Guide to Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica
Having approximately 0.03% of the world’s total land mass, Costa Rica accounts for nearly 5% of the global biodiversity. For a country so small, its global impact is monumental! With over 9,000 species of plants and countless animals on land and in the oceans surrounding it, there is no shortage of ecological sightseeing when you visit Costa Rica!
The biodiverse country of Costa Rica has implemented several initiatives to protect the diversity of plant and animal life, from coast to coast, including the establishment of over thirty national parks and nearly 200 protected areas. For travelers hoping to see wild monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, or spot toucans high above the trees, Costa Rica is a hidden gem for wildlife safaris.
Among Costa Rica’s incredible variety of national parks, one stands out as a unique destination for both beach and rainforest fanatics: Manuel Antonio National Park. Combining the beauty and biodiversity of the country’s tropical rainforests with a stunning coastline, perfect for lounging on the sand or floating in the sea, Manuel Antonio is one place travelers must add to their Costa Rica itinerary!
My visit to Manuel Antonio National Park was a highlight in my jam-packed Costa Rica adventure itinerary! So here’s a guide for visiting Costa Rica’s most amazing national park!
Getting to Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio is located just outside of a small town called Quepos. Because food is not permitted into the park (SEE: Beach and National Park Rules), I spent approximately four hours enjoying Manuel Antonio National Park (before I got hungry and decided to leave!).
Our group stayed in Jaco, a lively beach town located ~90 minutes from the park, and took a private shuttle bus to Manuel Antonio National Park. However, if you prefer to stay closer to the national park, Quepos is only a short, twenty-minute drive from the park. Additionally, there are quite a few hotel options just outside of Manuel Antonio including some private resorts and villas.
Travel Tip!
Due to the hilly topography of Manuel Antonio, it is recommended to have access to a car or private shuttle. Walking along main roads is not recommended!
If you are planning on making the journey from San Jose to Manuel Antonio, and don’t want to rent a car, there are public buses that shuttle travelers for a low price (~$8 USD) from the San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio National Park! NOTE: This drive will take between 2hrs 45 minutes – 3 hours!
Beach and National Park Rules
Our tour guide made it VERY clear that Manuel Antonio National Park was very strict with its rules for visiting the park! Most travelers (and some locals) don’t realize that it is ILLEGAL to feed the wildlife in Costa Rica! You can still enjoy wildlife from a distance, and many local guides will bring telescopes to spot disguised sloths or colorful scarlet macaws! Where there’s a crowd, there’s likely a sloth!
Not-So-Fun FACT
Perched over the Tarcoles River is a massive bridge where tourists gather to look for crocodiles hanging out near the river banks. Before it became illegal to feed wildlife, tourists would throw chicken over the bridge, hoping to see a massive crocodile feed on the snacks. The crocodiles got used to regular feedings from tourists and would oftentimes fight each other over food thrown over the bridge. Eventually, many of the crocodiles went blind. It was later discovered that the cause of this was the hormones and other artificial ingredients in the chicken and other snacks tourists would throw over the bridge! To protect the health of wildlife, feeding animals is strictly prohibited (and now ILLEGAL in Costa Rica!).
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
Any type of food is NOT allowed in the national park. This is to prevent wildlife from becoming addicted to the artificial ingredients in our food! Animals addicted to human foods can become aggressive and dangerous! This rule has also been implemented to keep the park as clean as possible!
Note: there is a small cafeteria (entirely fenced in to keep monkeys from entering) for purchasing food and drinks. However, most everything purchased from this cafeteria is overpriced, so make sure to eat prior to visiting Manuel Antonio National Park!
Single-use plastic water bottles are NOT permitted, in order to reduce the amount of waste left at the national park! Reusable water bottles ARE allowed.
Pets are NOT allowed in the park, with exception to service dogs, who will need a special permit to enter.
Drones are NOT allowed, unless a special permit is granted for use at the park.
Camping is NOT allowed in the national park. However, there are several hostels and glamping accommodations outside of the park that may permit camping on the public beaches (Playa Espadilla)!
It is recommended to book your tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park in advance HERE. Tickets for other national parks, such as Tortuguero and Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio, can also be purchased through this link (Note: this is a DIRECT link, not an affiliate link!). Tickets NOT purchased through the official website may not be valid! Beware of scams, especially outside of the park gates! The national park operates from Wednesday–Monday, from 7am to 3pm. On Tuesdays, Manuel Antonio is closed!
Activities at and Around the Park
There are so many incredible activities at and around Manuel Antonio National Park! Here are a few of my favorites:
Guided Wildlife Tour
Costa Rica is a haven for all kinds of wildlife! Within Manuel Antonio National Park, I spotted two types of monkeys (Howler and White-faced Capuchin) and several sloths!
For travelers who are looking to learn more about Costa Rican wildlife and explore the park with a knowledgeable guide, there are several options for guided tours! Guides will oftentimes bring telescopes for viewing wildlife high in the trees! This makes it easy to spot wildlife, and take photos of animals up in the trees!
Zipline Through the Forest
One of my favorite activities we did in Costa Rica was ziplining above the rainforest! A canopy safari is the perfect way to explore Costa Rica from high in the sky! Ziplining is a thrilling experience for all ages and it is a great experience for families looking for adventure! To book your canopy safari, click HERE (not an affiliate link!).
Guided Canyoneering
Costa Rica’s incredible landscapes make it the perfect place for canyoneering. Between monumental waterfalls and dense tropical rainforests, there are so many incredible places to rappel around the country! If you plan on spending more than one day in (or near) Manuel Antonio, I recommend booking a canyoneering experience with ADR Adventure Park. This canyoneering tour includes rappelling down stunning waterfalls, swimming in local ponds, and hiking across the beautiful landscapes! Guided canyoneering is a fun activity for thrill-seeking adventurers, hoping to see Costa Rica via a “backcountry” experience! To book your canyoneering tour, click HERE.
Catamaran and Sunset Cruises
The perfect way to see Manuel Antonio Beach is from on board an afternoon catamaran cruise! The catamaran cruise was an optional excursion I could add on to my itinerary with EF Ultimate Break…and I’m so glad that I did, because this was one of my favorite activities in Costa Rica! Our cruise was hosted by Manuel Antonio Catamaran Adventures and our tickets included four drinks (alcoholic or juice), snorkeling, and dinner on board the cruise. Despite a bit of rainy weather, we saw lots of fish when snorkeling! For adventurous travelers, the Ocean King boat has two water slides and a top deck to dive off of! I highly recommend booking an afternoon cruise to close out your itinerary in Costa Rica!
Other Tips for Visitors
Visit Manuel Antonio National Park in the morning to avoid crowds and get front row views of wildlife! The park opens at 7am and closes at 3pm!
Manuel Antonio National Park is an isthmus, a narrow strip of land with sea on either side. Therefore there are multiple beaches around the park! Don’t hesitate to explore!
Bring lots of sunscreen! Even though our day spent at Manuel Antonio Beach was cloudy and overcast, many people in the tour group got sunburned!
Keep an eye on your bags! There were multiple occasions where white-faced capuchin monkeys tried unzipping our bags to search for food! Protect your stuff from monkeys (AND pickpockets)!
Enjoy Manuel Antonio National Park! It was definitely a highlight for my trip to Costa Rica!
