Manuel Antonio Costa Rica: The Ultimate City Guide

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The first time I visited Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, was in 2015.. and I absolutely fell in love with this place!! From 2018 to 2019, I lived in this beautiful beach town. I believe that everyone who is visiting Costa Rica should make a stop here in Manuel Antonio. Here is a city guide I have put together of the best places to eat, sleep, and all the activities to do! I hope you enjoy it.

How to get there

Most people come to Manuel Antonio for a few days in the middle of their trips. In my opinion, the best way to get around is to rent a car, but Costa Rica has a good bus system (which makes it easy to move from city to city). If you are looking to come directly from the airport to Manuel Antonio, there are also many options.

From San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport):

The San Jose bus station (Tracopa Station) offers daily direct buses to Quepos and Manuel Antonio. The bus costs about 9$US and takes from 3 to 4 hours. The buses are very nice, safe and comfortable and have air conditioning! There are also many shuttle options from the Airport to Manuel Antonio. The shared shuttle can cost from about 50$US per person and the private ones are usually between 150-200$US (a good option if you are traveling with a group). You can find shuttle services online and book through their website (Super Shuttle Costa Rica and Easy Ride Costa Rica are good options). Another option is to take a taxi or uber.. but that can cost up to 150$US.. so it is not the best option if you are on a budget.

From Liberia Airport:

If you are planning to come to Manuel Antonio, I would strongly suggest flying to San Jose Airport instead of Liberia. However, if you have to fly to Liberia, there are many options to get to Manuel Antonio. The first one (and the best one in my opinion) is to rent a car. The roads from Liberia to Manuel Antonio are fine and it is a pretty easy drive. You can also take a shuttle (which takes about 5 hours). The bus is another option but you would need to take one bus to San Jose and then take the direct bus to Quepos or Manuel Antonio. I would not recommend taking a taxi because it would most likely cost a fortune.

Where to stay

Depending on your budget, there are many many hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs in the Manuel Antonio area.

If you are young and traveling alone (or with friends) and you want a fun place where you can meet people I recommend staying at Selina Hostel. Selina is a chain of hostels and they are all over Latin America. Selina Manuel Antonio has everything you need to have a great time: many activities, 3 pools, a great restaurant and good parties on the weekends!!

On the other hand, if you have a bigger budget and are seeking luxury, Hotel La Mariposa is the hotel for you. This luxurious hotel has the best view in all of Manuel Antonio and their location is ideal (very central and close to many restaurants). They have incredible infinity pools that look over the ocean and it is without a doubt the best place to watch the sunset. Even if you can just afford to stay there for one night, I recommend you do!!

Here is a small list of a few other hotels I like in the area:

–Hotel Makanda, Manuel Antonio

–GAIA Reserve & Hotel, Manuel Antonio

–Shana By The Beach, Manuel Antonio

READ: 8 REASONS TO VISIT COSTA RICA

Where to eat

Manuel Antonio has many amazing restaurants and cute little eateries. Here are some of my personal favorites:

–El Wagon. They make the best thin crust pizza ever (and have lots of different kinds of food). The restaurant is very nice and affordable. It is definitely in my top 3 in all Manuel Antonio.

–Emilio’s Cafe. This restaurant is our favorite breakfast place. The view is amazing and the food is delicious. They are also open for lunch and dinner and make the best cakes ever!!!

View from Emilio’s Cafe

–El Angel. If you want to try authentic Costa Rican cuisine, this is the best place. It is super affordable and absolutely delicious. We eat there whenever we feel too lazy to cook at home (which is pretty often haha!!). I 100% recommend it.

–La Cantina. This restaurant is owned by the same people that own El Wagon so the style of the two restaurants is very similar. If you are a meat lover, you will love this restaurant. They also have live music most nights which makes for a very nice experience.

What to do

Waterfalls

If you visit Costa Rica, you absolutely have to go see a few waterfalls. In Manuel Antonio and its surroundings, there are many beautiful waterfalls worth visiting. If you have a car, you can easily drive to Nauyaca Waterfall (about 1 hour away), and many more. If you don’t have a car, the best option is to book a full day waterfall tour with a tour company.

Manuel Antonio National Park

The National Park is by far the most popular attraction when visiting Manuel Antonio. The entrance costs 16$US and you can stay inside the park for as long as you want. The best thing about the National Park is that the beaches are way quieter than the public beaches. Also, if you want to see lots of animals I recommend taking a guide with you for the day!

Surfing

Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to learn how to surf. If you walk along the public beach, you will find many surf schools and surf lessons offered by locals. This is an activity you will not regret doing.. fun for the whole family!!

Skydiving

If you are an adrenaline junky, or even just someone looking to cross something off their bucket list, skydiving is for you! Everyone has to go skydiving at least once in their lives… so why not do it in a beautiful location? Skydive Costa Rica is located in Quepos. The plane ride, the ocean views, and the jump itself will take your breath away (literally haha!).

Rafting

Another activity for the adrenaline junkies: rafting!! With many beautiful rivers in the area, Manuel Antonio is famous for its rafting. There are tours for every level (from beginner to expert). If you are interested in going on a rafting adventure, the best company is Amigos del Rio in Manuel Antonio.

Sport Fishing

Because Manuel Antonio and Quepos are located right on the Pacific Ocean, it makes it an ideal destination for sport fishing (and fishing of any kind). The marina in Quepos is full of fishing companies and beautiful yachts and catamarans. If you love fishing, you will definitely not be bored here!!

Other Activities

There are plenty of activities here in Manuel Antonio and Quepos. The ones I mentioned are my favorites and the ones I recommend the most. If you are looking for something else, you may be interested in these: catamaran tour, paddleboard tour, yoga classes, parasailing, snorkeling, diving, etc.

People that know me know that Costa Rica has a special place in my heart (especially Manuel Antonio since I now live here). I hope this inspired you to come visit this incredible country. I will be posting more articles about other parts of Costa Rica, but I had to start with my favorite: Manuel Antonio! If you are ever in the area and have questions or need recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact me through my social media.. I love meeting new people and showing them around!

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