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The 13 best things to do with kids in Manuel Antonio
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Wanderlog staff
Updated • updatedJul 16, 2025
Updated • updatedJul 16, 2025
Many of us love traveling on the Wanderlog team, so naturally we’re always on the hunt to find the most popular spots anytime we travel somewhere new. With favorites like Manuel Antonio National Park, Manuel Antonio Beach, and Quepos and more, get ready to experience the best places in Manuel Antonio.
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Other best of categories in Manuel Antonio
Restaurants
Attractions
Family restaurants
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Kid-friendly attractions
Beaches
Hotels
National park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a vast coastal rainforest reserve teeming with diverse wildlife and marine species. Visitors can enjoy guided hikes, kayaking in the Isla Damas Mangroves, and nocturnal wildlife sightings on a Jungle Night Walk. The park offers various activities such as sea kayaking and catamaran cruises. It is well-connected to Central Highlands, Arenal, Monteverde, South Pacific, and Osa Peninsula.
Manuel Antonio National Park was one of the highlights of our trip. We saw sloths, monkeys, tiny frogs, colorful crabs, and so much more. The park is stunning, with lush trails, mangroves, and breathtaking coastal views.
We visited in August and were blessed with cool weather and no rain, despite a forecast for showers all day. The morning is the best time to go—get there as early as possible (we recommend by 8 AM) to enjoy the park before it gets crowded. Be sure to book your reservation in advance.
We changed into swimsuits before reaching the first beach and spent a couple of hours playing in the calm waves—perfect for kids. Afterward, we showered to rinse off the sand. I stayed in my swim dress for the rest of the hike, while others changed into dry clothes. I wore Teva sandals, but other family members wore walking shoes.
Tips:
• No spray sunscreen or bug spray is allowed inside—rangers check bags at the entrance.
• No outside food is permitted, but there’s a small restaurant inside for snacks and drinks.
• The mangrove areas are beautiful and fun to explore, especially for kids.
• Bring binoculars for the best wildlife viewing.
• Don’t wear your swimsuit under your clothes on the hike in—it’s humid, and you’ll be glad to change before swimming.
Manuel Antonio is a must-do when in Costa Rica. The combination of wildlife, natural beauty, and beach time made it an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend getting a tour guide like we did—you’ll see and learn so much more.
Hannah B — Google review
Trails are great, overall experience is satisfying. We saw almost all birds and animals there. It’s better to come in the very morning(7am) not to encounter too many people and to see more animals.
Didn’t like guides there at all, they are very mean, rude and annoying. If you are enough attentive, you could spot all animals on your own, just check any crowd of people watching smth))
also be aware of monkeys on a beach, they can steal your stuff if you leave it on the ground.
One of the best parks to visit in Costa Rica and a recommended spot for anyone visiting the country. Entrance fees can be paid ahead of time online(recommended). When you’re driving up be weary of unofficial people offering you tickets and guides. Additionally, the park does offer guides but I always opt for the self service tour. The park has an amazing nature trail that leads to a beautiful beach. Keep walking down the beach for another hike with some great overlooks and monkeys!
Beautiful mix of rainforest, beaches, and wildlife. You can spot monkeys, sloths, and colorful birds along easy trails that end at stunning beaches. Go early to avoid crowds and heat. Small but unforgettable, one of Costa Rica’s must-see gems.
Beautiful place. Fantastic guides able to spot an iguana or a snake from a hundred paces. Great knowledge and superb telescopic lenses to see howler monkeys, bats, etc up close.
The park has stunning beaches.
Beautiful nature but tickets can only be bought online which took us half an hour and still didn't work. We gave up and bought them at the touroperator with a guide which was quite expensive, but the only way to book cash. Hence minus 2 stars. The guide was nice and it was a cool tour.
Super rad experience, we saw almost every animal and bug you could on one tour through this magical hike to the beach! Then we hiked more! There is a spot where the puma lives, of course we took that trail too!!! No puma but so worth it! My legs look so good after that mean hike! FYI take the beach route back! Do not just go the same way back! It is worth it!
This is a must do! Leave all of your drinks and snacks at home. Most of the walking is in shaded jungle, on somewhat slippery walkways. We saw sloths, monkeys, bat's, iguanas, sneaks, deer and more. Bring a refillable water bottle (with water) watch for pushy parking scamers before the park entrance. Higher a guide once inside the park if you can - our negotiated price went from $70 us per person to $10 in the park. Our guide was honestly phenomenal. Be ready to go to the beach it's paradise.
Puntarenas Province, Quepos, Costa Rica•
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Manuel Antonio Beach, located within Manuel Antonio National Park, offers a picturesque sandy stretch where visitors can enjoy swimming while being surrounded by lush trees filled with monkeys and various bird species. The park spans seven square miles and boasts an incredible biodiversity, including capuchin monkeys, iguanas, crabs, sloths, pelicans, frogs, butterflies, and a variety of birds. Local guides enhance the experience by providing insights into the diverse wildlife.
