Two Day Manuel Antonio Itinerary: Costa Rica’s Jungle and Beach Paradise

Two Days in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

• Day 1: Arrive and settle into Hotel Playa Espadilla, Manuel Antonio Beach
• Day 2: Manuel Antonio National Park, hike Sendero Hotel Playa Espadilla
• Day 3: Rainmaker Conservation Park, Uvita
• Departure Day: Morning visit to Manuel Antonio Beach

Is Manuel Antonio Worth Visiting?

Yes! Manuel Antonio one of the few places in the world where lush jungle meets sandy beaches, and with a ton of wildlife spotting opportunities.

As a surfer town on the Pacific Coast, it has a different vibe than popular inland destinations like La Fortuna. You are likely to encounter crowds here if you are in the high season but I think that popularity is owed to the uniqueness of the town and is well deserved.

When to Visit Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Tuesdays so plan around it.

The dry season in Manuel Antonio is from December to April. This is when you will have the best opportunity for sunshine, but it’s also the busiest time of the year. Manuel Antonio National Park is extremely popular so if you visit during this peak season, expect crowds and book well in advance.

I visited Manuel Antonio in May and even though it was the beginning of the rainy season (May-November), I had beautiful weather. For me, it was the perfect time to visit because I didn’t have to deal with big crowds of people. I only experienced rain in the evenings so it didn’t affect my daytime plans. The forest was also becoming more lush and wildlife seemed very active. I was able to see all species of monkeys in Manuel Antonio as well as sloths without needing a guide.

The rainy season peaks in September and October in Manuel Antonio, so either avoid traveling in those months or prepare for rainy days and mud!

How Many Days to Spend in Manuel Antonio

While Manuel Antonio can technically be visited as a day trip from San Jose, I don’t recommend it. At 3 hours of driving each way, it makes for a very long day.

I recommend spending at least two nights in Manuel Antonio so you have one full day to explore the national park. Ideally, spend three nights so you can visit nearby sights without feeling rushed.

Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio

I stayed at Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens, located next to the national park entrance. I loved the location as it meant I didn’t have to deal with parking when I visited Manuel Antonio National Park. It is a block away from Espadilla Beach, so I could take quick visits whenever I had a few moments.

Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens has fairly basic rooms, but with great service and breakfast included. I enjoyed the grounds including the pool and a surprising amount of wildlife. I was able to see howler monkeys as well as many frogs in the evenings.

Another hotel to consider is Shana by the Beach, a boutique hotel set in the jungle with ocean views. This is a great choice if you have a rental car. The hotel is a bit closer to the town of Manuel Antonio but is more secluded so you have lots of opportunity to see wildlife at the hotel.

Where to Eat in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio has some great options for food. There are also some tourist traps (yes, I was a victim of it, but I was so hungry!) so keep an eye out for massive menus or if they serve up frozen guacamole.

The Magic Bus– Operating out of a yellow school bus, the food here is high quality and a good price. I ate here twice because it was that good. The vegan chifri (massive bowl of beans, rice, lettuce, avocado, tortilla chips) and vegan wraps were super tasty and fresh. I can also highly recommend the Pura Vida smoothie with banana and chocolate. They do have plenty of non-vegan offerings as well, including chicken and fish.

The atmosphere here is very relaxed, and it’s located in the perfect place at the end of Esparadilla Beach to watch the sunset.

Roots– This is a vegetarian and plant-based restaurant. Even if you aren’t visiting for a meal, it’s worth stopping into Roots to try out their cacao menu. I had one of the Cacao Open Your Heart and it’s one of the best I’ve ever had. There are other options as well, including an energy and shroomy version. Drinks aside, the food here is delicious, and I had incredible tacos and nachos while enjoying views of the rainforest.

The Perfect Two Day Itinerary for Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

For this Manuel Antonio itinerary, you will need two full days, so plan on spending three nights in the area. I fit Manuel Antonio into my 10 days in Costa Rica by arriving from Monteverde the day before. After spending two full days in Manuel Antonio, I departed Costa Rica from San Jose Airport (SJO). Depending on when your flight departs, you may need to spend a night near the airport instead of being able to drive directly there.

Day 1: Arrival to Manuel Antonio

I had a rental car, so I was able to drive from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio in 4 hours. Manuel Antonio is also a great first location to visit on your trip to Costa Rica. From the San Juan Airport it is about a 3 hour drive. I recommend keeping your credit card handy for the toll roads where you can tap to pay.

I stayed at Hotel Playa Espadilla, right next to Manuel Antonio National Park. Because it is so close to the entrance you may have people try and direct your car to a paid parking lot. They can be quite aggressive, even jumping in front of the car to stop you from driving. Just tell them you are driving to your hotel.

After check-in, I recommend checking out Espadilla Beach. It’s close walking distance so it’s the perfect place to stretch your legs after a long drive. If you are up for it, the hotel does offer paid night tours to look for wildlife.

Day 2: Manuel Antonio National Park

Wake up early today and head to the park after breakfast for your entry time.

