VISITOR GUIDE

Manuel Antonio National Park: Visitor Guide

Manuel Antonio National Park is a small coastal park 7 km from Quepos where forest trails lead down to beaches, a mangrove and rocky viewpoints over the Pacific. It opens Wednesday to Monday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is closed every Tuesday. Tickets are sold only online through SINAC, Costa Rica’s national parks agency.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Hours, prices and rules can change, so check SINAC before you go.

WHY IT'S SPECIAL

What makes Manuel Antonio different

Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s smaller national parks, but SINAC says it receives more national and international visitors than any other protected area in the country. The reason is simple: in a few hours you can walk through very humid tropical forest, look for monkeys and sloths, and then swim at a beach inside the park.

According to SINAC, the park protects:

Very humid tropical forest, including primary forest, where threatened plants and animals live side by side.
A mangrove of about 18 hectares, a mix of fresh and salt water with red, piñuela and caballero mangroves, which you can see from the trails that run behind Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur.
A 14-hectare lagoon, islands and marine areas. Visit Costa Rica lists 1,953 hectares of land and 25,634 hectares of sea, with twelve islands that serve as refuges for seabirds.
Remarkable variety for its size. SINAC reports about 352 bird species, 109 mammal species and 346 plant species recorded in the park.

The park also has an unusual origin. It was created in 1972 by Law 5100, after years of pressure from Quepos residents who had been shut out of the beaches by their private owners. Read that story in our history and culture guide.

TICKETS & HOURS

Tickets, opening days and prices

When it’s open

Wednesday to Monday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Closed every Tuesday for maintenance.

How to buy tickets

SINAC sells tickets only online, through its online services site. At the gate you show your ticket together with the identity document you booked with (a passport for most foreign visitors). Each ticket is valid for one entry.

The park limits how many people can enter each day. The official number has changed over the years, so on holidays and in the dry season book as early as you can rather than counting on same-day availability.

Entrance fees listed by SINAC (VAT included)

Non-resident adult (over 12): US$18.08
Non-resident child (2 to 12): US$5.65
Non-resident child under 2: free
Resident adult (over 12): ₡1,808
Resident child (6 to 12): ₡565; under 6: free
Costa Rican citizens over 65 (Ciudadano de Oro): free

Prices as shown on SINAC’s Spanish-language park page, checked September 2026. SINAC’s English page shows the same rates before tax ($16 + VAT and $5 + VAT). Always confirm on the booking site.

GUIDES

Going with a guide (or without)

You don’t need a guide to enter. Trails are signed and easy to follow. But many animals here are well camouflaged: a sloth can look exactly like a clump of leaves, and a snake or a tree frog can be right beside the path. Naturalist guides carry spotting scopes and know where animals have been seen lately, so most first-time visitors see far more with one.

Many guides will also take a photo through the scope with your phone. It’s often the only way to get a clear picture of a sloth high in the canopy.

Official guides inside the park

SINAC lists one guiding concession inside the park: Manuel Antonio Official Tour Guides, run by the Association of Certified Tour Guides of the Canton of Quepos (phone +506 8671 1813, email tourguidepnma@gmail.com). According to SINAC:

Guided walks run Wednesday to Monday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon walks at 3:30 p.m. (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) and night walks at 5:30 p.m. (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) run only in special seasons, from November to April.

Booking ahead

If you’re staying with us, you can arrange a guided park walk through ECOTICA. See wildlife and nature tours, or send your dates through our tours request form.

TRAILS & BEACHES

Trails, beaches and viewpoints

SINAC describes a network of signed trails that lead from the entrance through the forest to the beaches and up to viewpoints at the park’s highest points, about 160 m above sea level. Download the official trail map before you go. Below are the places SINAC itself names.

Main routes

Perezoso trail (Sendero Perezoso). SINAC calls it the “vehicle trail”. It’s the wide main route in from the entrance and has drinking-water fountains for refilling bottles.
Beach trails to Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur, which run alongside the mangrove and also have water fountains.
La Catarata (waterfall) trail. A small waterfall that only flows in the rainy season. Ask at the entrance whether it’s running.
Mirador Punta Serrucho. A viewpoint over a jagged rock formation. SINAC explains that its broken, saw-like shape (serrucho means “saw”) comes from movement along a tectonic fault.
Punta Catedral. Once an island, now joined to the coast by a sandy strip called a tombolo, with viewpoints over the islands where seabirds nest. In September 2026, SINAC’s English page says the Punta Catedral trail is temporarily closed. Check at the entrance.

Beaches inside the park

Playa Manuel Antonio. The best-known beach, in a sheltered bay. SINAC notes good snorkeling toward the rocky sides, with fish and some coral.
Playa Espadilla Sur. Long and wide at low tide and usually quieter than Playa Manuel Antonio, though SINAC notes the waves can be strong at some times of year.
Playa Gemelas. A beach split in two by a rock formation that keeps changing with the sea and weather.

Other features SINAC highlights

Puerto Escondido viewpoint. A coastal view where, at low tide, you may see a sand bridge linking an island to the shore.
La Trampa. At low tide, to the right of Playa Manuel Antonio beside Punta Catedral, a circle of stones is visible. SINAC describes it as archaeological remains that, by local account, Indigenous people used as a trap for turtles and fish.

