You can also search for all hostel options using HostelWorld. professional-quality photos and HD videos using your cell phone or handheld camera. But because we already visited jungle in Peru, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve to be specific, seeing wildlife was for us only variegation, not the main reason to visit the park. There are many reasons why we don't plan much ahead anymore, some more significant than others. When visiting during this month, consider hiring a guide to help you see animals. about playa manuel antonio costa rica (manuel antonio beach), playa espadilla sur, and playa espadilla norte Manuel Antonio Costa Rica is one of our favourite spots in the entire country. info@manuelantonioparktour.com However, these nights will fall Dec 26-29, which from everything that I\’ve also read says that this is the worst time to visit MA because of the crowds. Additionally, the guide brings along a spotting scope so you can get up-close views of everything from monkeys and sloths to toucans and hummingbirds. We've done them all, and probably the favorite one was the loop you can make from Playa Manuel Antonio, but other trails were nice as well. The Skinny: Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the premier ecotourism destinations in the world. Manuel Antonio is recognized as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Originally I had planned to have nights 11-14 be at Manuel Antonio because everything I read says that this is one of the top places to see in CR. So what a surprise when we arrived in Quepos, a base for visiting Manuel Antonio National Park and started to read the latest reviews about the park. Honestly, we wouldn't pay the steep entrance fee only to lie down on a beach - there are so many pretty beaches outside the park or in other parts of Costa Rica where you don't have to pay at all. It’s the smallest national park in Costa Rica, consisting of 1,700 acres of land and over 130,000 acres of water. There is a public bus from the capital city, San Jose, but we won't include this option here as it is not very convenient because you need to arrive early to the gate in order to get to the park. Take plenty of water with you - we had 6 liters and drank it all. Mexico & Central America - Is Manuel Antonio worth the travel when you're in Osa Peninsula? Note, that the waterfall in the park is only seasonal and in March there was no water running down at all, but it is a place where you can look for snakes and frogs. Manuel Antonio is often considered among the most biodiverse parks in the world. That means that the park itself can be quite crowded. The first impression was quite negative, even intimidating because of many people near the entrance and at the beginning of the trail, but after a while, crowds dispersed, and we could focus only on searching for wildlife and on looking for the best beach to relax on. Manuel Antonio is home to one of the most beautiful and popular places in Costa Rica: the Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest, yet the most heavily visited national park in Costa Rica. The peak season runs between December and the end of March or mid-April when you can expect dry conditions (it is not uncommon to experience afternoon rain in Costa Rica's dry season though), but prices and overall tourism is in its peak as well. We've done rappelling in Jaco, Costa Rica, and can only recommend trying it. Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest, yet the most heavily visited national park in Costa Rica. There are local flights that take half an hour from San José to Quepos. Walk the nature trails in Manuel Antonio National Park; 3. Answer 1 of 17: We are planning a trip to CR June 14-24, 2012 and were planning to visit Arenal, Montverde and Manuel Antonio with 2 kids ages 9 & 12. You can buy bus tickets at the station in San José, we recommend you to do it in advance. During the off-season, a bed will cost from 5,800 CRC ($10 USD) each night, no matter how big the room is. Articles & Photography by Lucie Hermankova and Martin Tychtl, what to see and do, travel guide, central america, border crossing, what to see and do, travel guide, city guide, central america, visited jungle in Peru, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Rio Celeste: The Bluest River In Costa Rica, A Guide on How to Visit Carara National Park from Jaco, Monteverde, Costa Rica: A Forest in the Clouds, Uvita, Costa Rica: Exploring Ballena National Marine Park. All rights reserved. The park offers plenty of activities, and we found quite challenging to do everything we wanted within nine hours when the park is open, especially when we take into the account Costa Rica's terrible humidity which makes everything much more exhausting. This is definitely a must for things to do in Manuel Antonio. There are loads of activities to enjoy in Manuel … However, that’s not the only incredible feature about this area! Even when you hire a guide, the tour usually takes four hours, and you will still have a lot of time to walk in the park on own and enjoy pristine beaches. We also met a couple who told us that when they came to the park's entrance around 10 AM, the staff told them to come back the next day. Sunscreen | Sun is always strong in Costa Rica, so having a good sunscreen is a must. Manuel Antonio Estates is walkable or a quick taxi ride to the town of Quepos for grocery shopping, dinner, visiting Marina Pez Vela or just hanging with the locals. With lots of shady almond trees, this beach is perfect for a day of lounging around with a good book. The first bus leaves at 5:30 AM, so you don't need to be worried you won't make it for the opening. For a room with eight beds or more, expect to pay around 8,780 CRC ($15 USD). RENT A CAR. You can ask all the questions you have during the tour. This online guide explains the basics of visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. Tickets to Manuel Antonio National Park are the chapter on its own. We know the answer. Explore Manuel Antonio Village holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. For sure sloths, hanging lazily on tree branches, several species of monkeys such as howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys or squirrel monkeys, birds, insects, frogs, snakes, iguanas and much more. We have advice though. Generally, when you come to Manuel Antonio National Park entrance, you will see two lines - if you hadn't bought your ticket, you need to line up in the right line first in order to buy a ticket and then move to the left line to get to the park. Manuel Antonio National Park is popular for some very good reasons. How do we make our tours unique? Instead, Manuel Antonio’s beautiful beaches are just a 25-minute stroll from the park entrance, and you’ll see lots of incredible wildlife along the way. Manuel Antonio is very nice but can get crowded due to its popularity and if that is an issue for some there are other NP and beaches just as nice but not so bussy. The weather in the park is hot and humid throughout the year, and temperatures often sit around 30°C - take plenty of water with you! All trails usually lead on boardwalks and are not challenging, but there are some sections where you will have to climb up and down, and it is good to know in case you have mobility issues. Precipitation averages drop to almost zero and … There are several pristine beaches in the park where you can spend all day long. There is a small shop in the middle of the park where you can buy some snacks and water, but no real food. You have two options on where to buy entrance tickets - in San Jose or in Quepos at Coopealianza office or right at the entrance. It is beautiful though and is a great place to see a lot of amazing wildlife in a condensed area while also enjoying tropical beaches. Parasail over Manuel Antonio. We think, yes. 10 Things To Do In Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Explore Quepos town; 6. Taking a tour is the best way to explore the park. We found out about the presale too late, so we had to line up in front of the entrance before 7 AM, but apparently, buying tickets in advance doesn't guarantee that you will be let into the park, because you will have to wait in the queue as well. When lucky, you can also spot migrating whales and dolphins offshore, the best season is from December to March. Is Manuel Antonio National Park Worth A Visit? The guide will point out all animals, he knows where to go at what time and he also has telescopes for better observation. Thee green alias rainy season runs from the end of April to the end of November. The adventure begins on our trip to the park. Spanning several natural habits, this gem boasts more than 109 different species of mammals and 184 species of birds. Manuel Antonio has a plethora of luxury lodging, tasty eats, beautiful sights, exotic wildlife and fun activities for all travelers, especially families . With white sand beaches and calm and safe waters surrounded by mangroves and virgin jungles. Surfing Manuel Antonio October 22nd to April 1st. Your guide will teach you what makes these animals unique. The climate is humid tropical, characterized by a short dry season (January to March) and a longer rainy season (April to December). What can you expect to see in Manuel Antonio National Park? But at the end, we decided to give it a try, and in this travel guide we bring everything you need to know before visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, so you will enjoy it to the fullest. You will spot white-faced capuchin monkeys, sloths, howler monkeys, frogs, and many more animals during your visit! Enjoy the beaches of white sands and crystalline waters, visit restaurants in the nearby town with local and international food, stay in hotels in the surrounding area with a wide variety of prices and options. The park is open every day of the year except on Mondays from 7 AM to 4 PM. 458 reviews. 