Activities
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
@juliaschaefer
The centerpiece of the area is Manuel Antonio National Park, a small park (only about 7 square miles) but jam-packed with biodiversity. The park protects rainforests teeming with monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and a variety of birds. Visitors can hike well-maintained trails through the rainforest canopy, spotting wildlife and enjoying the lush vegetation. The park is also home to several beautiful beaches, including Manuel Antonio Beach, which is known for its soft white sand, clear turquoise waters, and picturesque setting.
If you plan to visit you must reserve your spot online and pay ahead of time! You will need your passport to make the reservation.
I will also note that they do not allow plastic or food into the park. There is a cafeteria in the middle of the park where you can purchase food and beverages!
Details
Manuel Antonio Beach
@juliaschaefer
National Park Entry: Since the beach lies within the national park, there's an entrance fee to access it. Park entry is limited, so be sure to book your tickets in advance, especially during peak season.
Popularity: This beach is highly sought-after, so expect crowds, particularly during holidays and weekends.
Limited Amenities: There are no restaurants or shops directly on the beach itself. However, there are basic facilities like restrooms and changing areas available.
Manuel Antonio Beach is a postcard-perfect paradise that combines stunning scenery, rainforest charm, and opportunities for swimming and relaxation. If you're visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, this beach is a must-see as you can swim on both sides of this geographical wonder.
Details
Espadilla Beach
@juliaschaefer
Espadilla Beach is a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. The beach offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including swimming, surfing, sunbathing, horseback riding, parasailing, and banana boat rides. There are also several restaurants and souvenir shops located beside the beach, as well as vendors selling cold beverages, snacks, and coconut water.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you're planning to visit Espadilla Beach:
👉🏻The beach can be crowded, especially during peak season.
👉🏻The currents can be strong, so be sure to swim in designated areas.
👉🏻There is limited natural shade on the beach, so you may want to rent an umbrella.
👉🏻Parking can be challenging, especially during peak season. There is free public parking available, but it fills up quickly. There are also private parking lots that charge a fee. (I recommend taking the bus, taxis, Ubers, or walking)
👉🏻Be aware of vendors selling souvenirs and snacks on the beach. They can be persistent, and it's important to haggle for a fair price.
Details
Real Adventures
@juliaschaefer
Our airbnb hosts set up this tour for us and it was awesome! A shuttle picked us up from our hotel and drove us about 30 minutes to the main site. After checking in and getting instructions we set out on a 2 hour tour through the forest and mountains. We stopped for a break out a waterfall with a small swimming hole and had some complimentary watermelon and water. When we got back to the site, a homecooked lunch of chicken, rice, and beans was provided with us along with freshly made ice team. Our tour guides were great.
We paid $150 for 2 people to ride 1 ATV!
Details
Biesanz Beach
@juliaschaefer
Although we ran out of time to explore this beach, multiple locals recommended it to us!
Details
Restaurants
Restaurante Buru Seaside Manuel Antonio
@juliaschaefer
2 for 1 happy hour! Great Pina coladas and strawberry daiquiris.
Details
La Lambretta Pizzería
@juliaschaefer
This restaurant has an amazing view of the water. While we didn't eat here, they are known for their pizzas and we had some delicious cocktails. I will note that this was the only place we had difficulty with using our credit cards with and we ended up having to take cash out of an ATM.
Details
El Avion
@juliaschaefer
This place was so cool built from an old airplane. It also extends out over the cliff for a beautiful view of the ocean. We came here for a quick cocktail hour, and then explore the inside of the cockpit!
Details
Baldi's Fresh Restaurant
@juliaschaefer
We stopped here for lunch while trying to avoid the rain on the beach. The food was really good and reasonably priced.
Details
SUNSET
@juliaschaefer
We stopped here for happy hour drinks on our way to dinner. There was a manager outside, offering us a free round of shots which you can see pictured happy hour was two for one!
Details
Namaste Indian Restaurant, Manuel Antonio
@juliaschaefer
We tried this place after wanting to switch up dinner. The food was unbelievable a little pricey, but they just opened and totally worth it. We also got complementary dessert.
Details
Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar
@juliaschaefer
The falafel bar was across the street from our hotel. Big portions and reasonably priced.
Details
YOLO Social
@juliaschaefer
Probably my favorite place we went there two nights in a row. The Celtics playoff games were on while we were here and we were able to watch it both times. They also have live music and cocktails a little expensive but the atmosphere is worth the price. I definitely recommend coming here.
Details
Where We Stayed
Our Airbnb was exactly what we needed. It was extremely affordable, safe, and they provided free breakfast for us every morning (smoothie bowl, pancakes, or oat meal). They provided a ton of local recommendations and even booked our ATV tour for us. Our hosts were very communicative and there was a great view of the ocean.
Transportation
We drove from La Fortuna and to Manuel Antonio by private shuttle! We booked through the below company and had no problems. They were on time, knowledgeable of the area, and we were able to stop at a souvenir shop to look around and use the bathrooms. This was about a 6 hour drive that was very scenic.
Although it is technically illegal, we used Uber to get around. The bus system also has a stop by Manuel Antonio beach that runs about every 15 minutes. You can get on for about .75 cents and it will stop wherever you need it to!
We also used the above shuttle service to get back to San Jose for our return flight. It was about a 3 hour drive.
Our Itinerary
Day 1:
- Arrive at Manuel Antonio
- Explore Espadilla or Biesanz Beach
- Get Dinner
Day 2:
- Wake up early and explore Manuel Antonio National Park
- Dinner and Drinks
Day 3:
- Get surf lessons at the beach
- Real Adventures ATV
- Dinner and Drinks
Day 4:
- Depart
Trip Recap
The lay of the land
A quick overview of the most important things to know.
LANGUAGE 💬
In Costa Rica most people speak Spanish as their first language, although many locals also speak English, especially in tourist areas.
CURRENCY 💵
Costa Rican Colón (CRC) and in most instance the U.S. Dollar is also accepted (USD)
MAIN AIRPORT ✈️
The closest international airport to Manuel Antonio is the Juan Santamaria SJO Airport in Alajuela, a three-to-four-hour drive from La Fortuna.
BEST TIME TO VISIT 🗓
December-April; May- June if you want to avoid crowds although it’s the beginning of the rainy season.
TIPPING 💸
You do not need to tip in restaurants as the tip is added to your bill automatically at the end of the meal as a service charge. If you would like to leave more you are certainly welcome to do so.
TRANSPORTATION 🚂
Buses are the most common form of transportation. Private shuttles like the ones I linked above are also common for long distance travel. Taxis and Ubers (although technically illegal) are also doable.
* * *
