Manuel Antonio Map: Park, Beaches, Quepos and ECOTICA
This Manuel Antonio map comes down to one road: it leaves the harbour town of Quepos, climbs over a green hill lined with hotels and sunset restaurants, then drops to Playa Espadilla and the entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park. ECOTICA sits in the heart of town on that road, about 2.8 km (around 7 minutes by car) from the park entrance and about 4.6 km from Quepos centre.
Map of Manuel Antonio, Quepos and the National Park
Zoom in and you will see the whole story at a glance: Quepos and Marina Pez Vela on the bay to the north, the ridge of Manuel Antonio in the middle, and the forested peninsula of the national park at the southern tip, where the rainforest runs straight into the Pacific. The pin marks ECOTICA, on the main road at Km 4.
Tap the pin for directions from wherever you are. If you are arriving by car, Google Maps lists the hotel as “ECOTICA Boutique Hotel & Spa, Ctra Principal Km 4, Manuel Antonio”.
One Road from Quepos to the Park
Manuel Antonio is easy to read because nearly everything strings along a single road, Route 618, known locally as the Carretera Principal (main road). Picture it in three stretches:
- Quepos (the start). The working town by the water, with the municipal market, banks, shops and Marina Pez Vela. The road leaves town and begins to climb.
- The hill (the middle). The road winds up and over the ridge through the rainforest. This is where most hotels and many restaurants sit, several with long views over the Pacific at sunset. ECOTICA is here, in the heart of Manuel Antonio, at Km 4.
- The beach (the end). The road descends to Playa Espadilla, the long public beach, and finishes near the national park entrance.
Side roads branch off toward hidden coves and hillside hotels, such as Calle Mariposa, which Google uses to route guests from ECOTICA toward Playa Biesanz. On the other side of Quepos, Route 235 leads to the small Quepos airport (XQP, La Managua), and Route 34 (the Costanera) runs along the coast toward San José and Jacó.
Because there is one main road, the park has no parking lot of its own, and the road gets busy in high season. Staying in the middle of it, like ECOTICA, keeps the beach, the park and the restaurants all within a few minutes.
Manuel Antonio Map Distances and Drive Times
Approximate road distances and times from ECOTICA, read on Google Maps in October 2026. Traffic on the main road can add time in high season, especially around midday near the beach.
| Place | Distance | By car | On foot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel Antonio National Park entrance | about 2.8 km | about 7 min | about 41 min (3.0 km) |
| Playa Espadilla (public beach) | about 1.6 km | about 3 min | about 23 min (1.7 km) |
| Playa Biesanz | about 1.6 km | about 4 min | about 27 min (1.9 km), plus the trail down |
| Quepos town centre (market area) | about 4.6 km | about 9 min | – |
| Marina Pez Vela, Quepos | about 5.5 km | about 11 min | – |
| Quepos airport (XQP, La Managua) | about 8.8 km | about 14 min | – |
| SJO airport, San José | about 158 km | about 3 h | – |
An independent OpenStreetMap cross-check gave very similar figures, so you can plan with confidence: the beach in minutes, Quepos in under ten, the airstrip in about a quarter of an hour.
Quepos, the Hilltop and the Beach
Quepos town and Marina Pez Vela
Quepos is the practical end of the map: the municipal market area, everyday shops, and Marina Pez Vela, where yachts, sport-fishing charters and many boat and catamaran tours set out. Dinner here can mean fresh tuna at El Gran Escape in town or steak and seafood with a marina view at Gabriella’s. The Tracopa bus sales point is at the Mercado Municipal. For fishing and the water, see our guides to sport fishing in Quepos and ocean and boat tours.
The hilltop: hotels, views and restaurants
Between Quepos and the beach, the road rides the ridge. This is the heart of Manuel Antonio, where rainforest hotels, cafés and sunset terraces share the same few kilometres. El Avión, set in a vintage cargo plane about 2 km before the park, Le Papillon and La Terraza are known for their ocean and sunset views, while El Patio de Café Milagro is a short stroll from ECOTICA. Our Manuel Antonio restaurants guide maps them all.
Playa Espadilla and the national park
At the bottom of the hill the road meets Playa Espadilla, the wide public beach, with beachfront spots such as Restaurante Marlin and Zi Lounge close by. A little further on is the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park, open Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesdays) from 7 am, with last entry at 3 pm. Tickets are sold online only; see park tickets and hours. Off a side trail on the peninsula is the sheltered cove of Playa Biesanz.
Getting Around Manuel Antonio
Short distances make Manuel Antonio pleasant to explore without a car of your own. The options:
- On foot. From ECOTICA, Playa Espadilla is about 23 minutes’ walk and the park entrance about 41 minutes. Comfortable shoes, water and an early start make it a lovely way to arrive. The walk back is uphill, so many guests ride home.
- Taxi. For a 3 to 10 minute hop to the beach, the park or Quepos, a taxi is the simplest choice. The front desk (open 6 am to 10 pm) is happy to call one for you.
- Your own car. ECOTICA has free parking for guests. The park itself has no parking lot; paid private lots sit near Playa Espadilla and the park entrance area, and Playa Biesanz has only roadside parking. On busy days, leaving the car at the hotel and riding down is often easier.
