12 Amazing Things to Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Take a guided wildlife walk at Manuel Antonio National Park, zipline through the rainforest canopy, learn how to surf, go kayaking in the mangroves, dine with a view of the sunset, and unwind on some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica…these all make the list of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio.

Manuel Antonio is where the rainforest meets the beach. For first time visitors to Costa Rica, this is one of the most popular places to visit.

Not only is this town the gateway into Manuel Antonio National Park, but its coastal location offers a number of adventure activities, ranging from surfing to ziplining to ATV excursions and whale watching tours. Prefer a more laid-back experience? Choose from a stunning array of beaches and resorts, perfect for soaking up the sun and indulging in some well-deserved relaxation.

What is Manuel Antonio?

Manuel Antonio is a small town located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. It is not to be confused with Manuel Antonio National Park, which sits southeast of the town. Quepos is a slightly larger town that sits north of Manuel Antonio.

With so much to do in and around the town, Manuel Antonio makes a great home base. With several days here, you can visit the top sites in town, explore the national park, and day trip to Uvita, nearby waterfalls, and Marino Ballena National Park.

Best Things to Do in Manuel Antonio

First, we start off with the top things to do in and around Manuel Antonio. Later in this guide, we list day trips you can do from Manuel Antonio.

1. Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is one of Costa Rica’s most popular national parks to visit. It is famous for its white, sandy beaches and wildlife.

Two-toed and three-toed sloths, white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, motmots, toucans, whales, dolphins, and a long list of birds, snakes, and reptiles all call this park home.

The best way to see these animals is to take a guided tour. We took this tour and had a great experience.

In addition to the wildlife sightings, visitors can also go hiking, swimming, and relax on the beach.

The #1 thing to know about this park is that you must purchase your ticket in advance. The number of daily visitors is limited and these tickets can sell out in advance. Tickets can only be purchased through the SINAC website.

2. Spend Some Time on the Beach

Beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio Beach is the most popular in the park. This white, sandy beach sits in a protected cove, making it a great spot to go swimming.

Manuel Antonio Beach

Playa Espadilla Sur sits on the opposite side of the isthmus from Manuel Antonio Beach. It is a larger beach than Manuel Antonio and just as beautiful. It’s not great for swimming, because the current is strong here.

Playa Espadilla Sur

Playa Las Gemelas is a very pretty beach that sits in a cove. It’s the smallest of the beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park. Since it takes extra walking to get here, this beach tends to be quieter than Manuel Antonio Beach or Playa Espadilla Sur.

Playa Las Gemelas

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Do not sit under a Manzanillo tree (also called the Manchineel Tree), which can be found on some beaches in Costa Rica. These trees are poisonous. They produce a milky-white sap whose toxins cause blistering and even death. The sap is found in the tree bark, the leaves, and the fruit.

Playa Espadilla Norte

This beach is a continuation of Playa Espadilla Sur. It is a public beach that has a lot of amenities, such as loungers and umbrellas, small cafes selling food and drinks, and even a surf school. This beach is nice, but nowhere near as pretty as Manuel Antonio or Playa Espadilla Sur.

Playa Espadilla Norte

Biesanz Beach

This is our favorite public beach in Manuel Antonio. It sits in a protected cove and is surrounded by forests and rocky cliffs. However, it can be a little challenging to get to…it’s a short hike through a forest to get to the beach.

How to Get to Biesanz Beach: Drive past the Shana by the Beach Hotel and look for parking along the side of the road. An attendant may ask for a few dollars to keep your car safe. The entrance to the trail is on the right side of the road at the bottom of the hill after you drive past Shana by the Beach. Walk the rocky, dirt trail to the beach. It’s downhill all of the way to the beach and takes 10 to 15 minutes. The beach and the trail are marked on our map.

For rent are lounge chairs and umbrellas. Vendors were selling coconut water and non-alcoholic drinks. We saw two sloths in the trees right next to the beach.

This would be a great place to spend an afternoon, if you like the idea of a quieter beach away from the crowds, and don’t mind a hike to get here.

Biesanz Beach

Two-toed sloth at Biesanz Beach

3. Go Ziplining

Ziplining, also called ‘canopy tours’ in Costa Rica, is one of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio. Of everything we did in Manuel Antonio, ziplining was one of my favorite experiences.