1. During those four months, the park can get insanely busy as it receives not only international travelers but local visitors as well. Glide through the sky above the ocean, and catch an incredible view of Manuel Antonio … Even so it’s worth a visit, but there are also other great destinations and activities in the area. The town itself is spread out across a hilly and curving 5-km (3-mile) road that originates in Quepos and dead-ends at the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park. Manuel Antonio is not a great place to travel on a budget. Here you will be able to spot monkeys, sloths, birds and other wild animals in their natural surroundings, as well as trees and plants of extreme beauty. You’ll have the time of your life visiting Manuel Antonio National Park … Do you want to take pictures of the animals you see during the walk? There are high altitude mountains draped in clouds, active volcanoes and hot springs, arid deserts and intense rain forests and jungles. But above all, enjoy a unique tour with expert bilingual guides certified by the Costa Rica Tourism Board. We are also just 3 miles from Manuel Antonio Beach and National Park. Luxury | Los Altos Resort - Luxurious suites in Manuel Antonio have a fully-equipped kitchen, balcony, and access to the private beach is among the best features in this hotel. Traveling long-term has some advantages, but also brings several disadvantages when we compare it with a regular two or three weeks holidays. First, Costa Rica is quite a small country, so if you have a rental car or if you are taking a tour, you don't need to stay close to the park, but you can get up early and drive directly to the entrance. You might see some dolphins and stingrays flying out of the water on the boat trip. If you want to see most of what this pearl of Central America has to offer, head to Manuel Antonio National Park, where you can admire lush green jungle, pristine white sand beaches, amazing ocean views, look for wildlife, and overall enjoy the perfect day out. It's definitely worth a visit, but I wouldn't take the ferry to Punta Arenas. Traveling long-term has some advantages, but also brings several disadvantages when we compare it with a regular two or three weeks holidays. Manuel Antonio National Park is a haven for families with young kids, for elderly, but also for young independent travelers or millennials, so it is obvious that each of these groups has different travels style and budget. based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The seven kilometers long ride takes less than 30 minutes and costs 350 colones per person one way. A trained eye and familiarity with the park enable your guide to point out animals you would likely overlook on your own. The closest town to the park where you can stay is Quepos, or you can find accommodation along the seven kilometers long stretch of road leading from Quepos to Manuel Antonio National Park. Beaches | If you are looking for a place to unwind, Manuel Antonio National Park is also a place where you can do it. But it can get crowded, with long… We know the answer. Firstly, we found all the entrance fees to national parks in Costa Rica ridiculously overpriced (for example the entrance fee to Monteverde Cloud Forest cost $22). We will pick you up personally at your hotel and take you to the Manuel Antonio National Park. Don’t let the size fool you though, in 2011, it was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most beautiful parks and it is also one of the most visited parks in the country. There are lots of monkeys and racoons waiting to steal your food, and you would be doing a disservice to them by feeding animals, although unintentionally - you can always ask someone to watch your bag. Because of the increasing popularity of the park, from 2019 there are new rules and quotas for Manuel Antonio National Park. Our job is for you to take a personalized educational trip in one of the most diverse habitats in the world! - Dear all We'll be visiting the Osa Peninsula (and making a tour 2D1N in … The schedule of the Manuel Antonio Park is: Tuesday to Sunday from 7:00 a.m. at 4:00 p.m. We visited the park independently, and maybe we were only lucky but saw a lot of wildlife that day even without a guide, but we are sure we still missed out quite a lot, for example, it is hard to look for snakes or small insect when you don't know where to look. The Manuel Antonio National Park is located in the Central Pacific of Costa Rica a few hours from the capital and the airport. Some of the best activities to enjoy in Costa Rica. When visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, there is a small