So fun to be on this beach with all the locals! Get off the resorts and mingle — you’ll have an amazing experience! We stayed at the Millennium Hotel this time. You can walk right to the beach from there. You can get cabanas and surfing lessons — there’s parasailing and lots of restaurants.
Gayla G — Google review
My favorite beach in Costa Rica.
Parking should cost you around $6-$8 per day
Chair and umbrella rental about $8-$10 for a pair.
Follow the safety guidelines and listen to the lifeguards. Pay attention to the flags as this is one of the beaches with the strongest rip ties.
Had the perfect beach day here. Perfect weather, lots of shade, clear blue water, and the wildlife and scenery is unmatched.
For me one of the best beaches in whole Costa Rica for relaxing and especially swimming. It is part ot the national park of Manuel Antonio so you really need to book your tickets in advance. If there are sold out there is another possibily to enter. You can go directly to the main entrance of the national park and book a guided tour. I would generally recommend a official tour guide to see the animals in the park. Without it is really hard to see. After the tour you can stay all day long at the beach. So dont forget your swim things. Attention!!! On the way (street) to the parking slot you will be stopped by many people. They act (show an fact id) like they are tour guides from the national park but they are not offically. They try to sell you tours 2 to 3 times more than the offically prices. Be aware of this and dont buy tickets there. You can easily do this at the main entrance (also when online is sold out) or online.
The walk to the beach was hot and humid (great anticipation) only to get to the beach and see how amazing the waves looked with a gorgeous view south
This beach is probably one of the best in the world. If you’re lucky enough to be here right when the sun is out then it’s your lucky day. The water is warm and there are jungle leaves floating in it which makes it feel magical. The white sand paired with the stunning jungle create the perfect scene. AND there are capuchin monkeys loitering around.
The park itself is beautiful, but the staff behaved terribly.
First, we had to wait in line under the sun while the staff at the bag check and ticket entrance moved like sleepy — or even dying — flies. They were all about “Pura Vida” — fine, but this was just careless.
Then, our 3-year-old wanted to buy a coconut right outside the entrance. We weren’t allowed to enter the park with it — okay, fair enough — but we also weren’t allowed to throw it away in their eco trash bin. I had to leave and walk half a block just to throw away a damn coconut.
And then came the most absurd part: at the beach, our toddler caught a tiny crab and released it. A security guard saw this and tried to kick us out of the park. It was ridiculous and humiliating. We tried to calmly explain ourselves, but the guard called in three more people over the radio — none of whom spoke English — and all four of them started escorting me, my husband, and our small child out of the park. They followed us all the way to the exit.
Honestly, there’s no need to visit this place for the animals — you’ll see sloths, toucans, monkeys, crabs, and iguanas on any Manuel Antonio beach. And as for spotting anything else — I doubt there’s much more to see inside anyway.
Playa Blanca, located not far from Jacó, is far more beautiful — the water is calmer, the sand is whiter, and the scenery is much more impressive. So no, I absolutely don’t recommend paying to be treated this way.
This beach has next level beauty. The Pacific has an emerald hue here. It gets very busy however, as it is attached to the most popular National Park in Costa Rica. My advice would be to go early and before your tour of the National Park to avoid the crowds. I visited here after the tour, and as the park rangers police this beach, they very forcefully make sure you are on your way home by 4pm. They blow their whistles loudly and continuously, which is kind of annoying. It does not take away from the stunning unspoiled natural beauty of this place. There is no plastic allowed on entry which is great, so you will be relieved of your plastic water bottle should you have one. They allowed me to bring my snorkelling gear in thankfully. The water is lovely and clear, so there is fish to see, but I ran out of time to really make the most out of that, due to that 4pm cut off. The sand is lovely and soft with a tint of black in there. There are also rinsing facilities and toilets behind the beach. The black iguanas co-exist side by side with people on this beach, that it becomes the norm after a while. Be careful of the many capuchin monkeys who will appear out of the rainforest, and are determined to steal your small items if given the chance.
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Travelers
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Travelers
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Quepos, a charming town on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, serves as the gateway to the renowned Manuel Antonio National Park. This park is home to diverse wildlife such as howler, white-faced, and squirrel monkeys within its mangroves, lagoons, and beach-lined rainforests. The area also boasts beautiful sandy stretches like Playa Espadilla and Playa Biesanz.
affordable
Restaurant
El Avion is a unique dining spot located at the top of a hill, offering stunning jungle and ocean views along with a refreshing breeze. The restaurant is centered around a Fairchild C-123 cargo plane with an intriguing history related to the Iran-Contra scandal. The venue features an open-air design with wooden furnishings, including tables and chairs.
Came here cause we were staying at the hotel. Great that they shuttle you to the restaurants cause the road is steep. Pricey but worth visiting. In comparison to other restaurants in the areas - drinks are actually high quality and therefore worth the price - I loved my pura vida drink. Kids had great fresh fruit smoothies. My beef nachos were really tasty - I requested it be made with the freshly fried tortillas - so good (they have bagged chips too if you prefer instead.) They have kids meals - standard grilled chicken which tends to be dry with yummy fries. Poke bowl was well enjoyed. Fish burger was good. Beautiful views and unique setting with the airplane. Worth a visit.
