By air
San José (SJO), ~3 h by road; small planes to Quepos (XQP)
North America · Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Rainforest beaches full of monkeys
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — dry season
Don't miss
Playa Manuel Antonio
Punta Catedral
Playa Espadilla
The Quepos marina
Things to do
Guided wildlife walks
Snorkelling
Catamaran trips
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Hanay · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear, insect repellent
A quieter corner
Playa Biesanz, a sheltered cove
Questions travellers ask
When should I plan a trip to Manuel Antonio?
December to April, the dry season. Pack swimwear and insect repellent.
Can I fly to Manuel Antonio?
Small planes fly to Quepos (XQP); otherwise it's about 3 h by road from San José (SJO).
What is there to do in Manuel Antonio?
Take a guided wildlife walk, snorkel, or join a catamaran trip. Playa Manuel Antonio, Punta Catedral, Playa Espadilla and the Quepos marina are the sights.
What's a hidden gem at Manuel Antonio?
Playa Biesanz, a sheltered cove. For dinner, head for fresh seafood in Quepos.
About Manuel Antonio
- Coastal
- Forest
Where it is
Manuel Antonio is a small national park on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in Puntarenas province, just south of the town of Quepos, where rainforest runs down to white-sand coves.
History
Quepos takes its name from the Quepo people, who lived on this coast when Spanish settlers arrived in the 16th century. In the 20th century the area grew with banana and then oil-palm plantations, and Manuel Antonio National Park was created in 1972, when the local community sought to protect its forest and beaches from development.
People
Quepos is a working port town whose people once lived from banana and oil-palm plantations and fishing, and now largely from tourism, guiding and sport fishing. Spanish is the main language, and local sodas serve the casado, the plate of rice, beans, salad and fish or meat that is Costa Rica's everyday lunch.
Known for
- Squirrel monkeys, capuchins and sloths
- Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla
- The trail around Punta Catedral
- Snorkelling and catamaran trips
- Sport fishing from Quepos
Did you know?
Although it covers only about 20 square kilometres, Manuel Antonio is home to 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds, and it is one of Costa Rica's most visited national parks.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.