National park · Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National ParkParque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Go, but book the timed entry online the day before and be at the gate by 07:00: 2–3 hours on the Punta Catedral loop and Playa Manuel Antonio covers the wildlife and the beach before the 10:00 crowds and the heat.Go, but book the timed entry online the day before and be at the gate by 07:00: 2–3 hours on the Punta Catedral loop and Playa Manuel Antonio covers the wildlife and the beach before the 10:00 AM crowds and the heat.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
16 km²6 sq mi
approximate
Established
1972
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
- Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
- Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
- Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.
At a glance
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Area
- 16 km²6 sq mi
- Land area about 16 km²; the marine zone and offshore islands add more (check).
- Established
- 1972
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Manuel Antonio is Costa Rica's smallest national park — about 16 km² of rainforest, two sheltered beaches and a tombolo peninsula joined to the mainland by sand — and also its most visited, with a daily cap on timed tickets. The whole thing is walkable in a morning: the Punta Catedral loop plus Playa Manuel Antonio covers the wildlife and the swimming, and the 07:00 opening slot is the difference between a quiet forest and a queue. It is not a wilderness: monkeys and coatis are habituated to bags, the access road has no sidewalk, and touts sell fake tickets on the way in. Treat it as an easy, high-reward half day from Quepos, and put the wilder forest days at Carara or on the Osa if you want solitude.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1972.
Size and age
16 km²6 sq mi · national park since 1972
Land area about 16 km²; the marine zone and offshore islands add more (check).
Why go
- Rainforest, two sheltered beaches and a tombolo peninsula in one short walk — no 4WD and no long hike needed.
- Reliable wildlife at close range in the dry season: capuchin, squirrel and howler monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, coatis, agoutis and iguanas.
- 352 bird species recorded, with toucans, kingfishers and ospreys seen on the main trails.
- You can swim in the Pacific in the middle of a rainforest morning and be back in Quepos for lunch.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctAvoid
- NovCaution
- DecBest
- JanDry, clear; busiest — book ahead
- FebDry and hot; good wildlife on the beaches
- MarDriest stretch; start at opening
- AprStill dry; Easter week is packed
- MayRains return; trails greasy
- JunWet; fewer people, mud
- JulWet; short dry spell possible
- AugWet; green forest
- SepWettest month; park can close for maintenance
- OctWettest; heavy rain, muddy paths
- NovRain easing; quiet
- DecDry season starts; holiday crowds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capuchin, squirrel and howler monkeysDec–Apr · Most visible in the dry season when they come down to the beaches; never feed them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Two- and three-toed slothsAll year · Present year-round; a guide's scope is the practical way to find them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Coatis and agoutisDec–Apr · Bold around picnic tables and bags; they open zips. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Toucans, kingfishers, ospreys and pelicansDec–Apr · 352 bird species recorded in the park. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Humpback whales offshoreJul–Sep, Dec–Feb · Two migration seasons along this coast; seen from boats, not from the beach (check). | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Quepos
Local bus every 30 min from about 07:00 to 22:00, or a taxi; the last stretch is a hilly road with no pavement.Local bus every 30 min from about 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, or a taxi; the last stretch is a hilly road with no pavement.
15–25 min
From San José
Drive or shuttle on the paved highway via Jacó; or fly to Quepos (XQP) and take a taxi.
3 h
Open the page →
From Quepos La Managua airport (XQP)
Taxi to the park entrance area.
15–20 min
From Central Pacific planning
Where Manuel Antonio fits with Jacó, Carara and the coast.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main gate and ranger station | Ticket check, toilets, picnic tables and the start of every trail. | Ticket and timed slot required. |
| Punta Catedral and beaches | The tombolo peninsula, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. | Open on foot; no swimming beyond the marked calm water. |
| Pérezoso and waterfall trails | Short forest loops climbing to a bay viewpoint. | Open on foot. |
| Offshore islands and marine zone | Rocky islands and open water inside the park boundary. | Restricted; no landing without permission. |
Sketch map
- 1Park main gate · Gate≈9.390, -84.145Map ↗
- 2Playa Espadilla Sur · Beach≈9.378, -84.147Map ↗
- 3Playa Manuel Antonio · Beach≈9.376, -84.149Map ↗
- 4Punta Catedral · Viewpoint≈9.374, -84.152Map ↗
- 5Pérezoso trail viewpoint · Trail≈9.380, -84.142Map ↗
- 6Quepos · Town≈9.431, -84.162Map ↗
- 7Quepos La Managua airport (XQP) · Ranger station≈9.443, -84.130Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, non-resident adult | US$18–20 | person | 2026 estimate; online booking fee may be added (check). |
| Park entry, non-resident child (2–11) | US$5–8 | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
| Licensed guide, group tour | US$20–40 | person | Guides carry spotting scopes; park entry is separate. |
| Quepos–Manuel Antonio local bus | CRC 300–350 | person | Pay the driver; small notes. |
| Taxi from Quepos or the airport | US$15–25 | car | 2026 estimate; agree the price first. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Timed entry ticket permit or guide
Licensed guide no permit
Marine zone permit or guide
Park rules
- No food inside the park
- Food and drinks are not sold inside; eat before or after, and never feed animals. Bags with food attract monkeys and coatis.
