Manuel Antonio

It's easy to settle down on the beach in Manuel Antonio and let the world melt away in a haze of sun, ocean spray and drinks with little umbrellas. But before you get comfortable, get out. Explore the land, air and sea in Manuel Antonio with ATV rides through the rainforest, Segway tours of the city, horseback rides on the beach and parasailing off the coast.

Local canopy tours take you racing through the rainforest on zip lines. Whitewater rafting tours run two different class II and III rivers and surf schools offer lessons along Espadilla Beach. Sprint along the coast on Jet Skis or relax with cocktail in-hand on one of Manuel Antonio's catamaran tours. Manuel Antonio is also a world famous destination for sport fishing marlin, sailfish, tuna and mahi-mahi.

Between Quepos and Manuel Antonio you can find virtually any modern convenience you might need while travelling.  Downtown Manuel Antonio is pretty limited. While you'll find plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants, there's only one supermarket, no pharmacies and no ATMs, so make sure you stock up in Quepos.

Quepos is the closest town to Manuel Antonio, the commercial hub of the area and the best place to find pharmacies, banks, supermarkets, medical centers and Internet cafes.

Phones

Cell phone coverage is good in Quepos, but becomes spotty as you approach Manuel Antonio. Few payphone booths are available in both Quepos and Manuel Antonio.  Supermarkets and pharmacies offer calling cards in case you don't have change.

Internet

Many restaurants, cafes and hotels offer free Wi-Fi to their patrons. Additionally, travelers can find Internet cafes in Quepos; most charge $1.50 an hour and have high-speed connections.

Banks

Local banks like Banco de Costa Rica, Banco Nacional, BAC San Jose, Banco Popular, Banca Promerica, and Coopealianza have branches in Quepos with ATMs. In downtown Manuel Antonio, there are no ATMs. However, you'll find several of them and a Western Union on the road through Manuel Antonio by the soccer field, and within a block of the Dos Locos Mexican restaurant.

Gas Stations

There is a full-service gas station in downtown Quepos and several others on the road out of town, heading toward San Jose.

Medical Facilities

The Red Cross provides 24-hour emergency service (Tel. 2777-0116; located next to the Imporadora Monge, an appliance store.) Several bilingual doctors offer hotel and home visits, and can address minor surgeries and urgent care.  The Quepos hospital is located on the outskirts of the regional airport. Tel. 2777-0922. For all major emergencies, dial 911.

Post Office

The post office is less than a block north of the soccer field in Quepos. It is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Tel. 2777-1471

Air:

Local carriers, Nature Air and Sansa, fly between San Jose and Quepos several times a day, with departures and arrivals from many popular tourist locations.

Bus:

Direct buses from San Jose depart from the Tracopa Station at Plaza Viquez (Calle 5 and Avendia 20) in San Jose: $8; 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; 3 hours;. 2223-5567.

Indirect buses from San Jose also depart from Tracopa at: 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m; 5 hours.

Collective Shuttle Bus:

Private shuttle companies, Interbus and Grayline, offer door-to-door service between major tourist destinations and Manuel Antonio. Air-conditioned buses seat 10 to 15 passengers and have a bilingual driver. There are both morning and afternoon departures for Manuel Antonio for $45 per person, each way.

Car:

Travel time between San Jose and Manuel Antonio is roughly three hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Take Route 27 west toward Orotina, the fastest way – for about 30 – 40 minutes. Exit toward Route 34, following signs to Jaco. Expect to pay around $5 in tolls - payable only in Costa Rican currency. Before reaching Jaco, you'll cross the Tarcoles River Bridge where dozens of crocodiles can be spotted from the road.  From Jaco, it's an easy one-hour drive to Manuel Antonio.

To get around Manuel Antonio, you'll follow a hilly two-mile main stretch of paved road that starts in Quepos and ends at the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Quepos - the closest town to Manuel Antonio – is small, walkable commercial hub with a bus station, marina, restaurants, banks and shopping. The route from there to the park is lined with a series of hotels and restaurants that ends in the very small beachside town of Manuel Antonio – also walkable.

The public bus is the easiest way to get around, it's cheap, comes around every 30 minutes and drives between Quepos and Manuel Antonio on the main road, but then again taxis aren't too difficult to find either.

Public Bus:

Public buses run between Quepos and Manuel Antonio carrying passengers to Manuel Antonio National Park and  back. The trip takes roughly 25 minutes and has several stops en route. Buses run from 5:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Buses depart every half hour or so and cost about 65 cents each way.

Bikes & Scooters:

Several hotels and roadside stands offer bicycle rentals for around $15 per day. Both are inexpensive but the road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio is extremely steep and hilly; a challenging ride for even experienced bicyclists.

Taxi:

There are plenty of taxis on hand for visitors without a car. Official red taxis have a bright yellow sign on the side and are always equipped with a meter, but that doesn't mean they'll always use it. Make sure you negotiate taxi fare before you get in to ensure you get the best deal.

Red Taxi: 2777-3080 or 2777-1207. Sample one-way taxi fares:

Quepos to Manuel Antonio: $8

Quepos to regional airport: $8

Manuel Antonio to regional airport: $15

Collective taxis, visible by the blue circle on the door, will take you back and forth between Quepos and Manuel Antonio for just a dollar per person, but they'll continue to pick-up and drop –off people on the way.