There are a lot of companies offering ziplining tours. I’ll start off with who we used and then some information about the other options (Tim put LOTS of research into the best companies…so we might as well share what we learned 😊).

El Santuario Canopy Adventure

This is the company we used and we had a wonderful experience. We picked them because they get rave reviews and they offer Central America’s longest dual zip lines.

Why Pick This One: To do the longest dual zip line in Costa Rica. There are 10 zip lines, 5 hanging bridges, 1 rappel, all totaling 3.6 km in length.

Our Experience

To get here, you can either drive or take their shuttle, which is included with the tour. We chose to drive. We met the shuttle at their office, which is located on route 618, near the town of Manuel Antonio, and it was about a 15-minute drive to the ziplining location, some of this on rough, gravel roads (it’s best to have an SUV).

We took the first tour of the day, which typically has the smallest group size. There is a 50-person max per time slot. Our tour only had 15 people, which was very nice. Plus, doing it first thing meant that temperatures are cooler, and it can get hot midday in Manuel Antonio.

We got outfitted in our ziplining gear and then boarded a shuttle bus/tractor to drive us up a very rough gravel road to the first ziplining platform. The course involves several short climbs up metal staircases to get onto the platforms. Most of the ziplines were rather long and the views of the forest are gorgeous.

The guides keep everyone moving along very well but we did wait in a few sections, which had me wondering how long these waits would be midday, when up to 50 people could be on the course.

The experience ends with one rappel and then a shorter ride on the shuttle back to the ziplining center/restaurant. The tour includes lunch, which is typical Costa Rican cuisine: chicken, rice, salad, and vegetables.

Overall, we loved this experience. It is very well done, the guides are professional but also super friendly, and they really make sure you are having a great time. I highly recommend El Santuario based on our experience.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website. We purchased ours through GetYourGuide.

Tickets include transportation and lunch. For an extra fee, you can also purchase the photo package.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: GetYourGuide offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund for many tours and tickets (it’s a good idea to check the fine print). We booked most of our entry and tour tickets in Costa Rica through GetYourGuide, because we just had to input our credit card information into one website, rather than a long list of websites. Plus, all of your tour tickets are saved in one app, making it easier to keep track of your travel plans.

ADR Adventure Park

This is another company we highly considered using. They also get stellar reviews and also offer waterfall rappels and a Tarzan swing. We chose El Santuario because we wanted to do the dual zip line.

Why Pick This One: This experience includes 3 jungle zip lines, 2 canyon zip lines, 2 waterfall rappels, 1 dry rappel, 1 Tarzan swing. It’s a good option if you don’t have plans to go canyoning later on your trip to Costa Rica and if you have interest in doing a waterfall rappel.

This park is located 40 minutes from Manuel Antonio. Learn more about the zipline course on the official website. Tickets can also be purchased through GetYourGuide.

More Ziplining Companies

Here is a list of other companies that offer ziplining tours. They all get very good reviews.

Canopy Safari: 50-minute drive from Manuel Antonio; 11 zip lines, 2 rappels, 1 Tarzan swing

Titi Canopy Tour: 12 zip lines, 1 suspension bridge

Sukia Park: 10 zip lines, 4 suspension bridges, waterfall rappel; this park also has a wildlife refuge and they offer several other different types of tours; they are mentioned next in this guide.

Quepo Canyoning: 3 zip lines, 1 dry rappel, 1 waterfall rappel, 1 monkey drop, 1 suspension bridge

4. Sukia Park

Sukia Park is a private reserve that is located on route 618, in the town of Manuel Antonio. This gives it a very convenient location, as you don’t have to go far to go ziplining, do a night walk, or do a self-guided nature walk.

This park already got a brief mention for its ziplining course, which features 10 zip lines plus a waterfall rappel. But it offers more than just ziplining.

We visited Sukia Park to do their self-guided nature walk. On this walk, the highlight was the butterfly garden, but you can also see crocodiles and there is a frog and snake house. The butterfly garden was nice, but very similar to others we visited throughout Costa Rica, and the trails were not that interesting to walk (at least not compared to walking through Manuel Antonio National Park and Rainmaker Park).

The main reason to visit Sukia Park is if you want to go ziplining close to town (but El Santuario offers transportation with their tour…and their remote location is stunning compared to Sukia) or if you want to take a night tour. Otherwise, put your time into Manuel Antonio National Park, Rainmaker Park, and even kayaking in the mangroves, all of which are better experiences.

