Manuel Antonio
The jungle tropics of Costa Rica meet the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean in this fantastic location.
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Nature & Wildlife
Why Visit Manuel Antonio?
Manuel Antonio offers the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the region's vibrant flora, and fauna just steps away from your accommodations.
From exceptional, not-to-be-missed properties and bucket-list experiences, here are our favorite reasons to explore Manuel Antonio:
- Wildlife: Manuel Antonio is home to countless marine species, birds, and mammals. You’ll have plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching. You can regularly see monkeys and even sloths on hotel or restaurant grounds.
- Uniqueness: Manuel Antonio was on Forbes’ list of the twelve most beautiful parks in the world and one of TripAdvisor’s 25 featured beaches for Traveler’s Choice. The combination of rainforest, beach, and coral reefs is outstanding.
- Entertainment: It's an activity base for surfing, kayaking, sport fishing (In Quepos & Marina Pez Vela (Sailfish)), rafting, and zip lining.
Where to Stay
There are various options from budget-friendly to very high-end. Most places are either walkable to the beach and surrounded by jungle or just a few minutes drive.
Things to Do
Aside from a few days of sunbathing and swimming at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, there is so much to do in the area.
Best Time to Travel to Manuel Antonio
The best time to travel, beyond weather patterns, will depend on what kind of activities you're interested in doing.
If you are looking to explore nature, wildlife spotting, visit waterfalls, do a canopy zip line tour, or just chill at the beach and maybe learn how to surf, you are in luck as they are year-round activities in Manuel Antonio.
Fishing is excellent all year, but what you’ll likely hook also depends on the month. Yellowfin tuna and dorado are caught all year. However, Blue Marlin is biting like crazy from April through September.
You can also enjoy whitewater rafting on class II-III-IV rapids in this area. Rapids are more complex, faster, and more challenging during the summer and fall (June-October). March and early April are the ends of the dry season, and the water level drops, so if a rafting adventure is on your bucket list, best to avoid these months.
If you hunt for whales, the best time to do whale watching in Costa Rica is from August through October, when humpback whales come to breed and raise their young. The most spectacular central Pacific whale watching is located south of Dominical in Ballena Marine National Park.
From mid-December through April, Manuel Antonio is very popular and crowded. Book early because of limited availability. The best time to get to the beach is earlier, around 7:30 am, to avoid crowds and see more active wildlife.
Pricing is less expensive during the rainy season, from May through November. So if you are looking for the best bang for your buck, flexible on time, the rainy season is the season to come.
Manuel Antonio Weather
The temperature is stable year-round, in the high 80s to low 90s.
Favorite times to visit include Christmas and New Year’s weeks and January through March. The weather is the sunniest in February.
From May through August, expect an afternoon thunderstorm for an hour or so. But, again, these are fun to watch from the comfort of your hotel or rental.
From September to November, it gets much rainier, but you can catch some of the most spectacular sunsets.
Is Manuel Antonio Safe?
While Manuel Antonio is generally safe, you should, as in all areas, take specific precautionary measures against pick-pocketing, such as avoiding isolated areas and not wearing expensive jewelry. If you rent a car, keep it locked with the windows up anytime you leave it and park in well-lit areas. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.
Top Restaurants in Manuel Antonio
There are so many restaurants to choose from in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. There is something for everybody here, from traditional Costa Rican to Falafel, sushi, Italian, and sandwiches.
Pizza and Italian
El Wagon: If you like thin crust wood-fired pizza, this is your place. El Wagon is part of the Costa Verde property and is located across from the main entrance to the Costa Verde hotel. Sometimes you even see monkeys crawling on the rafters here as well!
La Lambretta: Wood-fired pizza and homemade pasta with an ocean view. If you don’t order the risotto, you are missing out! La Lambretta is in a shopping center in the heart of Manuel Antonio, walking distance to hotels in the area of Los Altos and Si Como No.
Pizzeria L' Angolo Gastronómico: Authentic Italian cuisine is not something you would expect to find in a small beach town in Costa Rica, but it is here. A small restaurant on the corner of a building near the bus stop in Quepos is home to L’Angolo. This authentic Italian restaurant features a variety of cured meat, pizza, and Italian dishes.
Local Flavors: Neighborhood Bars and Diners (Called “Sodas”)
Sodas: When you want to eat as the locals do, experience a Soda is, a local Costa Rican restaurant. They are generally small open-air restaurants, locally owned, and serve traditional Costa Rican food. A Casado is your traditional Costa Rican lunch with rice, beans, fried plantain, salad, and a protein (usually fish, pork, beef, or chicken).
Pollitos: Home of the best-fried chicken in Costa Rica! This local soda has a window with fried chicken, empanadas, and plantain chips. It is located on the last corner of buildings on the main road in Quepos toward the Marina. Try the fried chicken leg or empanada with potatoes and meat.
Restaurante Donde Alex: If you are visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, you will walk by Donde Alex. This Gallo Pinto is one of the best around! The owner, Alex, is friendly, and the food is extraordinary. Another favorite is the breakfast burrito with the plantain inside.
Soda Sanchez: This small open-air restaurant located by the soccer field in Quepos is a local favorite. If you are looking for authentic Costa Rica cuisine, stop by Soda Sanchez. Our favorites are shrimp tacos with a hard shell bowl, side salad, fried shrimp, and a fantastic parmesan cheese sauce.
Sports & Wings
Jolly Roger: Located in the heart of Manuel Antonio, Bar Jolly Roger has 24 different sauces to lather their chicken and cauliflower wings. You may be thinking, cauliflower wings? These are amazing! You can even bring your vegetarian and vegan friends here, and they can find something to eat. The burgers are massive and have plenty of food for two people. Add a side of storm fries (garlic and parmesan) on the side, and you are set for a great meal. This is also one of the few places with draught beer, and if you are looking for a sports game, you are bound to find it here. Be sure to stop in for live music and karaoke.
