antonio National Park, just enjoying the beaches. It’s the perfect way to end a trip.
Continue Your Adventure
Costa Rica Travel Guide: For everything you need to plan the perfect trip to Costa Rica, check out my Costa Rica Travel Guide.
La Fortuna: One of the best activities is visiting Arenal Volcano and Fortuna Waterfall.
Monteverde: From ziplining and hanging bridges to chocolate farms and gardens, there’s so much to do in Monteverde.
Itineraries: For the perfect introduction to Costa Rica, check out this 9 Day Itinerary.