Monique W — Google review
Fun dinner on our last night in Manual Antonio. The grouper is one of the best that I've had. Everyone also enjoyed their entrees. The only negatives I would say were the sides. Most entrees came with flavorless white rice and undercooked vegetables. Service was fantastic. We came in without a reservation and it was not busy at all. It does definitely cater to tourist bith in their pricing and menu but the atmosphere was great if you want to splurge.
We stopped here for dinner on our last night in Costa Rica with a group of 15. Since we had made reservations, our table was ready as soon as we arrived. The atmosphere was wonderful, and the views were amazing. To top it off, we even had a surprise visit from a White-faced Capuchin and her baby—though they were mostly interested in swiping sugar packets from the table!
From appetizers to main courses and dessert, everything we ordered was delicious. The combination of great food, beautiful setting, and unique experience made this the perfect way to end our trip. Highly recommend!
Okay this place is very cool to grab a drink only. We went because its an old 737 that crashed there many years ago so they built a restaurant around it. We had my 5 year old nephew and 3 year old niece who loved the cock pit and dancing inside the plane. Our waiter was good but in Costa Rica no one is in a rush and my brother acted like a typical American who wanted his food quick. So the waiter just let's people relax and enjoy the views and get some drinks. He was great. We literally saw monkeys while sitting at our table. Now the food I would pass on for sure. We had a variety of different dishes and the best thing we got was the kids meals with the chicken strips. It was very expensive and you got appetizer size portions for your entre. Do not recommend the food. I even went downtown after to go shopping next to the national park and the restaurant guys were like gross why would you eat there. So I would try downtown closer to the entrance of the National park. Again you are paying for the view and the airplane experience.
Lovely restaurant! The food came out piping hot and so perfectly seasoned. I had the opportunity to taste the Fanta flavor exclusive to Costa Rica - Kolita. It reminded me of grenadine. The view is ahhh-mazing and you just happen to be dining underneath/around an entire airplane! ✈️ Monkeys were even seen along the perimeter. What more could you ask for?
Really cool spot in Manuel Antonio. There's an airplane with a really interesting (and frankly) history with a bar inside. But the view seats are stunning as well, we had our dinner watching the sunset over the jungle and shoreline.
Occasionally you can see some monkeys as well (please don't feed them though). Plenty of vegetarian options (we had kale salad, nachos and a vegetarian pasta dish) and there's a bus stop right outside the restaurant, every 30 ish minutes there's one in case you want to save on spending it on a taxi.
El Avión was such an amazing experience that we actually went twice during our stay! The food was absolutely delicious, and the staff went above and beyond—not only with their service but also by sharing the fascinating history behind the restaurant. I was astonished and even more intrigued after learning the story. The pricing was even more beautiful lol we felt like a true Queen & King dining in eating exclusively and affordable.
The plane itself was such a cool touch! Being able to tour the aircraft inside the restaurant made the visit truly unique and unforgettable. Between the incredible food, the one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and the friendly staff, this place is a 10/10. We’ll definitely be back again!
Lovely spot, great views and the food was tasty! Not very welcoming initially - service is a bit pinched and lacks the usual joy we’ve experienced around Costa Rica but it’s a cool spot to stop at for the airiness and the view predominantly. We haven’t spotted any wildlife but apparently there are chances you can see toucans and monkeys 🙈
Puntarenas Province, Aguirre, Costa Rica•
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Espadilla Beach is a picturesque stretch of sandy coastline that offers various water sports, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a shaded cafe nestled among the trees. While many tourists tend to visit the park's main beaches, such as Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, there are other hidden gems worth exploring.
We spent almost 3 hours here, warm waters, soft sand, amazing sunset. The kids enjoyed the warm waters. We did pay to rent beach chairs and a canopy.
Sheleen T — Google review
Beautiful beach with rocks and a long shoreline. A lifeguard is also there as the rip currents can get bad. Lots of tide pools when it's low tide. Close to shops and restaurants and Manuel Antonio national park.
Beautiful beach. When visiting, park around the Igloo Beach Lodge. It’s free and there are no pushy parking attendants. There are some vendors walking around on the beach, but they peacefully continue when you decline.
We had an amazing time at Playa Espadilla Norte in Quepos during our May visit. This stunning beach offered the perfect balance—waves that were exciting yet manageable, though it's important to stay vigilant as Costa Rican beaches can have powerful rip tides.
The beach atmosphere was lively with local vendors offering fresh coconut drinks, horseback riding experiences, and handmade clothing. The vendors were respectful and moved on politely when we declined their services.
The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. We recommend bringing your own beach towel, though chairs and umbrellas are available to rent at reasonable prices. We lucked out with beautiful weather before the rainy season kicked in, making it a memorable beach day.
Loved this beach! We got drinks from a vendor at the entrance of the beach and had a great early afternoon on the beach. There’s an LGBTQ beacon towards the middle of this beach and I wish I had more energy to check it out! Looks like they’re building a LGBTQ resort nearby.
