Hiking trails in Manuel Antonio National Park were an important spot on our itinerary for Costa Rica. It is one of the most famous and visited parks in the country and there’s a reason behind it. It’s a true paradise for wildlife photography and adventurous hiking.
There are a number of well-marked trails that range from easy to moderate difficulty. One of the most popular trails is the Main Trail, which is a scenic route offering magnificent ocean and coastline views.
Avoid visiting during holidays and weekends, wildlife doesn’t like crowds 😉
Here’s everything you need to know about hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park, along with some of the best trails to explore.
How to get to Manuel Antonio National Park?
Manuel Antonio National Park is conveniently located near the town of Quepos, on the west coast of Costa Rica, approximately a 2.5-3 hour drive from San José, the capital of Costa Rica. There are multiple transportation options to get there from San Jose including shuttle service and taxi.
Manuel Antonio Park Entry and Regulations.
The park is open daily.
Opening hours are from 7 am to 4 pm every day of the year except for Tuesdays.
ENTRY FEE: 18USD adults, children 2-122: 5.65USD.
For your safety and to preserve the park’s natural beauty and wildlife:
- stay on marked trails,
- maintain a safe distance from animals,
- avoid littering
- do not bring your own food.
Where to stay near Manuel Antonio National Park?
At first we wanted to stay in one of the guesthouses in the park but it was too expensive. So finally we decided to stay in Quepos, the nearest city to the park.
Local buses from Quepos toward Antonio National Park run every 20 minutes leaving from a small bus station located in the middle of Quepos. You can make sure it’s a bus to Manuel Antonio asking a driver.
Hiking trails in Manuel Antonio National Park.
THE MAIN TRAIL is an excellent introduction to the park, suitable for hikers of all levels. This is a 3.5 kilometers well-marked path leading through dense rainforest, where you can spot monkeys, iguanas and a variety of bird species.
There are several viewpoints overlooking the coast and the Pacific Ocean. The trail is relatively flat, it is more a leisure hike.
Manuel Antonio Beach trail.
MANUEL ANTONIO BEACH TRAIL (0.3 miles, 0.5km):
This is an easy 0,5 kilometers trail, which leads from the Cafeteria area down to Playa Manuel Antonio. It is a paved walk for the most of the trail. Even though the trail is short it is well worth walking, it’s incredible how many animals you can spot on the way. From white-faced monkeys, capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees to colorful birds and insects.
Guided tours are also available for those who want to learn more about the flora and fauna directly from experts.
Most of the animals are used to human presence, so it’s a great spot for wildlife photography, as you can step up much closerfor a perfect shot.
Manuel Antonio Beach is perfect spot for snorkeling, especially closer to the surrounding rocks.
Cathedral Point Trail.
Catherdral Point Trail is a 2 kilometers trail suitable for those seeking a more moderate challenge. It takes you to some of the park’s most stunning views of the coastline and the surrounding rainforest.
It took us several hours of hiking Manuel Antonio National Park, ending on a beautiful beach to relax on the sand.
Manuel Antonio National Park guided tours.
AT the entrance you will be highly encouraged to hire a guide with a telescope, which might be a good idea if you want to observe exotic animals. However, it only makes sense if you are there for 7am, when the air is still cool and some birds are possible to spot on.
All the trail are well-marked, so it only makes sense if you want to observe the world through the lens.
However some tours are extremely popular and booked by thousands of visitors, as the guides know how to avoid crowds and spot creatures you would probably have missed – the top two are:
- Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour with a Nature Specialist
- Manuel Antonio Canopy Tour – Longest Twin Zip Line in Central America
Our next stop was the famous Cocodrilos Bridge – watching American Crocodiles in the river.
Espadilla Beach Trail.
Espadilla Beach Trail is best if you want to combine hiking with beach time. A sandy path will lead you directly to Espadilla Beach, the trail is short but lined with beautiful flora and fauna.
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