5. Kids Saving the Rainforest

Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) is a rescue center in Manuel Antonio. KSTR rescues animals that are injured or orphaned, rehabilitates them, and then releases them back to the wild. Some animals are now permanent residents, those that cannot be released due to longstanding injuries or the fact that they were raised in captivity and cannot survive in the wild.

We took a tour of Kids Saving the Rainforest, a one-hour tour where we learned about the rehabilitation of the animals and how the animals are cared for on their property. The animals are in cages, but this is a great place to see sloths, monkeys, macaws, and parrots up close.

Overall, I really enjoyed this experience. They are doing a great thing here, rescuing and rehabilitating these animals. Plus, to see sloths up close is a nice perk.

Learn more about KSTR on the official website. We purchased our ticket through GetYourGuide.

Getting Here: KSTR is roughly a 20-to-30-minute drive from Manuel Antonio. The final part of this drive is on a rough gravel road, so it is best to have an SUV.

6. Rainmaker Park

Rainmaker Park is a must-visit in Manuel Antonio. This private reserve is home to hiking trails, gorgeous waterfalls, and several hanging bridges that run through the tree canopies. A visit here requires a bit of hiking, but what you get in return are amazing views of the forest, the opportunity to go swimming, plus the chance to spot wildlife.

Getting Here: Rainmaker Park is a 30-minute drive from Manuel Antonio. There are two segments of road that are unpaved. When we did this, one of these short stretches was very rough. It would be best to have an SUV, but we did see a few standard cars in the parking lot.

Rainmaker Park Hiking Loop: The main thing to do here is to walk the trail through the reserve. This trail is a 1.5-mile loop that is easy to moderate in difficulty. On the first half of the loop, you will climb a series of hills and stairs to get up into the tree canopy. After walking a series of suspension bridges, you will descend to the river and walk a trail alongside the river. During this section, you have the option to go swimming.

Guided Hike: For your best chance of spotting wildlife, sign up for a guided walk. It is possible to see sloths, squirrel monkeys, lizards, poison dart frogs, and snakes. We did the walk unguided and only saw butterflies and a few lizards. On GetYourGuide, you can book a guided hike that includes transportation.

Good to Know: Cash only. Both US dollars and colones are accepted.

Website: Get pricing and learn about the guided tours on the official website. You can purchase your ticket online in advance or onsite.

Our Experience

We really enjoyed the hike through Rainmaker Park. We did this unguided, and we quickly learned that we aren’t very good at spotting wildlife in Costa Rica. Tim and I saw very little in the way of animals, but the scenery is gorgeous. A visit here is very much like walking through the forests in Monteverde, with the hanging bridges and lush rainforest landscapes.

The hanging bridges and views of the waterfalls were the highlight for us, plus spotting a few colorful lizards along the trail.

For those who like the idea of going for a short hike while in Manuel Antonio, with the chance to cool off by swimming under a waterfall, this is a great place add on to your itinerary.

7. Take Surfing Lessons

If you are a beginner, Playa Espadilla Norte in Manuel Antonio is the perfect spot to take surfing lessons. Travel Costa Rica Tours gets excellent reviews on both TripAdvisor and GetYourGuide and they offer surf lessons in Manuel Antonio.

For those with a little more experience, go surfing at Playitas or head farther south to Dominical.

8. Damas Island Mangrove Tour

Damas Island is a small island located north of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It is home to one of the last remaining mangroves in Costa Rica.

This is another great place to see wildlife, with the chance to spot iguanas, crocodiles, basilisks, King Fishers, macaws, capuchin monkeys, crabs, snakes, and other lizards. We saw most of these on the tour that we took, with the exception being the white-faced monkeys. The baby crocodile was a highlight!

How to Visit Damas Island: To visit the mangroves, you have two options. You can take a kayaking tour, which allows you to see the narrower canals, giving you a better opportunity for spotting wildlife. There are also motorized boat tours, so you sit back and take in the views, no paddling necessary.

Mangroves

Basilisk

What We Did

We opted to go kayaking, taking this tour. It is a 2-hour tour, starting and ending at Nacarcosta Wildlife Adventure. The property is gorgeous, with thatched buildings, clean bathrooms and changing rooms, and beautiful landscaping. It looks as if this property is used for other experiences, such as yoga classes.

