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Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica’s most popular national park for good reason! With its beautiful beaches and plenty of wildlife to spot, this park is a must-visit while in Costa Rica. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Manuel Antonio National Park!
How do I get tickets?
Entrance tickets can be purchased on the SINAC website. SINAC is the organization that manages Costa Rica’s conservation areas. We highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance as there is a limited amount of tickets reserved for each day, and they usually sell out.
What is there to do and see in Manuel Antonio National Park?
Although it’s Costa Rica’s smallest national park, Manuel Antonio offers plenty to do! There are a variety of hiking trails within the park as well as three beaches. We recommend budgeting three to four hours at the park to have enough time to explore.
One of the reasons Manuel Antonio National Park is so popular is the variety of wildlife that can be spotted. The park is home to over 200 different species, including three of the four monkey species found in Costa Rica.
Make sure to also keep an eye out for macaws, iguanas, and sloths! For some of the best wildlife spotting, we highly recommend going on the Punta Catedral Trail. This trail is rated as a high difficulty level due to the amount of stairs and tge elevation change, so it’s one of the least crowded areas in the park. We were able to hear howler monkeys and see a few white-faced capuchins from the trail.
If you want to cool off after hiking around, check out one of the beaches! The most popular beach is Playa Manuel Antonio.
What should I bring? Are there any items I can’t bring into the park?
It’s very hot and humid in the Manuel Antonio area, so we recommend bringing a hat and moisture-wicking clothing. If you plan to hang out at the beaches, you will need to bring your own towel. Food and single-use plastics are prohibited inside the park. If you want to bring water into the park, it will need to be in a reusable bottle. Your bags will be searched prior to entry.
What time of day should I go to the park?
The park gets crowded quickly, so the earlier that you can get there the better! We recommend going right when the park opens at 7 AM. Once you enter, head straight towards the back of the park via the Universal Trail or Sloth Trail (Paralelo al Perezoso). This will allow you to get away from the crowds on the Main Trail (Camino Vehicular El Perezo) and have the best chance of spotting wildlife.
Where should I park my car?
If you’re driving to the park, be aware that there is no official parking lot, regardless of the signs you might see. There will likely be people lining the road to the park trying to convince you to park in their lot. We recommend going to Chalo Parking, which is very close to the park’s entrance. It cost us 5,000 colones to park there for the day.
Should I go on a guided tour?
If you’re interested in spotting a variety of wildlife, a guided tour might be a good option for you. Be sure to look for a small group or private tour, as many tour groups are quite large, loud, and do not cover much ground in the park. This tour from Viator is a great option.
What else is there to do in Costa Rica? Check out our 9-Day Costa Rica Itinerary and these experiences:
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited January 2025 | Posted June 2025
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