For a comparison of beaches inside and outside the park, see our Manuel Antonio beaches guide. For snorkeling tips, read snorkeling in Manuel Antonio.

SERVICES & RULES

Facilities, food and what you can bring

Facilities (per SINAC)

Restrooms, changing rooms and showers. Soap and shampoo are not allowed in the showers.
Lockers for rent from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Drinking-water fountains on the Perezoso trail and the beach trails, so bring a reusable bottle.
A concession selling food and crafts. Food bought there can be eaten only in the designated area, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. SINAC’s Spanish page adds that food is not allowed on the beaches and trails.

Not allowed in the park (per SINAC)

Bringing in food or drinks of any kind, except under the conditions and exceptions set by the park administration. If you have a medical or dietary need, ask the park before your visit.
Feeding wild animals.
Pets of any kind.
Alcohol, smoking or drugs.
Umbrellas, balls, tents or hammocks.
Fishing or hunting, making fires or collecting firewood.
Damaging plants, animals or park facilities, and collecting shells or snails.
Weapons, and putting up advertising of any kind.

The full public-use regulation is on SINAC’s site (in Spanish).

Accessibility

SINAC doesn’t publish detailed accessibility information for the park. The Perezoso trail is the wide main route (SINAC calls it a vehicle trail), and some visitors with strollers or limited mobility use it. The beach and viewpoint trails include steps, roots and slopes. If you or someone in your group uses a wheelchair or has limited mobility, contact the park administration before booking (Visit Costa Rica lists the park phone as +506 2777-4221) and ask which sections are suitable that day.

SAFETY

The manzanillo tree: look, don't touch

SINAC warns that the manzanillo tree found on the beach is toxic. Its official advice: do not sit in its shade, do not touch it and do not eat its fruit. Keep a close eye on children near the beach trees.

Source: SINAC, Manuel Antonio National Park, Recommendations. Learn more about the plants of the park in our plants and rainforest guide.

RESPECT

How to be a good visitor

The animals in Manuel Antonio are used to people, and that’s the problem. When visitors feed them, monkeys and raccoons learn to raid bags and can get sick from human food. SINAC is clear: never feed wildlife, don’t interact with animals, and keep your food out of reach. A few more habits make a real difference:

Keep your distance. Give animals room, and back away if one comes toward you.
Don’t touch plants or animals, and leave shells and snails on the beach.
Stay on the trails, and don’t climb on railings or signs.
Keep noise down. You’ll see more, and so will everyone around you.
Watch your belongings. Zip your bag and never leave it unattended on the sand.
Take all your rubbish out with you.
Ask park rangers (guardaparques) if you need help. SINAC notes they wear uniforms with SINAC logos.

Sightings are never guaranteed. Animals move with the season, the weather and the time of day. Our wildlife guide explains what lives here and how to look for it well.

PLANNING

When to go and how to get there

Best time of day

Arrive close to opening at 7:00 a.m. Mornings are cooler, animals are often more active, and the trails are calmer before the midday crowd. SINAC recommends early visits especially in September and October, the quietest and rainiest months.

Plan around Tuesday

Because the park is closed on Tuesdays, use that day for the ocean, the spa or Quepos. See our sample itineraries.

Getting to the entrance

The entrance is at the end of Route 618, about 7 km from Quepos. SINAC notes there’s no parking in the park and that the road is very busy in high season. The local bus, a taxi or a tour pickup is usually easiest. Details in getting here and getting around.

What to bring

Your ticket and the passport or ID you used to book.
Closed walking shoes. SINAC advises against sandals on forest trails.
A reusable water bottle.
Swimwear, a small towel, sun protection and insect repellent.
A light rain jacket in the green season.
Binoculars if you have them.

With children

The Perezoso trail is wide and easy, which suits young legs. Kids love looking through a guide’s scope, so a guided walk is worth it with children. Bring plenty of water and a change of clothes for after the beach. Keep the visit short: a walk, a swim, and out before the midday heat. Food isn’t allowed on the trails or beaches, so have a good breakfast before you go.

For seasonal advice, read the best time to visit Manuel Antonio.

QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions

Is Manuel Antonio National Park open on Mondays?

Yes. According to SINAC it opens Wednesday to Monday and closes on Tuesdays.

Can I buy tickets at the entrance?

SINAC says tickets are sold only through its online services site. Book before you go.

Can I bring food?

Not in general. SINAC does not allow food or drinks except under exceptions set by the park administration, and food bought at the concession must be eaten in the designated area.

Will I see sloths and monkeys?

Many visitors do, but nobody can promise it. A guide with a scope improves your chances.

How long should I spend in the park?

Most people spend three to five hours: two or three on the trails, often with a guide, then time at a beach inside the park. If you go in at 7:00 a.m., you’ll be out before the hottest part of the day. The park closes at 3:00 p.m.

Is ECOTICA inside the park?

No. ECOTICA is a boutique hotel in Manuel Antonio a few minutes from the park, on its own 10 acres of rainforest. Back to the travel guide.

SOURCES

Sources

Last reviewed: September 2026. Operational details are summarized from SINAC’s official park pages; if anything here differs from SINAC, SINAC is right.