If you don’t have a car, I recommend going to the southern end of the beach more towards Manuel Antonio national park because this area is more for guests who are parking on the beach. The fumes from the trucks weren’t pleasant.
I visited every single beach from Uvita to Playa Hermosa near Jaco and this one is simply the best (excluding one beach inside of the Manuel Antonio NP). Good vibes, multiple islands on the horizon, beautiful sand and great waves to play with your friends or children. Very safe with beautiful sunsets!
Public parking near Buena Vista Plus hotel. The beach is clean and beautiful. You can get everything you need for a full day here. Chairs, umbrellas, boogie board rentals. Sure lessons, and restaurants right on the beach for drinks and food.
nice huge beach, BUT if you stay in Hotel in Manuel Antonio is better for you take a bus for 370 colones and go by bus, because down is lack of parking and the fee for parking is from 5000-7000 colones depends on the mood of parking guy :) some shops and restaurants neraby, parasailing, jet ski, banana boat
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Marina
Sights & Landmarks
Piers & Boardwalks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Marina Pez Vela in Quepos is a top choice for dining, offering a variety of restaurant and cafe options with diverse cuisines to cater to any group. The marina provides an incredibly beautiful and safe oceanfront environment, making it perfect for visitors. It also offers high-end shopping, stunning views of the mountains and ocean, as well as services for tourists and anglers.
Very nice place for tourists. Stopped in and did some local shopping on site. The shops were all clean and friendly. The area was very secure.
Gregory T — Google review
Right in the heart of the central pacific of CR there is a world class marina with full of amenities for locals and visitors; with wide options of food, stores and to just minutes from all the facilities at the little town. The place is well care with a good maintenance in general. The parking lot is paid with a good security and easy access for handicap.
Great Marina, recently expanded and tons of room. Restaurants are good, and the convenience store has everything. The Marina store has a lot to choose from so bring your wallet.
There is a free parking garage if you want to visit this marina. It's nice however it's very 'tight' as far as room to manuever into parking spaces. The marina is pretty but nothing really special. We had assumed there would be more stores and shopping than what is actually there. What was there, including a couple of restaurants, were pretty pricey. We were going to eat there but decided against it.
This is a cute place if it's what you are looking for. There are some high end yatchs to look at and dream of perhaps "one day I will have a friend who owns one of those." There are fishing themed stores cause why not. Great views of the marina, cute chairs to sit in, and some restaurants offering high priced foods. It's something to do while in Quepos
Site where ships dock at Quepos is nothing like the town. Costly. There are a few shops. Can get a taxi from the end of the roadway or simply walk to town. Much better prices there. More to see.
Best marina I've ever been to. The staff are so helpful and nice. Everyone in Costa Rica is so happy and helpful.
A truly epic Marina. It reminds me of something you would expect on Maui as far as quality goes. Daily fishing escapades embark out of here and there are a number of good restaurants and shops throughout. Honestly it's just a great place to sit down, gawk at the views and wander around. Enjoyable for tourists and locals alike.
Puntarenas Province, Quepos, 60601, Costa Rica•
Public beach
Outdoor Activities
Beaches
Playa Las Gemelas is a beautiful and calm beach located in Manuel Antonio National Park. It offers stunning views and a tranquil atmosphere, making it a great place to relax for a day or two. The beach is known for its crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling to see colorful marine life. Visitors can also enjoy the sight of iguanas climbing on trees but should be cautious as they may try to snatch food.
Beautiful beach and loved the walk though the park.
Marge R — Google review
Probably the best spot to relax after a walk in Manuel Antonio. There is rocks there everywhere so be careful and I really recommend bringing those rock shoes. It isn't that far away and has very warm water and almost no waves compared to the Escondido beach which is another beach in Manuel Antonio. If you don't really like rocks and want calmer water you can go to the main Manuel Antonio beach but there will be quite a lot more people there.
Nice beach with few iguanas lying on the rocks. End of November no point in snorkeling.
We went late afternoon on 26 December and it was empty - full of beach crabs , huge iguanas and maybe even small crocodile spotted ? Wavy sea . A tad rocky . But very private and wild feel
Calm beach inside the park. I liked it more than the public beach as there were no vendors trying to get you to buy stuff and I felt safer in there overall. Also spotted a couple of iguanas in there. Watch out for monkeys and racoon trying to go into your bags.
Beautiful beach, located in the Manuel Antonio National Park. The walk through the National Park has several routes which are are worth visiting. This beach in particular is very nice, the view it's imazing from this beach. You can see lots of iguanas on the beach, climbing on the trees. Don't feed them and be careful if you eat and they see you eat, they will try to take your food. A friend of mine was eating a sandwich when a iguana flew from a tree and has stolen the sandwich. We did not know these creatures were flying jajaja.
Apart from iguanas and monkeys we didn't see any other animals on the Park on that day.
Very touristic place, I guess animals go somewhere else higher into the mountains or hide when there are too many people around.
Probably the most wonderful beach I have ever been to. Great place to relax for a day or two. Remember to bring everything you need as there is nothing but sand, trees, rock and water around. And a lot of animals of course.