parking lot which tends to fill up early in the morning and costs 3000 colones. You can also use a biodegradable sunscreen for water activities. Manuel Antonio is rather a stretch of houses along the road than a village, but still, it is one of Costa Rica's top destinations which draws visitors from all around the world. Manuel Antonio is known for Manuel Antonio National Park which is a great place to see sloths and monkeys. Our Tour is designed for small groups in mind. Parasailing is an epic experience. Forbes once called Manuel Antonio National Park one of the most beautiful in the world! It is recognized worldwide as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. Costa Rica is a country with incredible biodiversity. If you’re trying to keep spending down there are many better choices. To get in, we recommend you to wait outside the park at 6:45 AM. Manuel Antonio National Park. You can find here private rooms and dormitories and a large outdoor swimming pool. When looking for flight tickets you can search Skyscanner to find the best price. As you move through the beautifully preserved park, you will find monkeys, sloths, iguanas and a variety of birds, trees and plants. We never leave our home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover your expenses if something goes wrong on your trip. We will pick you up personally at your hotel, Costa Rica one of the most diverse parts of the world, monkeys, sloths, iguanas and a variety of birds, trees and plants. Mid-range | La Foresta Nature Resort - The charming accommodation just outside Quepos has own swimming pool, rainforest canopy, and zip line and also offers a free beach shuttle. The national park has well maintained hiking trails with the perfect combination of jungle and beach and is absolutely teeming with wildlife. Every single one from the past couple of months was negative, and for a moment or two, we were even considering not to travel to the park at all. However, since we belong to the Guides Association of Manuel Antonio, we offer you a Night Tour that leaves at 4:30 p.m. While this is one of the more expensive things to do in Manuel Antonio, you may find it well worth it (if you’re ok with heights, that is!) It’s definitely an interesting place to see, but we don’t like to go there too often. Take the taxi boat from Montezuma to Jaco and then it's only an hour on the bus to Manuel Antonio. With our new ATX Swarovski telescopes that allow you to get close views of all the wild life! Hiking | Manuel Antonio National Park has a large number of hiking trails. Be patient, and listen patiently to discover sloths, birds or monkeys. If you’re traveling with kids, Manuel Antonio is a terrific destination. You can expect fewer people in the park and frequent showers, especially in the afternoon, so it is definitely better to visit the park in the wet season early in the morning to increase your chances of having nice weather. Rental Car | So far the most popular way how to travel around Costa Rica is by rental car. It was in search of these that led us to Manuel Antonio area, primarily for the beaches and a visit to Manuel Antonio National Park. We find it to be too full of people. Explore one of the most diverse habitats in the world on a guided nature hike through Manuel Antonio National Park. Every day, 1700 people are allowed to enter the park, but only 600 are let in in the morning, and then visitors who came later always have to wait for someone to get out before staff will let anyone else in. Manuel Antonio National Park. When planning for our trip to Costa Rica, the top of our list on things to see included — rainforest, beaches, adventure, coffee and wildlife! Many people visit Manuel Antonio National Park just for its beautiful beaches. | As you travel the road between Quepos and Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, the din from roaring buses, packs of tourists and locals hunting foreign dollars becomes increasingly loud, reaching its somewhat chaotic climax at Manuel Antonio village. Manuel Antonio Travel Costs. If you prefer exploring places off the beaten path and a large number of tourists at one place upset you, you won't have a problem to find a similar, not-so-popular not-so-touristy park in Costa Rica. World Nomads Travel Insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers, to cover your trip essentials. The best times to visit Manuel Antonio for ideal weather are. Hostel prices – During peak season, a bed in a four-six bed room will cost between 10,536-14,633 CRC ($18-25 USD) per night. Visit the beaches in Manuel Antonio; 4. To get to Manuel Antonio National Park, we had to pay $16 each, which is quite a lot, and what we found the most outrageous is that locals often pay six times or seven times less. It is about a 7 minute drive. Wettest month of the year is September when it is also the smallest