Manuel Antonio National Park National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park is a compact coastal reserve on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast near the towns of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. It is noted for combining rainforest, beaches and accessible wildlife viewing within a relatively small protected area.

Trails are short and well-maintained and lead to several small beaches framed by rock outcrops and reef-protected bays; lookouts and boardwalks provide regular opportunities to see monkeys, sloths and coastal birds within metres of the paths. The park’s mix of beach and forest makes it one of the country’s most visited protected areas.

The park was created to protect fragile coastal forest and marine fringe habitats and has been managed to balance access with conservation. Over time infrastructure such as marked trails and visitor controls has been introduced to reduce visitor impacts on wildlife and shorelines.

Located on the central Pacific coast of Puntarenas Province, the park sits a few kilometres from the town of Quepos and is reached by a short drive from coastal highways and local roads.

• Visitor limits and timing: Park entry is limited by day-use controls and a set number of visitors to manage wildlife impacts, so arrive early in high season to get tickets and parking.
• Typical wildlife: Expect to see common wildlife such as white-faced capuchin monkeys, two- and three-toed sloths, and a variety of coastal seabirds along the shore and trails.

What to See#

• Beaches: Playa Manuel Antonio and several small coves that combine white-sand beaches with reef-protected swimming areas popular for snorkeling and sunbathing.
• Main trail network: A network of short rainforest trails and lookout points that pass through primary and secondary forest and provide wildlife viewing opportunities.
• Access points and park edge: The park perimeter and adjacent municipal beaches near the town of Quepos and Manuel Antonio, which are the usual access points for visitors.

Manuel Antonio National Park is on the central Pacific coast near the town of Quepos. From San José drive west/southwest via the Autopista del Sol/Route 27 (then Route 34 along the coast) to Quepos - the drive is roughly 150-170 km and usually takes about 2.5-3.5 hours. Public buses run from San José to Quepos (terminal in Quepos); from Quepos town the park entrance is a short taxi or local-bus ride (around 5-15 minutes) or a walk of about 10-20 minutes from nearby parking and bus stops.

• Enter right at opening (usually 7:00) to see the most wildlife and to avoid the mid‑morning surge of guided groups arriving from Quepos; animal activity drops as the day heats up.
• Buy park admission or reserve your entry early in high season - the park is small and popular so slots can fill; arriving at opening is the most reliable way to secure access without delays.
• Walk past the main beach areas toward the park's viewpoints (Punta Catedral) and quieter back trails - many visitors linger only at the beaches and miss the rich wildlife along the inland trails.