Nacarcosta Wildlife Adventure property

We took an early morning tour, and when we did this, there was just one other couple on our tour. Our guide led us through the canals, pointing out wildlife along the way.

Seeing the animals and the lush forests were the highlight, but we didn’t think the mangroves looked all that impressive. We’ve done other mangrove kayaking tours around the world (the mangroves in Key West and Biscayne National Park are incredible), and the mangroves here are rather small and sparse. However, seeing the lush forests and diverse wildlife at Damas Island is well worth it.

Good to Know: There is some variability with tour times, as the tours are run at or near high tide. When booking your tour, be aware that the time could change. They usually don’t tell you the exact time until a day or two before, so it is best to book this tour on a day when you have some flexibility.

Damas Island Tours

We took this tour of Damas Island, a 2-hour kayaking tour. We had a great experience and highly recommend it. 

If you prefer to go by motorized boat, this is a 2-hour tour that gets very good reviews, and this is a 4-hour tour (it’s longer because it also includes transportation and lunch).

Damas Island motorized boats

9. Take a Night Tour

A guided night tour offers an entirely new perspective on the region’s biodiversity. Equipped with a flashlight and accompanied by an expert guide, you will venture into the forest, where you can encounter fascinating creatures such as tree frogs, snakes, insects, and even nocturnal mammals like kinkajous and sloths.

One of the biggest draws of a night tour in Manuel Antonio is the chance to see some of Costa Rica’s most elusive wildlife. Many of the country’s species, including the famous red-eyed tree frog, are primarily active at night.

There are several different night tour options in Manuel Antonio.

This night tour at Sukia Park is conveniently located in town, making it easy to get to, plus you have the option to add on transportation.

Rainmaker Park is another fantastic place to take a guided night tour. Or, how about a mangrove tour at night?

10. Catamaran Cruise of the Coast

For those who want to get out on the water, a catamaran cruise allows you to see a different side of Manuel Antonio, and the national park.

On a catamaran cruise, go snorkeling, swimming, and enjoy the views of the coastline of Manuel Antonio National Park. A naturalist will be on the lookout for dolphins and humpback whales (the best time to see humpback whales is from July to October).

This tour can be done during the day (perfect for those who want to go swimming and snorkeling) and at sunset.

11. Take a Chocolate & Coffee Tour

Chocolate and coffee tours are offered throughout Costa Rica, making it a popular thing to do at least once while touring the country.

Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio offers daily tours several times a day. Transportation is included. On the tour, you learn about chocolate and coffee production and its importance in Costa Rica’s economic development.

They are located in a jungle preserve 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio. When we were here, the highlight was seeing a troop of squirrel monkeys move through the forest (we quickly learned that wildlife spottings can occur anytime, anywhere throughout Manuel Antonio, so always have your camera ready).

12. Add Some More Adventure to Your Visit

White Water Rafting

White water rafting in Manuel Antonio is an exhilarating adventure that takes you through some of Costa Rica’s most stunning river landscapes. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rafter, the region offers thrilling rapids ranging from class II to class IV, providing the perfect mix of excitement and natural beauty.

The Savegre and Naranjo Rivers are the primary spots for rafting. The Savegre River is ideal for families and first-timers, with gentler rapids that allow for a more relaxed yet exciting ride through lush rainforests, waterfalls, and remote villages. The Naranjo River is known for its fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping rapids, cutting through steep gorges and dense jungle, making it a great choice for those seeking a more intense white-water experience.

We did not go white water rafting in Manuel Antonio but have done it in other places around the world, and we’ve always come away with some great stories.

This whitewater rafting tour on the Savegre River is a good option for beginner or intermediate rafters. For those looking for a bigger thrill, take a look at this rafting adventure on the Naranjo River.

ATV Adventure in the Rainforest

For those who like the idea of taking an off-road ATV tour, this tour is the highest rated in Manuel Antonio. It is a guided ATV tour through a section of Rainmaker Park plus several rural towns and plantations.

Day Trips from Manuel Antonio

Not only is there a lot to do in Manuel Antonio, but it also makes a fantastic home base for exploring a few nearby towns, waterfalls, and beaches.

