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A guide to Manuel Antonio! Manuel Antonio was one of our favorite stops in Costa Rica. Filled with lush jungle and right on the beach, it was a hotspot for wildlife. Looking to see an abundance of monkeys and sloths? This is the place to go! This is by far the most wildlife-dense area we visited while in Costa Rica and we loved it. Read on for info on:
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If you are headed to Manuel Antonio, there is probably a 90% chance you are planning to go to Manuel Antonio National Park; it is the main attraction. It is a small park compared to most national parks and is navigable by foot only. Manuel Antonio National Park consists of a coastal rainforest with nice beaches and forest trails. However, it is known mostly for its abundant wildlife. Our opinion was that the entry fee was worth seeing all the monkeys, sloths and beaches!
Snacks are NOT allowed. They will confiscate at the gate. You can bring your own water. If you are afraid of getting hungry, there is a small cafe within the park where you can get ice cream, sandwiches, slices of pizza and a few other foods!
Pro Tip: bring your own binoculars if you are searching for sloths on your own. They are HIGH up in the trees and hard to spot at times!
Punta Catedral climb, flat sandy trail along the beach and the boarded Peresozo Trail
Tickets must be purchased ahead of time (don’t know if it has always been or if it is due to Covid). You have to provide name, passport, etc on everyone in the group. Click here to purchase your tickets (you will have to create a login).
Guide to Manuel Antonio food! One road goes along Manuel Antonio toward the national park. Along the road there are several restaurants. We took recommendations from the friendly front dest worker at our hotel. Among his recommendations were:
We headed to Rafaeles, but unfortunately it was not open while we visited. Give it a try if it is open when you go! I recommend at least going to El Avion for a drink during the day. It is definitely geared toward tourists with its old plane sitting in the middle of the restaurant. However, it has a great view of the ocean from the restaurant and honestly the plane is pretty cool. El Wagon is owned by the same people (I believe) and has a cute patio in the jungle. The fish wrap was amazing!
The old plane and views at El Avion
Along the main road 618 through Manuel Antonio, again, there are many places to stay among all of the restaurants.
As you drive along the main road 618, you will see the Zip Coaster.
We spent 8 nights in Costa Rica and allotted two of the nights in Manuel Antonio. Spending about 3 hours in Manuel Antonio National Park in the morning, we had plenty of time to explore the town afterward. We opted to do the Zip Coaster following the park. The beaches are also nice in Manuel Antonio.
Two days is plenty of time to see Manuel Antonio National park, spend some time at the beach and do an excursion of your choice in the area (zip-lining, water rafting, horseback riding, hanging bridges, etc). Many of the towns in Costa Rica will offer similar excursions so you will have to decide what you want to do and where you want to do them (recommend zip-lining in Monteverde and white water rafting in Arenal/La Fortuna!)
Your guide to Manuel Antonio! We loved Manuel Antonio mostly for the monkeys and sloths 🦥 . It is the go-to place for increased chances of seeing both (outside of the rescue ranches/refuges). There are hanging bridges at the Rainmaker park about 30 minutes outside of Manuel Antonio. However, I recommend saving your $ and going to the hanging bridges in Monteverde or Arenal!
Click here for a full guide to Costa Rica!