Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio ranks first in the list of the most beautiful coastal towns in Costa Rica. Popular coastal community Manuel Antonio is encircled by pristine white sand beaches and a lush jungle. One of the most beautiful national parks in the world is Manuel Antonio. Wild sloths, snakes, frogs, monkeys, and a variety of other animals can be seen here. The village is essentially one vibrant 6-kilometer road on a hilly area, with a ton of amazing eateries and shops hidden away in the lush jungle.
One of Costa Rica's most stunning beaches, Manuel Antonio Beach is a great place to spend the rest of the day or to cool off after the hike. Espadilla South Beach is on the other side, and it is also stunning. Because they are private property, the beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park are only reachable by passing through the park's gates. It is typical for visitors who have already visited the national park to buy a ticket to spend the day at the beach because it is beautiful and only a 20-minute walk from the entrance.
What to Know About Visiting Manuel Antonio
- It’s expensive. As one of the most touristic destinations in Costa Rica, it is expensive. Make sure to do some research if you are traveling on a strict budget
- You don’t necessarily need a car in Manuel Antonio. There is a local bus from Quepos to the national park about every half an hour. This area is super hilly though so it’s not the best for walking. Taxi and Uber are present.
- Great for all travelers!
- Quepos is a bit cheaper, you can find cheaper lodgings and vacation rentals and restaurants.
- It has a fun party atmosphere.
- Not the best snorkeling in the area but the beaches are beautiful.
By bus
- From San Jose: There is a direct bus from San Jose to Quepos every day at 6, 12 PM (Mon – Sat), 14:30 (Mon – Sat), 6 PM and 730 PM with Transportes Tracopa. This takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes. There is also a colectivo (stops a ton of places) from San Jose to Quepos every day at 7, 10, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00 (Mon – Fri) and takes about 4 and a half hours. Then from Quepos, you can take a bus to Manuel Antonio once every half an hour
- From Liberia: From Liberia, take the bus to Puntarenas and then to Manuel Antonio, every day at 5, 7, 9, 11, 13:00, 14:30, 16:30 and 17:30 which takes 3 hours.
Flying to Manuel Antonio
- There is a local airport right outside of Quepos that domestic airlines such as Sansa Air fly into. From the airport, you can get a taxi or meet your rental car. The airport is about 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio.
By Shuttle
- From San Jose: A shared shuttle is $57 USD per person, a private is around $220 USD.
Google rating: 4.6/5.0
Location: Puntarenas Province, Quepos, Costa Rica