Marino Ballena National Park

Marino Ballena National Park is famous for its whale tail, a naturally formed sandbar that, at low tide, resembles the shape of a whale’s tail when viewed from above. This is especially fitting, as the park is one of the best places in Costa Rica for whale watching, with humpback whales migrating to these warm waters between July and October and December through mid-March.

The national park was created in 1992, making it the first marine park in Costa Rica and Central America. It is located next to the town of Uvita.

Marino Ballena National Park | shutterstock.com

Parking: There are private parking lots located in Uvita, just outside of the park entrance. You will be asked to pay a small fee, cash only. We parked in a small lot next to the Bahia Ballena Kayaks & Tours office, just a few steps away from the entrance into the national park.

Cost and Hours: The park is open from 7 am to 4 pm. Get updated hours and pricing on the SINAC website. When we did this, we did not have to purchase tickets in advance; we paid for our tickets at the entrance booth when we arrived (by credit card). However, several national parks in Costa Rica require advance ticket purchases (such as Manuel Antonio and Poas Volcano), so I recommend checking the official website before your visit, just in case this changes for Marino Ballena National Park.

Best Time to See the Whale Tail: At low tide, you can walk out onto the Whale’s Tail, also called Ballena Point. There is a two-hour window on either side of low tide when the sandbar is visible. Outside of this window, it is covered by the ocean. To get to Ballena Point, it is roughly a one-mile walk, one-way, from the park entrance. Most of this walk is on the beach, which is lined with a lush rainforest.

If you get your timing right, this is what it looks like to walk out onto the whale tail at low tide | shutterstock.com

Our Experience: The walk along the beach is beautiful, and can be hot midday, which is when we did this. We got here just past the 2-hour window, so we could not see or walk out onto the whale tail, but the walk along the beach was still very nice. But I do think this gets a lot more hype than it deserves. From the beach, you won’t get the iconic view of the whale tail…you need a drone for that.

Marino Ballena National Park

Nauyaca Waterfalls

The Nauyaca Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. Swimming, cliff jumping, and photography are the top things to do at the Nauyaca Waterfalls. To get here from Manuel Antonio, it is roughly a one hour drive.

The #1 thing to know about the Nauyaca Waterfalls is that there are two entrances to the waterfall. To make it even more complicated, each company offers different ways to get to the waterfall. You will also have to decide if you want to walk to the waterfall (which can be a rather long, hot, strenuous walk) or add on a 4×4 ride or horseback ride (this will save your steps, and some time, but will make the trip here more expensive).

We visited Nauyaca Waterfalls from the Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park. It is best to visit the waterfall early in the morning, before it gets crowded (around 9:30 am, this place really gets busy).

There is a lot to think about when planning your visit here. We wrote a detailed guide which covers how to pick the best entrance, costs, and what to expect while you are here ↓

Nauyaca Waterfall

How to Visit Nauyaca Waterfalls & Get the Hidden Cave View

Everything you need to know to visit the Nauyaca Waterfalls: an overview of both entrances, pros and cons of each, plus lots of helpful tips.

Dominical

Dominical is a small coastal town with a surfer vibe. It is filled with surf shops, restaurants, and beachfront market. We drove through town (it’s tiny, so it only takes a minute or two to drive from one end to the other) and it is an interesting place to see.

We had lunch at Beyan, a restaurant located a short drive outside of town. The food is amazing, and we had probably the best ceviche we’ve ever eaten, which is really saying a lot. The highlight once again was a random wildlife spotting. From the window of the restaurant, we heard and watched two toucans, which entertained us throughout lunch.

Ceviche at Beyan

Toucans in the trees right next to Beyan

Catarata Uvita

Catarata Uvita is a small waterfall that is a popular swimming and cliff jumping spot. It is located along a rough, gravel road just outside of Uvita.

To get here, drive to ‘Catarata Uvita’ on Google Maps. There is a small restaurant here. You will pay them to park and they will point you to the trailhead. It is a short, downhill walk on a dirt trail to get to the waterfall.

There are two more waterfalls with swimming pools that came up in our research. We didn’t have time to visit those, but Cascada El Pavón and Catarata Eco Chontales are two more waterfalls near Uvita.

Go Snorkeling at Caño Island

This would be a very long day trip from Manuel Antonio, but for those who like snorkeling and scuba diving, Caño Island is one of the best places to go in all of Costa Rica.