Beautiful. Wild life is everywhere. Must go if you are in Manuel Antonio national park.
9VJ5+3FM, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, Costa Rica, USA•
Park
Nature & Parks
Parque Nahomi, located near the marina in Quepos, offers stunning coastal views and is known for being the only easily accessible ocean access point in the city. This pristine park boasts 360-degree panoramic ocean views with gleaming turquoise waters. It features a well-equipped gym installation suitable for various exercises. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll to the ocean and observe iguanas basking in the sun.
Nice small park. We came during the rainy season, so there was not much sun, but it was very cute. Only a couple of bunch and table at the entrance and a lot of gym machine. It's prohibited to smoke and drink alcohol. Take your trash with you to respect the land. We saw some nice birds. The beach is small and rocky. A police station is not far away, so it seems pretty safe.
Marlène S — Google review
Whilst staying in Quepos I visited Parque Nahomi. It was a lovely spot with great views, and a nice place to watch the sunset. Plenty of parking around it too.
Lovely small walk around a rocky outcrop. Beautiful views. Fun critters- iguanas, crabs, and birds. You can go down to the water, but it was really rough so I did not.
Beautiful views and safe park to visit during the day! There is a tree swing to the left of the main entrance if you walk along the rocks.
If you’re arriving to the park on foot you pass through a couple of developing areas- a shipping port and construction zone but all is well paved and very clean!
Just a beautiful little park. The ocean is beautiful here. Definitely not for swimming, but the views are beautiful
A lovely little park. Beautiful views, very clean and a few crabs and iguanas running around are always fun!
Love this park there is a guard there and had bathrooms and while rocking we found shells and more!
Amazing views. A family park where locals enjoy themselves peacefully
Iguanas basking in the sun, and many birds to be seen
It's worth a stop if you are around or going to popular Quepos town.
Not recommended after sunset.
Restaurant
Bar
Function room facility
Seafood restaurant
Restaurante Marlin is a fantastic dining choice with its prime beachfront location and a menu featuring the freshest seafood in the area. Situated just minutes away from Manuel Antonio's National Park entrance, this seafood restaurant offers an authentic Costa Rican atmosphere, complete with occasional visits from local wildlife like monkeys and sloths. The restaurant prides itself on serving up delicious seafood prepared in various ways such as fried, sautéed garlic, and grilled options.
I had an amazing lunch at Marlin Restaurant! The breaded fish and shrimp plate was fantastic, crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The view was breathtaking, adding to the whole experience. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and provided excellent service. I highly recommend this place for great food and a wonderful atmosphere!
Aida J — Google review
Pleasantly surprised! I was a bit worry it would be a touristy place because of the gentleman on the street, trying to attract customers, but I was very wrong. The guy was super friendly, and so was the entire staff. They made sure we had a good time, good food, and were treated well. Can definitely recommend this one.
The food was great and the atmosphere is amazing. Staff were very helpful and attentive.
I would recommend the lobster dinner and also the coconut flan. Top tier !
I walked by this restaurant multiple times, and every single time they had people working hard to sell the place, so I caved and went in.
The food was honestly really great.
I went during dinner when there were only 3 other small tables already dining and I got a great service, food took a while to arrive but that’s just Costa Rica. Everyone was friendly and they checked on me multiple times to refill my drink and to see if I wanted anything else. By the time I sat down and received my entree there was a couple who received the complete opposite treatment. They were essentially ignored after the entire time. Once they finally worked up the courage to flag a server down for their checks it took more than 15 mins. This wouldn’t be an issue but there were 5 servers standing behind the couple’s table laughing and chatting up while the couple looked visibly frustrated. (Now I don’t know what happened prior to my arriving, i noted this so that you are aware that service may vary)
I ordered the calamari appetizer and the Seafood fried rice. Both tastes fresh and good! The seafood rice only had shrimp and scallops with one mussels, for the price I would’ve wanted more variety and larger portions. The side of fries didn’t taste fresh or hot. Its a good place but nothing is peaking my interest to return again.
Went in February 2025. We walked from our hotel - El Faro.
Service was awesome. My wife and I split the squid appetizer and whole snapper. Was very good. Lots of people and great vibe. Would go again.
Good is a understatement food was excellent very reasonable and Roberto was awesome will highly recommend and I will come again next time I’m in Costa Rica
Great place for fresh sea food! They take their time in bringing the food, you will know it’s because everything is done Fresh and At the moment,
We had the Cartocho, excellently cooked and with a mix of vegetables and small potatoes, it was all cooked in the banana leaf so very tasty, we looked over others plates and they all looked very generous portions and cooked to good taste.
The service is great, very attentive. We got rained out during dinner, and the manager Desiree went the extra mile to help us reach our destination. Greatly appreciated!
Will def recommend!!!
It’s a corner shop, and it is very easy to spot. We had Casado with pescado (fish) and seafood soup. Food is good and big portion.