Double Hook: Located on the top level of Marina Pez Vela, the Double Hook has a spectacular view, but they also have 10 TVs and every sport imaginable. The Double Hook also has some of the best chiliguaro in town. Be sure to ask for some when you are there.
Blue Marlin: People always ask what bar the locals go to. There are a few places locals frequent in Quepos better than Blue Marlin. The chifrijo plate is a Costa Rican dish with fried pork, rice, red beans, pico de gallo, and tortilla chips. Pair this with Flor De Caña and club soda, or a round of chiliguaros!
Emilio’s: Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Emilio’s has the best breakfast sandwich in the area. Complete with eggs, goat cheese, tomato, onion, and avocado, in between a freshly baked buttery croissant, topped with an ocean view, and a side of coffee is the way to start your day in Manuel Antonio. Emilio’s also features the ever-elusive eggs benedict. Breakfast, not your thing? No worries, come back for dessert and enjoy one of the many homemade pies, cakes (flourless chocolate espresso cake for all the coffee lovers), pastries, and desserts. A chocolate croissant will still be behind the glass if you are lucky.
Café Milagro: Since 1994, Café Milagro has been roasting coffee in Quepos. You can also enjoy their coffee at el Patio De Café Milagro, located across Los Altos in Manuel Antonio. Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee in the outdoor garden seating area! A favorite for breakfast here is their omelet. This is also one of the few locations with beer on tap, and they have a vegan chocolate mousse that is to die for.
Quick Lunch: Sandwiches & Tacos
Cafetto: Buffalo chicken sandwich or the Cuban are the go-to choices here and make sure you ask for the chipotle sauce for the fries. Not only a great place for sandwiches, but Caffetto also has an extensive coffee and cakes menu. Located on a small street in Quepos, it is just down the road from the next local favorite.
Tacos al Pastor Tico: If you are craving something quick and delicious, stop by Tacos Al Pastor Tico. They are tucked away in Quepos next to Banco Nacional; this small taco shop dishes excellent food and fast! They have a wide variety of sauces to choose from as well.
Arabelas: Across from the Super Iguana in Quepos, when you make your way down from Manuel Antonio to Quepos, look to your right when you turn towards the church for Arabellas. Great food great prices in an open-air restaurant in the heart of Quepos provide an authentic and affordable dining experience. Fantastic shrimp tacos!
Happy Hour
Runaway: A happy hour favorite. 5 PM to 7 PM, seven days a week, two for one, discounted beers, sorry if you drink wine, it's not included and make sure you sit with a view of the ocean and watch the sun disappear over the horizon line with the marina in front of you. It’s magical. Try a Flor De Caña with club soda. Flor De Caña is a Nicaraguan rum and couples it with the poke nachos! The Runaway is also one of the best places to bring fresh fish. So whether it's tuna, dorado, or a whole snapper or grouper, this is a great place to enjoy the rewards of a day on the water.
Vegan, Vegetarian & Plant-based
Falafel Bar: Great restaurant at the top of the hill in Manuel Antonio, and the go-to dish here is easily the falafel plate or pita. They also have smoothies with and without alcohol. The schnitzel is another favorite here. Everything is homemade, and they have a self-serve salad bar so you can load up with your favorite toppings. Be sure to try the green and red sauces they make too!
Enso: Enjoy sushi with a jungle view on the outdoor terrace at Enso. Right next to Los Altos in Manuel Antonio, Enso not only features sushi but other Asian cuisines, including poke bowls, soups, spring rolls, and gyoza. This is also an excellent choice for vegans. The menu has six different items for vegans to enjoy.
Tentacion: Visit Roberto at Tentacion for the best smoothies in Quepos. Located on the main street through Quepos, keep an eye out for Tentaction on your left as you come over the bridge past the colorful Quepos sign. Stop by for smoothies, breakfast, lunch, coffee, and dinner!
Hidden Gem
Coffee Stop: A hidden gem tucked behind the pharmacy across from the bus stop in Quepos when you walk through the doors, you enter a chic coffee and wine bar with a wide variety of food, from Aztec soup to spring rolls to a roast beef sandwich, and it is all delicious. The Coffee Stop is a great place to quietly work in the corner, stop in for lunch, or enjoy a glass of wine.
Dinner With A View
Ronny’s Place: "Mi Casa es Su Casa,'' which means, "My house is your house," is today's proud slogan of Ronny's Place. There is a new area with a bird's eye view and the best place to watch the sunset. Make sure you call ahead and reserve the seats; they fill up quickly!
Agua Azul Cafe: Be sure to try the tuna tower at Aguas Azul. Located in the middle of Manuel Antonio and within walking distance to some of our favorite hotels, the view and food will not disappoint. 2x1 happy hour at sunset is hard to complain about as well.
El Lagarto: Perched on the hill in Manuel Antonio, walking into Lagarto, you are immediately welcomed by the smell of burning wood flowing from the grills with top-quality steaks, seafood, and vegetables. The sunsets are magical here, and this is an excellent spot for a large group and small intimate gatherings. The portobello mushroom appetizer is delicious, and they have several different cuts of steak to choose from.
How to Get to Manuel Antonio
The easiest and fastest way to get to Manuel Antonio is to arrive at San Jose Airport (SJO) and take a quick smaller plane (Sansa, Green Airways, or private plane) to the Quepos/Manuel Antonio airport. The airport sits just 15 minutes outside of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Car transfers can be easily arranged for your arrival. Should you decide to use land transportation, there are a couple of options, including the bus ($8 each way) and taxi/Uber (which generally costs about the same as the small flight over one of the carriers mentioned above).