This island is a biological reserve that has one of the best coral reef formations on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It’s a great place to see sea turtles, sharks, dolphins, and humpback whales (depending on the season).

Caño Island | shutterstock.com

Caño Island is located near the Osa Peninsula. There are day trips to Caño Island from Uvita, like this snorkeling tour, but they take 6 to 7 hours. Adding in the driving time from Manuel Antonio (it takes about one hour to drive from Manuel Antonio to Uvita), you are looking at one full day to visit Caño Island.

How Much Time Do You Need in Manuel Antonio?

To visit the top attractions in Manuel Antonio (Manuel Antonio National Park, a ziplining tour, a kayaking or boat tour of the Damas Island mangroves, some time on the beach, and a visit to Rainmaker Park), you need a minimum of two days.

Any additional time you can add on to your visit gives you time to day trip to Uvita, Marino Ballena National Park, and the Nauyaca Waterfalls, plus visit more places in and around Manuel Antonio.

What We Did (Our Itinerary)

Day 1: Arrive in Manuel Antonio (for us, this was a flight from Maryland to San Jose, followed by the three-and-a-half-hour drive from the airport to Manuel Antonio)

Day 2: Manuel Antonio National Park, Playa Espadilla Norte, lunch in Manuel Antonio, tour of Kids Saving the Rainforest, a visit to Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio

Day 3: Ziplining at El Santuario Canopy Adventures in the morning, Sukia Park and Biesanz Beach in the afternoon

Day 4: Kayak tour of the Damas Island mangroves in the morning; lunch in Manuel Antonio; afternoon at Rainmaker Park

Day 5: Nauyaca Waterfalls, Marino Ballena National Park, Catarata Uvita, Dominical

Day 6: Drive to Monteverde, Costa Rica

How to Get to Manuel Antonio

Getting to Manuel Antonio is relatively easy, with multiple transportation options depending on your budget and preference. The town is located on the Pacific coast, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) from San José, the capital of Costa Rica.

By Car

If you prefer to drive, renting a car from San José is a great option. The drive to Manuel Antonio takes around 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. The best route is via Route 27 (Autopista del Sol) and then connecting to Route 34 (Costanera Sur), which offers scenic ocean views along the way. The roads are well-paved, and having a car gives you flexibility to explore nearby attractions.

By Shuttle or Private Transfer

For a hassle-free experience, you can book a shared or private shuttle from San José to Manuel Antonio. Shared shuttles are a cost-effective option and take around 4 to 5 hours, with pick-ups at major hotels or the airport. Private transfers offer a more comfortable and direct experience, allowing you to stop for sightseeing or food along the way.

By Public Bus

The most budget-friendly option is taking a public bus from San José’s Tracopa Bus Terminal. The direct bus to Quepos/Manuel Antonio departs several times daily and takes around 4.5 to 5 hours. Buses are comfortable and affordable, though they make a few stops along the way.

By Taxi or Uber

Taking a taxi or Uber from San José to Manuel Antonio is possible but expensive, with fares ranging from $150 to $200+. This option is best for those who prefer convenience but don’t want to drive themselves.

Manuel Antonio Beach

How to Get Around Manuel Antonio

Having a rental car gives you the most freedom and flexibility, but parking at some sites, such as Manuel Antonio National Park, can be challenging. Having a car is not absolutely necessary, with the public bus, hotel shuttles, taxis, and transportation offered by the tour companies also being options. Walking is not a great option, because Manuel Antonio is very hilly with many sites being located far apart.

Public Bus

Manuel Antonio has a reliable and cheap public bus system that runs frequently between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. The bus operates every 15-20 minutes from early morning until late evening and costs around ₡350 (less than $1 USD) per ride. It’s a great option for travelers looking for a budget-friendly way to get around.

Hotel Shuttles

Many hotels and resorts in Manuel Antonio offer complimentary or paid shuttle services to and from popular spots, including the national park and beaches. Check with your accommodation to see if this is available.

By Tour

Many tours also include transportation, so check the details of the tours when making your reservations.

Taxis and Rideshares

Taxis are widely available in Manuel Antonio and Quepos, though they can be a bit pricey for short distances. Always make sure to take official red taxis with a meter or negotiate a price beforehand. Uber does operate in the area, but availability can be limited compared to major cities like San José.