Food and plastic water bottles are banned from Manuel Antonio National Park. Upon entry, you must go through a security bag check where banned items will be confiscated. Reusable bottles are allowed and you can purchase food in the park.

I explored without a guide and had incredible wildlife sightings, but guided tours can be helpful if you want access to spotting scopes.

Exploring Manuel Antonio National Park

Wildlife viewing in Manuel Antonio National Park is incredible. I had my best wildlife viewing day in Costa Rica, even without a guide or binoculars. In addition to seeing all three monkey species, I also spotted a sloth, an otter, deer, and tons of crabs and lizards.

If visiting independently, skip the vehicle access roads and take the boardwalk path instead. It’s very scenic with options to take side paths, including the one to the seasonal waterfall. The boardwalk area through the mangroves is also where I spotted capuchins (including a baby!) in the canopy.

The first beach you see from the boardwalk trail is beautiful and covered with tiny hermit crabs scurrying across the sand.

Continuing on, you will arrive at Manuel Antonio Beach. You can swim here but the waves can be pretty rough, and the rocks are a bit sharp so water shoes could be useful. I was able to spot quite a few capuchins here laying on low branches over the trail as well as large iguanas and a sloth high in the tree.

Cathedral Trail leaves from near Manuel Antonio Beach and takes you through beautiful forest with views of the coastline. I found all of the trails in the park worth exploring as they are well maintained and quite easy, but give you a great chance at seeing wildlife.

I ended up spending about 6 hours in the park before heading out for lunch. It was super convenient to be a 5-minute walk to Hotel Playa Espadilla and not have to deal with waiting for the bus or driving after being in the heat of the park.

Hike Sendero Hotel Playa Espadilla Trail

After spending most of the day in the National Park, you may not have energy for any more walking and want to just hang out at the hotel pool. As part of staying at Hotel Playa Espadilla you also have free access to a small trail that is just outside the bounds of Manuel Antonio National Park. The Playa Espadilla Trail is 1.3 km and is a good spot to spot butterflies and if you are lucky, sloths. I was there at the right time and was able to spot a sloth at ground level as it started to climb back up the tree.

After a full day of exploring, finish up your day with sunset on the beach and dinner at the Magic Bus.

Day 3: Rainmaker Conservation Park and Uvita

This morning started with being distracted by a group of howler monkeys passing through the trees over the hotel parking lot. It’s incredible to be able to see howler monkeys so close without putting any effort in. They are rather large and loud monkeys, so if they are above you, chances are you will be able to spot them.

Rainmaker Conservation Park is a 45 minute drive from Manuel Antonio. The last part of the drive is on some narrow and bumpy dirt roads as you approach the park. Even after having visited hanging bridges in La Fortuna and the parks in Monteverde, I still highly recommend Rainmaker.

Rainmaker Conservation is a rather quick and easy hike, with very few inclines. It took me about 2 hours to explore fully. The narrow hanging bridges set high above the canopy make it worth visiting. After exploring the bridges, you descend a staircase to the river below. There are multiple small waterfalls as well as pools that you can swim in.

One thing I found unique about Rainmaker compared to other forests I visited in Costa Rica was the abundance of frogs. If you keep an eye out next to the trail and river, there is a good chance you will spot Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs. I spotted plenty of them and many tiny black frogs about the size of a pencil eraser. Back at the start of the trail, I was also able to spot a Yellow-throated toucan that appeared to be raiding the garden there.

Visit to Uvita and Marino Ballena National Park

After your time at Rainmaker Conservation Park, you will likely have the rest of the afternoon. You can either head back to Manuel Antonio and have a relaxing afternoon or drive down the coast to Uvita. The drive is about an hour but I found the drive to be quite scenic and relaxing.

In Uvita, there is paid parking next to the main entrance of Marino Ballena National Park. I was able to find street parking but I would not count on it. The beach here is huge and with little shade cover so make sure you have sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water.

Uvita is famous for the whale-tail-shaped beach that juts out into the Pacific Ocean. It’s quite far to walk, but it isn’t a very busy beach, so it’s quite peaceful. From ground level the whale-tail doesn’t really look like much.

Dinner at Roots Restaurant

After a busy day in the jungles and beaches, head back to Manuel Antonio for your final dinner in this charming beachside town. I recommend Roots Restaurant, which has seats looking out over the jungle and serves up seriously tasty food. The cacao was so good I am still thinking about it. I also had the nachos and tacos which were all very good.

Day 4: Depart Manuel Antonio

For your final morning, head to the nearby beach to grab some last minutes near the ocean before departing. My flight from Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) wasn’t until 3 pm so I had plenty of time to do the 3-hour drive to the airport. The drive is a fairly easy one and you have the option to stop at the famous crocodile bridge to view the crocodiles in the river below.

Final Thoughts on Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio was the perfect end to my first trip to Costa Rica. It’s a microcosm of everything the country has to offer: lush jungles, abundant wildlife, beautiful beaches, and that unmistakable pura vida energy.