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Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
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capuchin monkeys around Playa Manuel AntonioRicky; Manuel Antonio National Parknorth end of Playa Manuel Antoniosouth end of Playa Manuel AntonioPlaya Manuel AntonioPlaya Manuel Antoniosand at Playa Manuel AntonioRicky and Nikki; enjoying Playa Manuel Antonio
To learn more about the coastal community of Manuel Antonio, where Playa Manuel Antonio and the Manuel Antonio National Park are located, don’t miss our related blog post:
Distance from San Jose: 170km (approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes)
Closest Town: Quepos (large town)
Beach Status: Public beach (access is granted with payment of a fee; see below for details)
Playa Manuel Antonio beach details
Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features
Playa Manuel Antonio is a medium-sized beach blessed with fine, nearly white sand. It is surrounded by vegetation-covered parkland that appears green and lush throughout the year. Part of Punta Catedral (Cathedral Point), a vegetation-covered escarpment on park property, can be seen at the south end of the beach. A forested area at the back of the beach provides cooling shade; bathrooms are nearby. Capuchin monkeys make regular appearances at this beach.
Crowds and noise
Playa Manuel Antonio regularly entertains several visitors, mainly because it exists within the boundaries of Costa Rica’s most visited national park: the Manuel Antonio National Park. Due to the park’s popularity, crowds and noise can be an issue, and since Playa Manuel Antonio isn’t a large beach, it often feels full.
Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating
Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)
Currently, Playa Manuel Antonio is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 3-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Manuel Antonio on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).
Development at Playa Manuel Antonio
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
The village of Manuel Antonio and the neighboring town of Quepos provide an assortment of establishments, including hotels, restaurants, tour offices, and shops—virtually everything you might want to have at a Costa Rican destination. However, since Playa Manuel Antonio exists within the boundaries of a protected national park, the beach itself is largely void of commercial development. The only development you’ll find directly on the beach are bathrooms, a potable water station, and a few picnic tables.
Playa Manuel Antonio safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Manuel Antonio. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.
General safety
Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you leave one near the park’s entrance. Fortunately, since Playa Manuel Antonio can only be visited during park hours (7:00am-4:00pm Wednesday through Monday), it is not possible to visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset, which are the most dangerous times of day to visit any Costa Rican beach.
Beware of hungry wildlife
Troops (groups) of white-faced capuchin monkeys are mainstays at Playa Manuel Antonio. The primates regularly forage for food and aren’t shy about taking what they find. Be forewarned: capuchin monkeys will root through your personal belongings, tear open food containers, and make off with your snacks if you leave them unattended. If you plan to swim while at Playa Manuel Antonio, hang or tether your belongings to a tree branch at the back of the beach to keep them from disappearing while you’re out of arm’s reach.
Playa Manuel Antonio location and road conditions
Access to Playa Manuel Antonio and 4×4 requirement
Playa Manuel Antonio is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It falls within the boundaries of Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio (the Manuel Antonio National Park), which sits at the south end of the village of Manuel Antonio.
The paved Road 618 leads a direct path from the town of Quepos to the national park through the village of Manuel Antonio. The official entrance to the national park is at the end of the unnamed side road that juts off Road 618 at the Marlin Restaurant. A 4×4 vehicle is not required to reach the national park.
Map of Playa Manuel Antonio Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Manuel Antonio
The Manuel Antonio National Park is a busy attraction and the hordes of daily visitors make for limited parking space. There is a large parking lot on the right side of the road just before the park entrance, but some spaces are often claimed by tour buses. Some hotels in the area offer parking spots to park visitors for a fee, typically around $10 USD per day. Regardless of where you park, you’ll need to enter the national park and walk through the forest on the Manglar trail and the Perezoso trail to reach the beach. To learn more about the Manuel Antonio National Park, including the park’s trails, see our related blog post: How The Manuel Antonio National Park Is Different Than Other Costa Rica National Parks.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Manuel Antonio
The best reason to visit Playa Manuel Antonio is to enjoy the beach in addition to the other attractions that the Manuel Antonio National Park has to offer, including its nature trails, interesting flora, and ample fauna. A few hours spent lounging on the beautiful, albeit busy, Playa Manuel Antonio is the perfect lazy complement to a day of active nature exploration.
Beach-hopping from Playa Manuel Antonio (or alternative beach options in the region)
Recommended day trips from Playa Manuel Antonio include visits to additional beaches inside the national park, like Playa Espadilla Sur, as well as visits to beaches in the Manuel Antonio Vicinity that fall outside the boundaries of the national park, like Playa Espadilla Norte and Playa Biesanz. Alternatively, beaches up or down the coast, including Playa Jaco, Playa Dominical, Playa Uvita, and Playa Ventanas are possible options.
Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:
Do you have questions about Playa Manuel Antonio, want to know more about the area surrounding the beach, or need help incorporating a visit to the beach into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Photos of Playa Manuel Antonio Costa Rica (Central Pacific) From Our Personal Collection
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We provide photos of Playa Manuel Antonio Costa Rica (Central Pacific coast), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
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Tagged: beach, beaches, costa rica, costa rica beaches, manuel antonio, manuel antonio beach, manuel antonio costa rica, playa manuel antonio, quepos