Where to Eat

When planning our visit to Manuel Antonio, we had no idea that dining would be one of our favorite experiences here. There are A LOT of wonderful restaurants to try, ranging from quick, cheap eats to fine dining with a view of the sunset.

Here are our favorite restaurants.

Le Papillon Restaurante

This restaurant was so good we ate here twice. Le Papillon is located in La Mariposa Hotel. It has an outdoor patio with spectacular views overlooking Manuel Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean. There are lots of seafood options on the menu such as surf and turf, lobster pasta, a seafood platter for two.

They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The sunset views are extraordinary. Check the sunset time and make your reservation for 10 minutes prior to sunset. Reservations can be made on the official website. We made a VIP reservation, which gave us a table along the edge of the patio, with the best view of the coastline.

Karolas Restaurant

Located in the Los Altos Resort, this open-air restaurant has views of the coastline which are particularly nice at sunset. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We loved the tuna tartar and the seafood risotta. Dinner was so good that we returned a second time for lunch, dining on sandwiches and trying a few of their creative cocktails.

Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar

This is a great lunch spot. On the menu are shawarma platters, falafel sandwiches, hummus, salads, and smoothies. We had lunch here and loved it. The restaurant is located on the main road in Manuel Antonio and finding a parking space was a bit challenging, but there are a few spaces right in front of the restaurant.

Emilio’s Café

If you want lunch or dinner with a fantastic view of Manuel Antonio National Park, but don’t necessarily want the fine dining experience you get at Papillon, this is a great option. We ate here our first day in Manuel Antonio, right after visiting the national park. The menu has a lot of options, from sandwiches, salads, and rice dishes. The shrimp curry was awesome. They are closed on Tuesdays.

Emilio’s Cafe

Victoria’s Gourmet Italian Restaurant

This restaurant is associated with Tulemar Resort. On the menu are pasta dishes and pizza. We had a nice experience here but preferred all the restaurants already mentioned, but this is a good option if you love Italian food.

Where to Stay

Where We Stayed: Gaia Hotel & Reserve – Adults Only

This is where we stayed and we have mixed feelings about our experience here.

Gaia Hotel is a 5-star hotel in Manuel Antonio. We picked it because it has a great location, huge rooms, and it is located on a macaw reserve.

Here’s what we liked: The golf cart rides. Parking is at the bottom of the hill and the hotel is at the top of the hill. The hotel staff drive you up and down in a golf cart. The staff are extremely fun and friendly. I got to practice my Spanish and the staff frequently pointed out wildlife. We saw sloths, macaws, toucans, and capuchin monkeys on the hotel property. Our room was huge and the air conditioning and Wi-Fi worked very well. The staff is incredible and provide a 5-star service.

Here’s what we didn’t like: Our visit was in 2025. The hotel and the rooms need a big renovation. The furniture and décor are really showing their age. Our room didn’t look nearly as nice as it does in the hotel photos. One morning we didn’t have any water pressure and in the middle of the night, our TV would randomly turn on. The rooms are more like what you would see in a 3 or 4-star hotel.

If we return to Manuel Antonio, we will stay someplace else. In our opinion, by staying here, you are paying a 5-star price for a 3 to 4-star overall experience. If it weren’t for the animal sightings and the golf cart rides, I would have been disappointed staying here.

More Hotels & Resorts

Makanda By the Sea (Adults Only) is the other property we were considering. It gets a similar review score. It is a 5-star resort near Biesanz Beach with a variety of villas and suites to choose from.

Parador Nature Resort and Spa is a resort that is surrounded by a rainforest. It gets great reviews, children are allowed here, plus it has several pools and onsite restaurants. This is another hotel we’d consider on a return trip to Manuel Antonio.

Shana by the Beach is a resort located very close to Biesanz Beach.

La Vela Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park.

Mid-range hotels that get very good reviews include Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens (within walking distance of Manuel Antonio National Park and Espadilla Beach), Aguti Apartment (apartments in downtown Manuel Antonio), and Hotel Naoz (small hotel with a variety of room types and an outdoor swimming pool).

If you are traveling on a budget, Nomada’s Digital is a highly rated hostel in Quepos.

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Manuel Antonio or how to plan a visit here, let us know in the comment section below.

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