Quick Trip: Sloth Tracking in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

I went to go visit some sloths 🦥 as well as enjoy a few days hanging out with great wildlife. Manuel Antonio is a great spot on the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica and a quick drive from San Jose Airport. I'd say 2-3 days is a perfect amount of time to enjoy the area and the beaches.

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Updated ago

Do you like sloths like I like sloths?

They're so cute and to be honest, for an animal in the wild, they're pretty easy to track down. They don't do a lot other than look really cute and nap/snack. The area near the Manuel Antonio National Park is a great place to enjoy a few days or a long weekend of sun, fun, and sloths.

Where to Stay

Parador Resort & Spa Manuel Antonio

@amyposey

One of the more upscale options near Manuel Antonio. Great pools, close to the park, walking distance to good restaurants. BONUS: there are resident sloths on the property so you don't even need to leave to see them!

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Hotel Playa Espadilla

@amyposey

A nice spot for couples that's close to the beach.

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igloo beach lodge

@amyposey

Looking for a unique stay near the park? The Igloo lodge is a quirky option. Good beach access, great food, and a wonderful pool

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Where to Eat

Samui Thai

@amyposey

It's hard to go wrong with Thai and this open air restaurant is cool, cozy, and has great views of the surrounding nature.

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Manuel Antonio Falafel bar

@amyposey

There's an impressive amount of veg food in the region, catering to tourists and the Falafel Bar is a hip choice for a casual meal.

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La Lambretta Pizzería

@amyposey

Views for dayyyys and the pizza is great, too.

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Casa Planta restaurant

@amyposey

Part of the very cool and funky Igloo Beach Lodge, this restaurant offers up fantastic green eats and juices. Definitely get the fresh juices.

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What to See

Biesanz Beach

@amyposey

A small beach with a local feel. You can rent chairs and it gets a little crowded on the weekend, but it's swim friendly and a great place to relax.

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Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

@amyposey

The highlight to any trip in the area, this national park is huge. There's tons of hiking, great beaches, beautiful water, and if you're lucky, SLOTHS! You can hire a guide or if you've got a good map app, go off on your own to explore. It's a jungle park, so bring lots of water, some bug spray, sunscreen, and if you've got a zoom lens or binoculars, bring those for animal spotting.

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Manuel Antonio Beach

@amyposey

Part of the national park, the official beach is fantastic--wide, sandy, shady in parts. A great spot to relax after exploring the hikes and climbs in the park.

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Playa Espadilla Norte

@amyposey

This stretch of beach is fantastic and seems to go on for miles. Outside of the national park, it's dotted with little restaurants and beach shacks for snacks.

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Playitas Beach

@amyposey

Smaller and near the main beach to the east, Playitas beach is also great for relaxing on the coast after hiking and finding sloths. It is a bit of a hike down/up to access.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Posey

Available for hire

California-based traveler focused on short attention span travel. My guides provide info on how to make the most of a short trip and find the best eats (usually healthy/veg!) in town. I've spent the last 22 years traveling, living, and working overseas and love experiencing the very best a place has to offer even if I don't have a lot of time. My guides focus on 2-4 day trips in a place. I tend to get out into nature🌲, check out great restaurants 🍽️, and find great coffee ☕️. 📍Currently: San Jose, CA 🇵🇹 Soon: Albufeira, Portugal 🌎 visited 80+ countries 🏃🏼‍♀️ fast break expert 🏔 mountaineer & paragliding enthusiast 🌱 plant forward + foodie ☕️ coffee lover ✈️ married to an airline pilot, so I live that #nonrev life ____________________________ Shop my guides to suss the best things to do with not a lot of time. There's a sample guide or two available for FREE! so check it out. New!: Cartagena and Medellin Colombia Coming soon!: Algarve, Portugal, Global Pizza Quest, San Jose Burrito Throwdown

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