Manuel Antonio National Park
Small coastal park of rainforest, mangroves and white-sand beaches. Sloths, capuchin monkeys and many birds live along its short trails, which lead to viewpoints and calm swimming coves.
Manuel Antonio
Sloths, monkeys, coastal walking trails and a meeting of rainforest and white-sand beaches define this small national park.
Attractive locations
Isla Damas
Mangrove-covered island and estuary near Quepos, explored by boat or kayak. Quiet channels let visitors watch herons, kingfishers, monkeys and other wildlife among the tangled roots.
Marino Ballena National Park
Marine park near Uvita, a day trip down the coast. Its long beach ends in a sandbar shaped like a whale's tail, and humpback whales pass through the waters in season.
Playa Espadilla Sur
Wide sandy beach beside the national park entrance, backed by shady trees. It is a handy place to swim, rest and watch the sunset after a walk in the park.
Quepos
A small Pacific coast town and fishing port at the gateway to Manuel Antonio. It has a marina, shops and restaurants, and many visitors stay or stop here before the national park.
Airports
Quepos Managua Airport XQP
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Manuel Antonio.
Juan Santamaría International Airport SJO
It is about 65 km in a straight line from Manuel Antonio.
Tobías Bolaños International Airport SYQ
It is about 61 km in a straight line from Manuel Antonio.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Costa Rica page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan26.1 °C51 mm
- Feb26.9 °C29 mm
- Mar27.7 °C39 mm
- Apr27.6 °C108 mm
- May26.6 °C277 mm
- Jun26.1 °C265 mm
- Jul26.0 °C281 mm
- Aug25.9 °C268 mm
- Sep25.6 °C294 mm
- Oct25.3 °C337 mm
- Nov25.3 °C235 mm
- Dec25.6 °C104 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: Jul, Sep, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 59% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
local government
Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
Helps with: Costa Rica's national tourism institute. Its site links to complaint channels, including a form for complaints against tourism companies. The page gives the main office number but no tourist helpline.
Who qualifies: Visitors and others dealing with Costa Rica's tourism sector.
Phone: +506 2299-5800
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Costa Rica
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Costa Rica since 1954. It works on migration management and crisis response, including support for migrants seeking to regularise their status.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Costa Rica and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: (506) 4052 3500
Address: Sigma Business Center, Costado Oeste del Mall San Pedro, Torre C, Piso 1, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in Costa Rica. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911