Manuel Antonio Park Info Center
The park is open daily including all holidays except on Tuesdays
Manuel Antonio National Park, in Spanish the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, is a small national park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just south of the city of Quepos, Puntarenas, and 132 km (82 mi) from the national capital of San José. Established in 1972 with a land area enumerating 1,983 ha, it is considered the smallest of any Costa Rican national park. The park caters to as many as 150,000 visitors annually, and is well known for its beautiful beaches and hiking trails including universal trails for a convenient wheelchair access. In 2011, Manuel Antonio was listed by Forbes as among the world’s 12 most beautiful national parks.
Admission fee:
Adult | Non resident | $19 |
Kid (2-12) | Non resident | $6 |
Adult | Resident | $3 |
Seniors | Residents | $0 |
Kid (6-12) | Resident | $1 |
Kid under 6 | Resident | $0 |
Prices include %13 taxes
To purchase tickets without tours please visit the following site: https://serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr/
With or without a guide?:
Taking a tour with a guide is not obligatory but recommended to explore the forest at it best, learn and navigate without hesitation.
All the tours include transportation from your local hotel, we can help you skipping the lines and pre-buy the entrance fee and save you a lot of time. The tour guides also have spotting equipment to observe and photograph the rather well hidden wildlife.
The tours last about 3 hours of hiking, learning, exploring and beach time after the tour.
Prices may vary from a regular group tour to private or small group tours. If your fall in any of this categories or have a large group please do not hesitated to contact us to get a quote.
Regardless of the time of the year is very important to start the tour as early as 7am.
If you have a question please click HERE, if you want a tour HERE
Important information before visiting the park
Drinks are allowed, no food is permitted. There is a kiosk with food inside the park
Restrooms and changing rooms available
No lockers available
Access: 1km long universal trail and 4km more of moderate to easy gravel trails.
Distance from Quepos: 10 minutes
Distance from Manuel Antonio: 5 minutes
Distance from Jaco: 80km (60 minutes)
Distance from dominical: 45km (30 minutes)
Distance from San Jose: 170km (2.5 hrs)
Weather in Manuel Antonio:
Dry season December – May
Rainy season: May – November
Average temperature: 25 C
Creation of Manuel Antonio Park: 1972
The Beach:
Four beaches are contained within the limits of the park: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Tesoro, and Playita. The first is separated from the second by a “tombolo”, or natural land bridge formed by sand accumulations. It is a roughly hour-long hike from Espadilla to the top of Punta Cathedral (100 m). Both Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur contain tidal pools and offer the possibility of snorkeling. There is a lifeguard program, but precaution must be taken, as rip currents do occur.
The forest literally touches the beach and the presence of animals like monkeys, sloths, coatis, birds and curious iguanas are very common.
Biodiversity:
Although Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, the diversity of wildlife in its 6.83 km2 (3 sq mi) is unequaled with 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds. Both brown-throated three-toed sloth and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth are a major feature, as are three of Costa Rica’s four monkey species — the mantled howler monkey, Central American squirrel monkey, and Panamanian white-faced capuchin monkey. black spiny-tailed iguana, green iguana, common basilisk, white-nosed coati and many snake and bat species are also common in the park.
Included in the 184 bird species are toucans, woodpeckers, potoos, motmots, tanagers, turkey vulture, parakeets and hawks. Dolphins can be observed there, as well as the occasional migrating whale. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking provide opportunities to experience the tropical wildlife that enriches Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio was previously Costa Rica’s second most visited park behind the Poás Volcano National Park which lies very close to San José, the country’s largest urban area. Due to recent eruptions, Poas Volcano is closed indefinitely, making Manuel Antonio the most visited national park in Costa Rica.
Why hire a tour guide to see the park?
Making your researches about the Park, you found out there are two ways to discover the Park: doing it on your own or take a guided tour. Here is why you should choose option two.
You will see more wildlife and learn about it
The guides are certified experts, they know the animal habits and every corner of the Park. You may be able to spot some of them by yourself, but you will miss many of them, hidden in the heights or too small to be seen by yourself only.
Get to navigate without hesitation
Your guide is a knowledge fountain, he will know from the location, to their food habits and even the slightest detail of every species.
If you book a guided tour with an experienced & bilingual naturalist, be sure he/she is certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board. Ours are.
Photography and spotting equipment
Every guide will have with him/her a high-powered spotting scope and they will adjust it for you so you can see the animals from afar. A two-toe sloth with her baby high in the trees? No problem, with the scope you will be able to see them as if they were next to you! Even the smallest bats, camouflaged on a branch, you will see them easily.
Finding the best spots to rest and swim and eat
Our guides are locals and they know the area very well. If you are looking for a great beach, or a delicious restaurant they will recommend you the best places to go. Also, they are really friendly and make you feel comfortable during the tour and do everything they can to make your experience amazing!
Convinced? Book your Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour HERE & enjoy your time.