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Manuel Antonio

The beaches and wildlife of Manuel Antonio National Park make it one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica

Boutique Hotels five stars - boutique hotels Small Luxury Resorts four & a half stars - luxury resorts Wildlife four & a half stars - wildlife watching
Spectacular Views five stars - spectacular views Deep Sea Fishing four & a half stars - deep sea fishing Adventure Activities four stars - adventure activities

The jewel of the Pacific, Manuel Antonio, is undoubtedly one of the best of Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park

A beach at Manuel Antonio
A beach at Manuel Antonio

NOTE: starting May 4 2021, Tickets must be purchased ONLINE BEFORE getting in line for the entrance! …and the park is closed on Tuesdays instead of Mondays <<<NEW!

Manuel Antonio national park is not only very easy to get to and easy to stay near, it’s also one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to see wildlife.  This tiny park is one of the last places you can see virgin Pacific coastal lowland rainforest outside Corcovado National Park and the only place you can see it then return to luxury lodgings and your choice of fine restaurants.

The well maintained trails and highly trained naturalist guides carry quality spotting scopes and practically guarantee you’ll add to your animal or birding “life list.” Howler, Capuchin and highly endangered squirrel monkeys, sloths, pizotes (coatimundis) and dozens of bird species know they’re safe within the park boundaries and go about their routines mostly ignoring visitors.

nearby: Portalón Wildlife R. | Estero Rey Nature R. | Rainmaker Reserve | Punta Mala Wildlife R.

Luxury Boutique Hotels and Small Resorts

The ultimate romantic honeymoon destination, there are more luxurious spots to view the spectacle of the sun sinking into the Pacific over waves dramatically crashing on the rugged shore in Manuel Antonio than anywhere else in Costa Rica.  Whether it’s from a private balcony, your own infinity edge pool or the terrace of one of the excellent restaurants you won’t find a better place to share a bottle of wine and quiet romance.

You certainly don’t have to, but it’s easy to spend over a thousand dollars a night for a suite in the Manuel Antonio area and many claim that the best hotels in Costa Rica are here.

Adventure Activities

It’s not the adventure capital that Arenal is but Manuel Antonio is no slouch when it comes to adrenaline.  The Ríos Naranjo and Savegre have great class II through IV white water rafting sections (especially when it’s rainier May through December) and you can take a sea kayak along the rugged coast to hidden snorkeling spots.

There’s an excellent canopy zip-line along the road to Napoles and possibly the longest cable in Costa Rica (many tours claim this distinction and we haven’t actually measured) is a short drive up the road near Jacó.

What is Not in the Manuel Antonio Region

Sometimes it’s as helpful when planning to know what’s not readily available in an area as it is to know what’s there.  For example most of the nicer properties in Manuel Antonio are high above the coast – not beachfront.  For other things not to expect in Manuel Antonio read more here…

Ray & Sue

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Top 10
  • Top Ten
  • Best Kept Secrets
  • Beaches of Guanacaste
  • Arenal Volcano
  • Monteverde
  • Osa & Corcovado
  • Manuel Antonio
  • Tortuguero
  • Tenorio, Celeste & Miravalles
  • The San Gerardos
  • Nicoya Peninsula
  • Southern Caribbean
  • Rincon de la Vieja
  • Turrialba & Orosi Honorable Mention
  • San José Honorable Mention
  • Jacó & Hermosa Honorable Mentions
  • Dominical, Uvita Honorable Mention
  • Not at the San Gerardos
  • Not in Tortuguero
  • Not at Tenorio & Miravalles



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