Фотогалерея ‒ Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Guide to Manuel Antonio

Virtual tour in Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio is primarily a nature reserve, but there is a small village on the shore, and the nearest town is called Quepos. While hotels, which can be quite expensive, are a little further away, in the village itself, you'll find stores, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.

The national park and local beaches make this place the most popular resort in the region, with a direct highway to the capital. Many local guides offer their services and are ready to show you the best parts of the reserve.

Tropical forests, small and cozy beaches, coral reefs, picturesque shores, cliffs, and the warm ocean create all the necessary conditions for popularity. These places manage to combine the luxury of a tourist experience with the unspoiled wilderness.

You won't find any architectural excesses, temples, castles, or museums here. Nature itself can be considered both a temple and a museum, and therefore requires a rather careful attitude. That's why there are separate trails for tourists, and the rest of the jungle remains untouched.

Turtles and crocodiles, parrots, evergreen forests, colorful fish in the depths, and the unceasing green noise of the resort make Manuel Antonio worth flying to and staying for a couple or three days. Those who appreciate modern service will also be quite satisfied with their vacation.

Photos of Manuel Antonio

Tips for tourists

Do not leave items unattended within the park. Thieves? Yeah. Except they're not human, they're monkeys. So be careful. Although humans do happen.
Guests are often frightened by crocodiles. And this is generally true. Reptiles, taking advantage of the tides, can "wander" even on tourist paths. Be careful!
According to the law, you must have your identity documents with you. Always carry your passport, or preferably a photocopy of it with your photo, name and visa stamp.
Time zone
-6
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colón (CRC).

Interesting places in Manuel Antonio

The lush conservation lands attract visitors primarily for their diversity and vibrancy. Rare species of animals, birds, and reptiles are found here, and the beaches are considered some of the most beautiful in the world. Excursions to Manuel Antonio are led by local guides and cost from 20 USD for adults, while entrance to the protected area costs about 16 USD. If you are traveling with children, you can negotiate the price separately, as it can be customized and discounted.

You can create hiking routes in Manuel Antonio yourself, as the main thing is to understand the intricacies of the tourist paths in the jungle. But as a rule, they are well-defined and provided with arrows and markings. While there are no separate entertainments specifically designed for children, the park itself will be interesting for the whole family. So, what is there to see in these parts?

Sights

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

The most convenient way to get to San Jose is via San Jose Juan Santamaria International Airport. The cheapest tickets here cost in the neighborhood of 750 USD.

The best hotels in Manuel Antonio

There are few cheap hotels here, the most inexpensive off-season hotels cost around 50 USD, but at the height of the tourist boom they raise prices to 100 USD. The average cost of accommodation in Manuel Antonio starts at 100 USD per person per night. Rooms in Hotel Coco Beach (3*) cost from 60 USD. In Divisamar Hotel & Casino you can stay for 70 USD and more. About the same price are Hotel La Colina and Hotel California, it is between 3*-4* in terms of service. In El Faro Beach Hotel you will stay for 80 USD. And 5* Gaia Hotel & Reserve cost from 250 USD. Remember that there are no hotels on the beaches of Manuel Antonio, it is a protected area. All of them are located closer to the town of Quepos, and on the hills.

The cost of vacation

Vacation will not be cheap. The resort area, based in a protected area, and costs accordingly. Firstly, the flight costs from 750 USD, secondly, you will not find accommodation cheaper than 50 USD, and that is still an inexpensive option. Orient on 80 USD and above. Guide services cost from 20 USD for a walk through the jungle, and a ticket to the reserve - about the same. Add to this quite expensive restaurants. Although it is inexpensive meals for 5-10 USD per day per person that you will find. If you decide to get to Manuel Antonio by cab, it's about another 150-200 USD, as it takes about three hours to get there. Buses, of course, are many times cheaper, but most guests choose a cab, it is more comfortable.

The budget for a trip to Manuel Antonio
Visa About 60 USD Flight From 1500 USD
Accomodation From 100 USD per day Average check in a restaurant From 14 USD
Transportation fare From 700 CRC, that's about 1.5 USD. Excursion From 40 USD
Total: about 2037 USD for a week for two people

Manuel Antonio: tips for tourists

Find out as many details as possible on tripmydream about vacations on the Pacific shores of Costa Rica. The protected lands of Manuel Antonio are waiting for you and here you can find all the information you need.

Visa to Manuel Antonio

Costa Rica is not an easy country in this respect, and sometimes visa is simply not given here, without explaining the reasons. Nevertheless, the set of documents is fixed, and a pass to the paradise country costs about 30 USD. According to the testimonies of experienced tourists, it is really not very easy to get a visa, so it is better to take care of it in advance.

Airports near Manuel Antonio

The nearest airport is in Quepos, La Managua, just 12km from the resort. Most tourists prefer to fly to San Jose and get there by bus or cab. There is a highway between the capital of the country and the protected forests of the resort. From the airport San Jose Juan Santamaria to the resort is about 125 km, but cars go quite slowly due to the complexity of the traffic.

Airport Transfer to Manuel Antonio

If you are arriving in San Jose, focus on highway 34 to get there by car. The shuttle buses go to Quepos. If you arrive at Quepos airport, La Managua, it's easiest to take a cab. The fare per kilometer is about 640 CRC, which is just over 1 USD. The bus station in Quepos is about 8 kilometers from Manuel Antonio. From Quepos, buses to the beaches run every half hour, costing about 715 CRC, which is about 1.5 USD. The bus leaves from the bus terminal in Quepos and goes to Playa Espadilla beach.

Bus to the beaches.

Car rental in Manuel Antonio

You will find local and international rental companies in San Jose and in Quepos. The price ranges from 25 to 100 USD per day. When you turn in your car, the tank must be full. The cost of gasoline is not included in the rental initially. You need an international driver's license, passport, age must be at least 21 years old. The roads in the country are bad, especially in provincial towns like Quepos. There is very little parking in Manuel Antonio.

Public transportation in Manuel Antonio

Transportation in Costa Rica is represented by buses and cabs. Buses run from Quepos to Manuel's beaches, and there are regular tourist shuttles aimed at visitors. They cost an order of magnitude cheaper than cabs, you will get there for less than 2 USD. A cab can cost 10 USD or 20 USD, depending on the distance, but from San Jose a transfer here can cost 200 USD.

Security in Manuel Antonio

Beware of crocodiles, capuchin monkeys and petty thieves on beaches and in bars. The latter are the most to be feared. Although the beaches are upmarket and the resort is considered expensive, petty cheating is rife. Even guides can cheat, so you should carefully choose local guides, who can overestimate the cost of the excursion by two or three times. Do not take large sums of money with you, leave them in the hotel safe, as well as valuables.

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