chance to see the wildlife as it is hiding as well. If you are really keen to see the wildlife, and if this is the main motivation why you want to visit the park, we recommend you to hire a guide. The most famous is the first one you come to, Playa Manuel Antonio. Daypack for Him & for Her | Comfortable day pack can make all the difference in the world. In the past, there were lots of parking scams going on, so when the park's parking is full, your best bet is to drive to Hotel Manuel Antonio at the end of the drive where you can park your car on a secured parking lot for the same price, 3000 colones per day. It is also open during holidays if the day doesn't fall on Monday. Public Transport | It is easy to reach Manuel Antonio National Park by public transport. In Quepos, you need to take a regular bus going approximately every 30 minutes from the bus terminal to the park. The bus stops along the way to the park in case you are staying in one of the hotels lining the road on the way to Manuel Antonio National Park. The best time to visit isn’t necessarily dry season. Ziplining | There is an adventure park in Manuel Antonio where you can try different adventure activities such as zip lining, ATVs or rappelling. Yes, over tourism is definitely a problem here, same as for example on the Rainbow Mountain in Peru, but who could blame others who want to see such an extraordinary place as many people before them? Is this place the real gem worth visiting or should you better skip it? Your guide will help you take professional-quality photos and HD videos using your cell phone or handheld camera. Spot sloths (and other wildlife) in Manuel Antonio National Park; 2. Reason number one, we don't have much time to do it because of nonstop work on this blog, reason number two, we probably became a bit lazy and reason number three, we found out that if we miss a thing or two or if we see a place sooner or later, nothing will actually happen. Also, you can take a snack with you, but no nuts and seeds - your bag will be searched at the entrance gate. We think it is important to know what to expect from visiting the park - it is the only way how to avoid disappointment. © LaidBackTrip 2018-2020. Is Manuel Antonio National Park Worth a Visit? The location close to the rainforest, unspoiled beaches, proximity to the famous national park made from this place one of the most sought-after places in Central America, and prices, unfortunately, reflect this trend. Manuel Antonio National Park has quite a reputation. There are hostels in Quepos (5 km from the park) and a few cheaper hotels, but mostly Manuel Antonio is fairly pricy. Your guide will introduce you to the incredible creatures you will see during the tour. They will show you what makes Costa Rica one of the most diverse parts of the world. If you plan on visiting Manuel Antonio and Uvita, please continue reading for great … With its sandy beaches, lush green rainforest, and incredible wildlife, Manuel Antonio National Park is a must-see destination in Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio National Park right in town is no doubt a great place to see wildlife. We think it is quite important news that the park is not open on Mondays and it should be emphasized more than it is nowadays to avoid the disappointment of many travelers. If you want to avoid crowds, try to plan your visit outside this timezone. The number of adventure activities here will blow your mind and … Once you are in Quepos, we take care of transporting you back and forth from your Hotel to the Park, so you should not worry about parking spots or taxis. Though one of the smallest park in the country, Manuel Antonio National Park is the most popular - and rightfully so. Uvita is known for its laid back vibe and Ballena Marine National Park. Our job is for you to take a personalized educational trip in one of the most diverse habitats in the world! Costa Rica has two distinct seasons - dry and wet. We visited the park in March and got into the park in the last wave, but we believe that the situation during the rainy season must be a bit calmer and not that crowded. Manuel Antonio, Provincia de Puntarenas, Quepos, Costa Rica, beaches of white sands and crystalline waters, njoy a unique tour with expert bilingual guides certified. This is a stunning cove with shimmering aquamarine water and ivory sand. Wildlife | It was fun looking for the wildlife in the park, and the day we went, it was not particularly hard to spot animals, but every day is different. The rates differ between $20 - $50: it depends on how many people are in the group and whether the entrance fee is included or not. The only problem is, that the word about the park's exceptionality has already spread out, and you won't be the only person heading this direction when in Costa Rica.
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