Frente a Playa Espadilla, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, 60601, Costa Rica•
Farmers' market
The Farmers Market in Quepos is a vibrant and diverse event that takes place along the waterfront. It offers an array of fresh, locally sourced produce, including organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, free-range eggs, cheeses, freshly baked goods, high-quality meats, seafood, and craft jewelry. The friendly vendors are known for offering samples of local fruits and providing assistance with pronunciations.
This was a great place that we were able to go to and I wish we would have purchased more fruit. I forget about the quality here when we go back home, but the mangoes and avocados were perfect.
Brad P — Google review
Some great fruit and veggie vendors and a few craft vendors. We went about four and were told there’d be music and more food vendors like tacos or similar but if you need fresh fruit, veggies and want to shop a few crafts it worth going just not as we thought it’d be.
Love this market. There is a great combination of fruits, veg, meats, treats, and artisan vendors. The prices are really good for the most part for really fresh food. Many are local growers (which is who I go to support.....please support local farmers whenever and wherever you can!) but there are also a few wholesalers. Most have prices listed (honestly I generally don't buy from those who don't show pricing because I know there are some who give gringo prices vs local prices at farmers markets).
I do want to note that it is located at the waterfront (I've read some online posts stating that it is not there anymore - I can confirm it is in fact at the waterfront near the marina - there is a different market by the bus stop daily). It's actually on both sides of the street....and busy. Parking is crazy though so be prepared to drive around a bit. We went Friday evening and there were plentry of locals and tourists. There are several artisans selling their crafts and handiwork - great for souvenirs if you are looking for that sort. Shout out to the dude selling hot sauce and jams from his own homegrown fruits. If you like hot sauce look this guy up at this market. You will NOT regret it. So many unique flavor pairings and heat levels.
We went on Saturday morning. Plenty of great local produce. Great opportunity to speak Spanish but several vendors also spoke English. There were some artists there as well.
Great place to buy all kinds of local meats, cheeses, breads, pastries, fruits, vegetables and souveniors. Watch for the monkeys in the trees.
Went to explore the sights and scents of the farmers market on a Saturday morning. For tourists, some vendors speak limited English and the local fruits/vegetable names are not provided (prices only). There were a few vendors selling jewlery and crafts.
If you like fruits and veg, this is a must! I got also chicken and shrimp. Everything was delish. Make sure you tell them when do you plan to consume the fruit, they will pick the right ripeness for you.
MUST SEE! Go here to try all the local exotic fruits, get some cool handmade souvenirs, and find the best artisan sauces around. Try a coffee made on the spot with a traditional Costa Rican drip rig... such an experience!!
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Park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a true gem in Costa Rica, renowned for its stunning biodiversity and vibrant wildlife. As you wander through this beautiful park, you'll encounter an array of fascinating creatures, from playful white-faced monkeys to elusive sloths munching on leaves above. The park features two distinct beaches that offer a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
Alex was our guide and honestly truly made the experience for us. Not only was he knowledgeable but he was truly passionate. He gave us so much information on what we saw and answered every question with a smile. He made sure everyone saw every animal through his scope and allowed us to get pictures or videos. Yes you can see animals on your own but having Alex as a resource made us understand and appreciate everything so much more. Plus getting to visit the protected beach at the end was stellar! Absolutely would recommend!
Joseph G — Google review
Honestly
You can rent a motorbike and see 10x more species just cruising around.
Great park that leads to two great beaches. Can get very crowded So go early to avoid the crowds and the heat! Animals are very hard to spot without a guide so if you're very keen on seeing some sloths, bats, etc you need to get a guide. Monkeys are usually visable and always at the beach.
Beautiful diverse nature park with two very different beaches. The most frequently visited park in CR. Lots of unique flora and fauna to savor.
Beautiful park and well maintained i used to go every weekend
The best spot in Costa Rica
Excellent
(Translated by Google) Beautiful coasts. A walk through the park is beautiful. Sometimes a bit on the boring side. You also encounter many animals in nature
(Original)
Mooie kusten. Wandeling door het park is wel mooi . Soms iets aan de saaie kant. Veel beesten kom je ook gewoon in de natuur tegen
CR6V+HFP, Puntarenas Province, Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica•
4.4
(812)
4.4
(1303)
Beach
Outdoor Activities
Biesanz Beach is a hidden gem located just south of Quepos, offering visitors a tranquil escape with its crescent-shaped bay and soft sandy shores. This picturesque beach is shaded by trees and features shallow waters perfect for swimming, making it an ideal spot for families. The calm conditions here mean that large waves are rare, creating excellent opportunities for snorkeling and kayaking adventures.
We loved this beach. It is a little remote and requires a hike to get to. The views are great! The beach is nice and the water is in a bit of a cove so there's waves but they're not huge. There are vendors renting chairs and coverings as well as fresh made drinks that are great. There's even a lady giving massages under a tent up on the rocks directly overlooking the beach which we didn't try. No one is too pushy but are all friendly. The only downside is there's a decent amount of rocks out in the water if you wear water shoes or sandals it's fine. Barefoot was a bit tough on my tender feet .
John H — Google review
Maybe we were unlucky, but we got this beach recommended and did not really like it that much. There were sooo many people and almost no room to lie down. Water was quite muddy. The hike to get there is long and we regretted not wearing hiking boots as it was very slippery and in a very bad condition. Maybe due to previous rain.
The beach is alright the waves are calm there are however many rocks and the path down is muddy and also full of rocks, the water is nice and green/aquamarine and has a great view of the bay.
Very beautiful and peaceful quiet beach where you could spend the first part of the day. After 2-3pm tide arrives and there is not much space where water doesn’t reach. Highly recommend to visit!
Gorgeous hidden beach. We kayaked in the bay and enjoyed swimming in the calm waters. Plenty of shade.
Secluded beach in Manuel Antonio, accessible only by car. way much quieter than the main beach.
The path down can be a bit challenging and the water is quite rocky so caution is needed.
Such a beautiful place!
It only takes about five minutes to walk down the rocky path to the beach. It wasn't too busy when we went, and we were able to rent chairs and order delicious piña coladas from the bar. They have snorkels, kayaks, and paddle boards able to rent, and there was a woman giving massages under a tent. We also saw lots of monkeys in the trees.
The water was very calm and we were lucky to get a beautiful sunny day in the rainy season.
Highly recommend if you're looking for a beach that's not too busy but still has amenities!!
Lots of rocks underwater on the left side of the beach, but sandy on the right. Waves aren’t crazy, but can push you around enough to make the rocky side uncomfortable. You can rent chairs and covering (umbrella or tent) $20 for as long as you stay. Drinks are available with decent prices. Food was also available, but the price was restaurant equivalent. Lots of kids, so seemingly kid friendly.
4.9
(202)
5.0
(783)
Wildlife and safari park
Sukia Park and ZIP LINE Tours offer an immersive experience with the diverse wildlife of the area. The park boasts a variety of animals, ranging from herons to crocodiles, as well as a butterfly garden showcasing all stages of their life cycle. Knowledgeable guides provide insight into the ecosystem and care deeply for the animals and zip lines. Visitors can also explore a black Cayman refuge on foot.
Highly recommend doing the night tour! Our guide was Juan was incredibly knowledgable and really took his time helping us find so many animals including red eyed tree frogs and glass frogs as well as snakes, birds, bats, insects, and more, and helped people get close up photos. Our tour also started off strong with a sloth hanging out at the front of the trails!
Laura K — Google review
Made a last minute plan for this. Only 2 hr zip line available in the area, other options are 4 hr+ because driving time is 1 hr + one way (as told by others, I didnt try those). Pickup was swift. My guide Charlie made me comfortable and guided me throughout the zipline in the 9 lines, 1 rope based activity to get down by waterfall. Charlie also shared good info. about flora and fauna. He was humorous as well and took pics/videos as I ziplined. Thrre were 2 people always with me throughout including Charlie. After the zipline, Charlie gave me tour of butterfly garden and crocodile park. Worth the time and money spent. You should consoder this zipline vs others to save time and money :)
P.S.- They provide you free locker to keep your stuff, pics/videos are on them, water is available to drink throughout zipline, fruits given as well.
Phenomenal experience. The guides were an absolute joy to be around. It was great 2 hour zip, which is perfect amount of time. I would highly recommended Sukia Park for zip lining!
Pura Vida!
Really nice experience zip lining here!! Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about the surrounding area. We had the butterfly and crocodile included in our package so we checked it out as well. I personally wouldn’t go out of my way to view those two since it can be done super quickly and didn’t spark my interest. The zip lining was great though!
My boyfriend and I did the night tour with Sebastian. He was a very great and knowledgeable guide and exceeded our expectations for finding wildlife! He did not rush us and always had the answer to our questions. He even offered to take photos for us on our phones and provided light for as long as we needed while we tried to get photos on our camera. The pick up and drop off was also very easy and stress free. Overall very great experience, thank you Sebastian!
Johann, Charlie, and Juan welcomed us and we had a fabulous time! The zip lines are well cared for and checked daily - we always felt safe and had a great time zipping through the canopy and rappelling down the waterfall. Then we had breakfast in the cafe and watched the butterflies... we walked around and saw all the crocodiles and turtles... we were waiting for our ride and decided to go back to the cafe for a cold drink and we got lucky - we saw a sloth close up during her weekly descent! Amazing! Highly recommend this family friendly tour.
This is for sure the perfect place to come if you are visiting Costa Rica. The staff was very nice and interactive. They were all happy to help us if we needed anything and helped with anything we needed. They also gave me and my twin flowers that were beautiful. The zip-lines were very fun and had great views. They also let people go upside down on some of the zip-lines. They also had a great cayman and crocodile exhibit that was very fun to see and experience. Another fun thing was the butterfly exhibit that is absolutely beautiful and amazing to see. There was also a delicious cafe with great cheesecake! Overall this is a perfect place to not only see wildlife but also eat delicious food and go on exhilarating zip lines. I totally recommend this place for anyone who wants a fun ride but still wants to feel relaxed.
Had a great night hike with Sukia. Provided with torches and saw everything we had hoped to see. Frogs, birds, the biggest crocodile, whiptail scorpions and vipers.