- Bus. Tracopa runs a direct bus between San José and Manuel Antonio (fare ₡5,760 in October 2026) and a San José–Quepos service (₡4,440). Its Quepos sales point is at the Mercado Municipal. For local buses along the main road, ask the front desk for the current schedule.
- Transfers and tours. Our concierge arranges transport for tours, dinners and airport connections, and many tours include pickup at the hotel.
Arriving from further away? Our getting to Manuel Antonio guide covers the drive from San José, buses, shuttles and the short flights into Quepos. For a friendly day-by-day take, read getting around Manuel Antonio from ECOTICA.
Quepos Airport, San José and the Coastal Road
Two arrival routes appear on the wider map. By air, Costa Rica Green Airways and SANSA fly from San José (SJO) to Quepos (XQP) in about 25 to 30 minutes; the airstrip is about 8.8 km, around 14 minutes, from ECOTICA. By road, SJO to ECOTICA is about 158 km and about 3 hours via Route 27 and then Route 34 (the Costanera) south past Jacó and Parrita to Quepos, then Route 618 up the hill.
Coming from Liberia (LIR) in the north, the drive is about 265 km, roughly 5 hours. Full details, including baggage limits on the small planes, are in our transportation guide.
Day Trips Beyond the Map
Once you know the main road, the wider region opens up: rivers, waterfalls and rainforest valleys inland from Quepos, and the coast stretching north and south along Route 34. Our waterfalls and day trips guide covers the outings worth a full or half day, and the Manuel Antonio itineraries show how to fit them around park and beach days.
For a deeper look at each part of town, see Quepos and Manuel Antonio: what’s where.
In the Heart of Manuel Antonio
On the map, ECOTICA sits right where you want to be: on the main road in the heart of Manuel Antonio, around the corner from the national park and the beaches, yet wrapped in its own 10-acre private rainforest reserve on a wildlife corridor. Our boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio has just 17 rooms, 10 suites and 7 private bungalows, where howler and capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, sloths, toucans and scarlet macaws often appear from the pool and the rooms.
Mornings begin with breakfast, included, at La POZA by the pool (6 am to 9 pm). Evenings unfold at YOLO Social, with live music every night (11 am to 11 pm). In between, the Jungle Spa is open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, a quiet reward after a day in the park.
- Book a park visit with a naturalist guide, a catamaran or a zip line through our tours form.
- Ask our concierge to arrange taxis, transfers and dinner plans along the road.
- Reserve our private airport shuttle between San José and Manuel Antonio: US$195 each way for up to 5 people.
Free parking, a front desk open from 6 am to 10 pm, and children 6 and over welcome.
Manuel Antonio Map: Common Questions
Where is Manuel Antonio on the map of Costa Rica?
Manuel Antonio is on the Central Pacific coast in Puntarenas province, just south of the town of Quepos. It is about 158 km, around 3 hours by road, from San José airport (SJO).
How far is ECOTICA from Manuel Antonio National Park?
About 2.8 km by road, around 7 minutes by car, or about 41 minutes on foot (3.0 km). ECOTICA is on the same main road that ends near the park entrance.
How far is the beach from ECOTICA?
Playa Espadilla, the main public beach, is about 1.6 km away: around 3 minutes by car or about 23 minutes on foot. Playa Biesanz is about 1.6 km by road, around 4 minutes, plus a short trail down.
How far is Quepos from Manuel Antonio?
From ECOTICA, Quepos town centre is about 4.6 km (around 9 minutes by car) and Marina Pez Vela about 5.5 km (around 11 minutes).
Does Manuel Antonio National Park have parking?
No. The park has no parking lot of its own. Paid private lots are near Playa Espadilla and the entrance area, so many guests take a taxi or walk from their hotel. ECOTICA offers free parking for guests.
How far is the Quepos airport from ECOTICA?
The Quepos airstrip (XQP, La Managua) is about 8.8 km from ECOTICA, around 14 minutes by car. Flights from San José take about 25 to 30 minutes.
Can I get around Manuel Antonio without a car?
Yes. The beach and park are a short walk or taxi ride from ECOTICA, many tours include hotel pickup, and our concierge can arrange taxis and transfers.
Keep exploring
Keep exploring: read our friendly guide to getting around Manuel Antonio from ECOTICA, plan your visit with park tickets and hours, compare Manuel Antonio beaches, find dinner on the map in our restaurants guide, or browse the full Manuel Antonio travel guide. When you are ready, discover our boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio.
Arrive with everything ready
Tell us your dates and we will have the best of Manuel Antonio waiting for you before you land:
- Book your tours: Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist guide, boat trips, zip lines, rafting and more
- Reserve Jungle Spa: massages, couples treatments, facials and body rituals
- Airport transportation: a private transfer from San José, US$195 each way for up to 5 people
- Concierge requests: dinners, celebrations and anything special
- Stay at ECOTICA: check dates and rates for our bungalows and suites
Where our facts come from
- Google Maps – driving and walking routes from ECOTICA (read October 2026)
- SINAC – Manuel Antonio National Park (hours, tickets, access)
- SINAC – Official park ticket portal (SICORE)
- Tracopa – Routes and timetables
- Tracopa – Fares
- Tracopa – Sales points
Last reviewed: October 2026. Prices and opening hours can change; check the official site before you go.