Several of Manuel Antonio's boutique hotels and resorts promise spectacular views and easy beach access; some hillside locations offer complimentary shuttle service to the beach.  Almost all hotels are close to a bus stop that will take you down to the beach for 65 cents.  For close encounters with local wildlife like monkeys and iguanas, stay at one of the smaller hotels close to downtown Manuel Antonio and the national park.

You'll find the widest range of hotels along the road through Manuel Antonio while Quepos (the closest town to Manuel Antonio) has the largest selection of economy-based hotels.

Keep in mind hotel rates are cheaper during the wet season (May-Nov.) and more expensive during the dry season (Dec.-April).  Easter and Christmas are also very popular times to visit Manuel Antonio so make sure to book early.

Quepos

The commercial hub for the area, Quepos is home to the marina, the bus station and most of the major services and facilities including banks, pharmacies, stores, restaurants, bars, casinos and nightclubs. It's also the farthest from Manuel Antonio's beaches (though they are accessible by bus), but has the most affordable budget hotels.

• For about $12-$20, you can find hostels with shared dorms, kitchen facilities, common rooms, Wi-Fi, hot water and pools.

• For about $30-50, you can find hostels with private rooms, shared kitchen facilities, common rooms, Wi-Fi, hot water and pools.

• For about $70, you can find private rooms with balconies, safety deposit boxes, cable, Wi-Fi, hot water, ocean views and pools.

Manuel Antonio

This two-mile stretch of road winding through the tropical hills from Quepos to the Manuel Antonio National Park has a huge number of hotels in every price range. Close to the bus and nearby many restaurants and bars.

• For about $12, you can find hostels with fans, cable, Wi-Fi, common area, kitchen, and pools.

• For about $35, you can find hostels with private rooms, shared baths, fans, cable, Wi-Fi, common area, kitchen, and pools.

• For about $75, you can find private rooms with two queen-size beds, cable TV, A/C, Wi-Fi, a minifridge, full-length mirror, dresser and safety deposit box, plus pools, restaurants and bars.

• For about $200, you can find luxury hotels with rooms that have ocean views, private balconies, two queen-size beds, cable TV, A/C, Wi-Fi, dresser and safety deposit boxes, plus pools, restaurants, bars and added amenities.

Downtown Manuel Antonio

Close to Espadilla Beach and Manuel Antonio National park, these hotels have the premium locations, for a price.

• For about $130, you can find standard rooms with rainforest views, two queen-size beds, cable TV, A/C, Wi-Fi, and safety deposit boxes. Amenities include pools, bars and restaurants.

• For about $200, you can find luxury hotels with standard rooms that have a jungle or ocean views, with either one king-size or two full-size beds minifridges, flat screen TVs, A/C, Wi-Fi, French shower head, coffee makers and hair dryers; multiple pools, spas, restaurants and gyms.

Note:  Rates based on average rates through out the year.

Manuel Antonio has the most popular national park in the country attracting more than 250,000 people each year to its lush rainforest, pristine beaches and myriad wildlife.

Just outside the park you'll find Espadilla Beach, the longest and most popular beach in Manuel Antonio. Biesanz Beach (off Quepos Point) offers a more secluded getaway in a natural setting. The nearby, Damas Island Mangroves offer insight into the one of the most important and unique ecosystems on the planet.

For look into the world of permaculture farming, visit Villa Vanilla, a spice farm in the hills of Manuel Antonio or, for something a little more adventurous, stop by Midworld adventure park to spend a day riding zip lines and ATVs.

Waterfalls:

Several canopy and horseback riding operators offer tours to these waterfalls:

• La Culebra Waterfall: boasts a 30-foot jump for thrill-seekers. 

• Matapalo Waterfall: this beautiful waterfall is located about 18 miles from Quepos. 

• Tocori Waterfall: a popular destination for horseback riding tours, this set of two falls is nestled within the Tocori ecological reserve.

Seafood is the staple of Manuel Antonio. You'll find freshly caught shrimp, lobster and red snapper at virtually every restaurant you pass by, and it's definitely worth a try – go for the whole fried snapper if you’re an adventurous eater who doesn't mind his/her dinner staring back at you.

But beyond the seafood, you can find your typical mix of Costa Rican restaurants, fine dining spots, pizzerias and more between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Quepos

Quepos is the go-to spot for cheap Costa Rican food. Sodas (small, family-owned restaurants) are on virtually every corner in town, but our personal favorites are located beside the bus station in the small market beside the gravel parking lot.

You can find seafood virtually anywhere in the area and Quepos is no exception. Search along the main road and the oceanfront for seafood and typical tourist restaurants.

Road through Manuel Antonio

On the road through Manuel Antonio you'll find the best restaurants for a night out like El Avion, a restaurant known for the giant cargo plane that runs through it; La Cantina, a lively barbeque restaurant with an open-grill; and Victoria's, an Italian seafood restaurant with nightly live music. But, you'll also find more affordable and equally sumptuous options including Mexican at Sancho's, Asian at Ngo and fish and chips at El Gato Pescador. With plenty so many restaurants to choose from, you can really find something for everyone.

Downtown Manuel Antonio

Downtown Manuel Antonio is a small strip of restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels that run along the beach back to through to the national park. While you can find a range of seafood, typical Costa Rica, Italian and American classics (like burgers and Buffalo wings), most restaurants are over-priced.

For a bit of the local flavor, and our favorite spot in town, walk back toward Quepos along Espadilla Beach until you see an old shack  in the tree line with concrete tables covered with orange and green table cloths. That's Balu, the only restaurant on the beach; a great local spot for fresh seafood, cocktails and taking in the beauty of Manuel Antonio's tropical coastline.