Km 4, 60 metros antes de Hotel Si Como No a mano izquierda Provincia de Puntarenas Manuel Antonio, 60601, Costa Rica•
Other best-of categories in Manuel Antonio
Popular road trips from Manuel Antonio
What's the weather like in Manuel Antonio?
It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Manuel Antonio for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in January
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in February
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in March
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in April
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in May
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in June
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in July
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in August
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in September
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in October
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in November
- Weather in Manuel Antonio in December
All road trips from Manuel Antonio
- Manuel Antonio to Arenal Volcano National Park drive
- Manuel Antonio to Panama City drive
- Manuel Antonio to San Jose drive
- Manuel Antonio to Mexico City drive
- Manuel Antonio to Playa del Carmen drive
- Manuel Antonio to La Fortuna de San Carlos drive
- Manuel Antonio to Cancun drive
- Manuel Antonio to Tulum drive
- Manuel Antonio to Tamarindo drive
- Manuel Antonio to Chichen Itza drive
- Manuel Antonio to Granada drive
- Manuel Antonio to Antigua drive
- Manuel Antonio to Tortuguero drive
- Manuel Antonio to Cahuita drive
- Manuel Antonio to Playa Samara drive
- Manuel Antonio to Oaxaca drive
- Manuel Antonio to Merida drive
- Manuel Antonio to Leon drive
- Manuel Antonio to Puntarenas drive
- Manuel Antonio to Puebla drive
- Manuel Antonio to Drake Bay drive
- Manuel Antonio to Palenque drive
- Manuel Antonio to Guanajuato drive
- Manuel Antonio to Santa Teresa drive
- Manuel Antonio to Poas Volcano National Park drive
- Manuel Antonio to El Valle de Anton drive
- Manuel Antonio to San Salvador drive
- Manuel Antonio to San Miguel de Allende drive
- Manuel Antonio to Coba drive
- Manuel Antonio to Huatulco drive
Explore nearby places
- Manuel Antonio
- Quepos
- Parrita
- Esterillos Este
- Dominical
- Carara
- Cartago
- Ballena
- Uvita
- Jaco
- Santa Ana
- San Jose
- San Pedro
- Garabito Municipality
- Tarcoles
- Alajuela
- Poas Volcano National Park
- Drake Bay
- Puntarenas
- Mal Pais
- Corcovado National Park
- Montezuma
- La Virgen
- Santa Teresa
- Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Vara Blanca
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Santa Elena
- La Fortuna de San Carlos
- El Castillo
- Arenal Volcano National Park
All related maps of Manuel Antonio
- Map of Manuel Antonio
- Map of Quepos
- Map of Parrita
- Map of Esterillos Este
- Map of Dominical
- Map of Carara
- Map of Cartago
- Map of Ballena
- Map of Uvita
- Map of Jaco
- Map of Santa Ana
- Map of San Jose
- Map of San Pedro
- Map of Garabito Municipality
- Map of Tarcoles
- Map of Alajuela
- Map of Poas Volcano National Park
- Map of Drake Bay
- Map of Puntarenas
- Map of Mal Pais
- Map of Corcovado National Park
- Map of Montezuma
- Map of La Virgen
- Map of Santa Teresa
- Map of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
- Map of Vara Blanca
- Map of Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Map of Santa Elena
- Map of La Fortuna de San Carlos
- Map of El Castillo
- Map of Arenal Volcano National Park
Manuel Antonio throughout the year
Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Manuel Antonio?
Get inspired for your trip to Manuel Antonio with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:
Best kid-friendly attractions in nearby cities
- The best things to do with kids in Panama City
- The best things to do with kids in San Jose
- The best things to do with kids in La Fortuna de San Carlos
- The best things to do with kids in Quepos
- The best things to do with kids in Santa Elena
- The best things to do with kids in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
Best attractions in nearby cities
- Top things to do and attractions in Panama City
- Top things to do and attractions in San Jose
- Top things to do and attractions in Garabito Municipality
- Top things to do and attractions in Arenal Volcano National Park
- Top things to do and attractions in La Fortuna de San Carlos
- Top things to do and attractions in Jaco
- Top things to do and attractions in Quepos
- Top things to do and attractions in Santa Teresa
- Top things to do and attractions in Alajuela
- Top things to do and attractions in Puntarenas
- Top things to do and attractions in Uvita
- Top things to do and attractions in Santa Elena
- Top things to do and attractions in Dominical
- Top things to do and attractions in Cartago
- Top things to do and attractions in Mal Pais
- Top things to do and attractions in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Top things to do and attractions in Cahuita
Best restaurants in nearby cities
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Panama City
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in San Jose
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Garabito Municipality
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Arenal Volcano National Park
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in La Fortuna de San Carlos
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Jaco
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Quepos
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Santa Teresa
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Alajuela
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Puntarenas
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Uvita
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Montezuma
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Drake Bay
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Santa Elena
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Dominical
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Cartago
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Santa Ana
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Mal Pais
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Cahuita
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Tarcoles
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in San Pedro
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Ballena
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Parrita
- Where to eat: the best restaurants in Poas Volcano National Park
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