Things to know for Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is a magnificent destination that should not be missed, but it is important to gather some additional information before exploring this easily accessible park. To ensure you have the best experience, I have some recommendations for visiting Costa Rica's smallest national park. Take a look:

Bring your swimming suit 

Of course, finding wildlife should be the main thing in Manuel Antonio, but if there are beaches like the ones above, a swim is also a great option after hiking! Bring your swimming suit to enjoy both wildlife and the beach. There are also mammals at the beach.

Don't get fooled by parking attendants

Before you get close to the national park, fake parking attendants will try to let you park where he is pointing. Don't let you fool and say you have to be further and drive until you are very close to the park (check Google Maps). If you park where they are pointing, it can be 2 kilometres from the entrance. 

Book tickets online in advance for Manuel Antonio

There is no way you can enter the national park without booking in advance. My recommendation is to book at least 4 days in advance, so you can also book the time you prefer. Once you are in, you don't have time to get out (except closing time). Tickets cost 18$ for an adult.

Check the trails on beforehand

There are several trails to take in the whole park, and it is doable to walk them all in one day, but you have to walk a lot that day. When we were there, a couple of trails were closed. The most popular trail is Sendero Perezoso (sloth trail), which is number 11. You can find much wildlife here, but it can be crowded here as well. After the cafetaria (number 7) and the beaches (numbers 3 and 6) the trails are way quieter, so if you want to avoid the crowds take trails 5, 9, and 10. The most wildlife you will find on the beaches and trails 2, 9, and 11. 

Don't bring your own food

You are not allowed to bring food and some drinks because of litter and feeding animals (never do both of them anywhere!). Water is okay, but preferable in a reusable bottle. There is a cafeteria in the middle of the park where they sell beverages and food.

Look out for the white capuchins

Of course, the white capuchins are very cool, and they are a great sight to see in Manuel Antonio. However, they can be looking for food and will try to steal food or equipment. Don't walk with open bags, don't leave your bag alone, and keep your eyes open when these monkeys are around, especially around the cafetaria. Also, raccoons can be looking for food.

Don't take a guide in Manuel Antonio

Although the guides are qualified and they know a lot, since this is a national park, I would not recommend taking a guide because it is more expensive. Besides, there are so many guides and other visitors that spot animals, so you can see a lot by walking by yourself and looking up when people are focused at some point.

Bring your binoculars

A good thing when you take a guide is that they have great binoculars, but you can bring your own, and believe me, it is great for the whole of Costa Rica. Animals are often way up in trees, and you can't easily spot them, but binoculars help a lot!

Come as early as possible and leave late

Animals are mostly in the early morning and before sunset, so please come early and book your spot at 7 am, so you can see many animals and the park is not that crowded, as you are the first to get in! Also stay late (maybe stay around the beach from 11 am to 1 pm), because later the park will be more quiet as well, and at 4 pm you have to leave the park. 

Don't show up on a Tuesday

The park is open on holidays throughout the year. The only time Manuel Antonio is not open is on Tuesdays all year, so plan around this day. 

Final thoughts

Manuel Antonio is a great park in Costa Rica because of the great sightings of animals. However, the bush vibe is a bit less, so don't let this be your only national park to visit. My recommendation is always to do this reserve as one of the first, and do this one at least before you go to Corcovado National Park. Overall this is a not-to-miss spot as you can see many wildlife and chill out at the beach, so when do you start packing?

To know more about other national parks and things to do in Costa Rica, take a look at: