Volcanoes, cloud forest & Pacific beaches
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Costa Rica Pura Vida
Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Monteverde and Manuel Antonio sit about 125 km (78 mi) apart in a straight line, with Manuel Antonio to the south-east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Costa Rica Pura Vida itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 125 km · 78 mi
- Est. road distance
- 150–176 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Costa Rica Pura Vida itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 150–176 km (94–109 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Shared shuttles, private drivers or a rental car link the three stops, often with long, winding roads between the highlands and the coast. Domestic flights exist for some legs. Ask locally about road conditions, especially around Monteverde, where the final approach can be rough.
Open Monteverde → Manuel Antonio directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Manuel Antonio
Stay three nights for the park, beaches and a sunset meal.
Manuel Antonio National Park
Small park of rainforest trails and beaches.
Marina Pez Vela
Quepos marina with restaurants.
Planet Dolphin catamaran
Sunset catamaran tour.
El Avión
Bar in a cargo plane.
Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar
Fresh falafel, shawarma and hummus plates on the main road; a cheap, fast lunch between the park and the beach.
Playa Espadilla
Long beach outside the park.
Before you leave Monteverde
Stay two nights for a dawn cloud-forest walk, a canopy or bridges tour and a night walk.
On this curated route
Where Monteverde → Manuel Antonio sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Manuel Antonio to Monteverde is the same 125 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in December, when Manuel Antonio averages highs 8°C warmer than Monteverde. Over a year, Manuel Antonio gets about 850 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monteverde high | 22° | 24° | 26° | 27° | 25° | 22° | 22° | 22° | 22° | 21° | 21° | 21° |
| Manuel Antonio high | 29° | 30° | 31° | 31° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 28° | 29° |
| Monteverde rain | 13 | 9 | 10 | 40 | 187 | 177 | 131 | 175 | 252 | 289 | 132 | 28 |
| Manuel Antonio rain | 51 | 29 | 39 | 108 | 277 | 265 | 281 | 268 | 294 | 337 | 235 | 104 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Manuel Antonio month guides.
Monteverde to Manuel Antonio: questions travelers ask
How far is Monteverde from Manuel Antonio?
Monteverde is about 125 km (78 mi) from Manuel Antonio in a straight line, with Manuel Antonio to the south-east. By road, we estimate 150–176 km (94–109 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min, assuming 150–176 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio?
Our Costa Rica Pura Vida itinerary includes this leg. Costa Rica Pura Vida runs about 8 days across 3 stops, best in Dec – Apr.
Getting to Monteverde
- La Fortuna to Monteverde 26 km
Guides for both ends
- Monteverde travel guide
- Monteverde weather best time to visit
- Manuel Antonio travel guide
- Manuel Antonio weather best time to visit
Manuel Antonio by month
Plan Monteverde → Manuel Antonio with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.