Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio
Stay three nights for the park, beaches and a sunset meal. We have mapped 1 sight, 1 activity and 4 outdoor spots here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Warmest month
- March
- Coolest month
- October
- Wettest month
- October
1 See · 1 Do · 4 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Costa Rica Pura Vida
from our route notes
31°C / 88°F avg high
27°C / 81°F avg high
about 337 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
1 sight worth building a day around in Quepos.
Photo: Diana Chaverri · Google
Do
1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Quepos.
Photo: Planet Dolphin Catamaran Manuel Antonio · Google
Outdoors
4 outdoor spots for fresh air across Manuel Antonio and Quepos. 2 of them are free.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Jakes19 assumed (based on copyright claims) · Public domainOutdoorsManuel Antonio National Park
Small park of rainforest trails and beaches.
Tip Buy tickets online ahead; closed Tuesdays.
Photo: Yarixa Ortiz · Google
Photo: Gilad Levy · Google
Photo: Rainmaker · Google
Eat
Where we would book a table in Manuel Antonio across Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
Photo: Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar · GoogleEatManuel Antonio Falafel Bar
Fresh falafel, shawarma and hummus plates on the main road; a cheap, fast lunch between the park and the beach.
Tip Grab a lemonade with mint; it gets busy at sunset.
Photo: Ronny's Place Restaurante · GoogleEatRonny's Place
Restaurant overlooking coves.
Tip Closes for an annual break around late September; book for sunset.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Manuel Antonio.
Photo: Gary Cagle · Google
How to fit Manuel Antonio into a trip
Manuel Antonio is stop 3 of 3 on our Costa Rica Pura Vida route. Follow it as-is or lift Manuel Antonio into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Costa Rica Pura Vida
Volcanoes, cloud forest & Pacific beaches
- Trip length
- 8 days
- Best season
- Dec – Apr
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Monteverde
Getting here and onward
- Monteverde to Manuel AntonioMonteverde is about 125 km / 78 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Manuel Antonio month by month
Average daily highs run from 27°C / 81°F in October to 31°C / 88°F in March. October is the wettest month, with about 337 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan29° / 85°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb30° / 87°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar31° / 88°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr31° / 88°F average high, in our recommended season
- May29° / 85°F average high
- Jun29° / 83°F average high
- Jul29° / 83°F average high
- Aug28° / 83°F average high
- Sep28° / 82°F average high
- Oct27° / 81°F average high
- Nov28° / 82°F average high
- Dec29° / 83°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Manuel Antonio weather and the best time to visit →
Near Manuel Antonio
2 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.
Manuel Antonio questions, answered
How many days do you need in Manuel Antonio?
Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Manuel Antonio. On our Costa Rica Pura Vida route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 21 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Manuel Antonio best known for?
Stay three nights for the park, beaches and a sunset meal. Standouts on our list: Marina Pez Vela (Quepos marina with restaurants); Manuel Antonio National Park (Small park of rainforest trails and beaches); Playa Espadilla (Long beach outside the park).
When is the best time to visit Manuel Antonio?
Our Costa Rica Pura Vida route is best Dec – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in March (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in October (27°C / 81°F) and the most rain in October (about 337 mm).
What are the best things to do in Manuel Antonio?
Start with Manuel Antonio National Park, Playa Espadilla, Playa Biesanz, Marina Pez Vela and Planet Dolphin catamaran. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 4 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Manuel Antonio?
Our picks: Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar; Ronny's Place (Quepos). Grab a lemonade with mint; it gets busy at sunset (Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar).
What is near Manuel Antonio?
The closest destinations in our guides are Monteverde (about 125 km / 78 mi) and La Fortuna (about 132 km / 82 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Manuel Antonio with your crew
Open the Costa Rica Pura Vida route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.