- No single-use plastic
- Costa Rica's park rules restrict plastic bottles and bags; bring a refillable bottle.
- No drones
- Flying drones in the park is not allowed (check).check
- No camping
- Camping is prohibited; the park is small and closes before dark.
- Stay on marked trails
- Do not leave the paths or climb on the rocks at Punta Catedral; the vegetation and the cliffs are fragile.
- No smoking
- Smoking is banned in the park.
Where to stay
Near the park
Manuel Antonio village and the road to the gate
Hotels, cabinas and hostels within walking distance of the entrance; the road is hilly with no pavement.
Near the park
Quepos
Cheaper rooms, banks, the bus terminal and the Saturday market, 7 km from the gate.Cheaper rooms, banks, the bus terminal and the Saturday market, 4.3 mi from the gate.
Safety
Monkeys and coatis stealing bags high
Heat and humidity medium
Swimming without lifeguards medium
Crocodiles and manchineel trees medium
Ticket touts and fake rangers medium
Walking the access road after dark medium
Accessibility
- The main gate, toilets and picnic area are reachable by vehicle with short, level walks.
- The Punta Catedral loop includes sand, roots and uneven rock; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- The beach inside the park is a 650 m walk from the gate over uneven ground — shoes, not flip-flops.
Visiting lightly
- Book the official timed ticket; the daily cap exists to limit pressure on a 16 km² park.
- Hire a licensed local guide — it keeps wildlife watching skilled and the money in Quepos.
- Carry out everything you bring in; bins inside the park are few.
- Do not buy wildlife selfies or 'monkey feeding' stops on the road.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Manuel Antonio National Park?
About US$18–20 for a non-resident adult and US$5–8 for a child aged 2–11 (2026 estimate; check current rates). Tickets are sold online in advance with timed slots, and a booking fee may be added. Residents pay much less. A licensed guide costs about US$20–40 per person on top.
What are the best hikes in Manuel Antonio National Park?
The Punta Catedral loop (1.5–2 h, easy) is the one to do: forest, then the sand strip between Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, then rocky viewpoints at the tip. Add the Pérezoso trail (45–60 min, moderate) for the bay lookout and the short waterfall trail (30–45 min) if you have time. All trails are short — 1–3 km — and well marked.
When is the best time to visit Manuel Antonio National Park?
December to April is the dry season: clearer trails, wildlife easier to see near the beaches, and the biggest crowds. Go at 07:00 opening to beat them. May to November is wet, with September and October the wettest; paths turn muddy and the park can close for maintenance, but you will share it with far fewer people.
Do I need a guide in Manuel Antonio National Park?
No, the trails are marked and you can walk them alone. A licensed guide with a spotting scope makes sloths, monkeys and birds much easier to find, and costs about US$20–40 per person. Book through your hotel or a tour operator; park entry is always separate.
Can I swim at the beaches inside the park?
Yes, at Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur, in the calm water. There are no lifeguards and no marker buoys, so swim within your ability and stay out of river mouths. Playa Espadilla outside the gate is free and has bigger surf.
Is there food or water inside the park?
No. Nothing is sold inside, and single-use plastic is restricted. Eat before you go in, carry a refillable water bottle, and take all rubbish out with you. Never feed the monkeys or coatis — it is dangerous for you and harmful for them.
How do I get to Manuel Antonio National Park?
From Quepos take the local bus (about ₡300–350, every 30 minutes from roughly 07:00 to 22:00) or a taxi, 15–25 minutes. From San José it is about a 3-hour drive or shuttle via Jacó, or a short flight to Quepos (XQP) plus a taxi. The last stretch to the gate is a hilly road with no sidewalk.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go