Manuel Antonio National Park: Complete Visitor Guide (2026)

Complete guide to Manuel Antonio National Park. Tickets, trails, wildlife, beaches, guides, and tips from locals who visit weekly.

Quick answer: Manuel Antonio National Park is open Wednesday through Monday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed every Tuesday). Entrance costs $18 per adult and $5 for children under 12. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. The park covers 1,983 hectares and contains 4 beaches, 109 mammal species, and 184 bird species. A naturalist guide costs $25 to $40 per person for a 2 to 3 hour walk and is the single biggest upgrade you can make to your visit.

We visit Manuel Antonio National Park almost every week with clients, and the wildlife never disappoints. On any given morning you can expect to see white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, two-toed and three-toed sloths, iguanas, coatis, and if you are lucky, a troop of endangered squirrel monkeys moving through the canopy. This is the most biodiverse small park in the world, and the sightings come easier here than anywhere else in Costa Rica.

This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit: how to get tickets, which trails to walk, what wildlife to look for, whether you need a guide (yes), and the common mistakes that waste people’s time.

Park Essentials at a Glance

Detail

Info

Hours

7:00 AM to 4:00 PM (last entry 3:00 PM)

Closed

Every Tuesday

Entrance Fee

$18 adults, $5 children under 12

Tickets

Must be purchased online in advance

Daily Visitor Cap

Yes (limits enforced, especially high season)

Guided Walk

$25 to $40/person, 2 to 3 hours

Time Needed

3 to 4 hours (guided walk + beach time)

Best Arrival Time

7:00 AM (gates open)

Do You Need a Guide in Manuel Antonio National Park?

Quick answer: Yes. A naturalist guide is the single best investment you can make for your park visit. Guides carry spotting scopes, know where animals shelter at different times of day, and can identify species you would walk right past. Our clients consistently report seeing 5 to 10 times more wildlife with a guide than without. A guided walk costs $25 to $40 per person for 2 to 3 hours.

This is not a nice-to-have. It is the difference between seeing a few monkeys near the entrance and spending 2 hours having a world-class wildlife experience. The guides in Manuel Antonio are certified naturalists who have been walking these trails for years. They know which trees the sloths favor at different times of year, where the squirrel monkey troops are currently feeding, and where the poison dart frogs hide after rain.

They also carry high-powered spotting scopes mounted on tripods. This means your group gets close-up views of sloths, birds, and insects that are invisible to the naked eye from the trail. Every client we have sent with a guide has come back saying the same thing: they would have missed 90% of what they saw.

Self-Guided

With Naturalist Guide

Spot 3 to 5 species on your own

Spot 15 to 25+ species with guide

No spotting scope access

Close-up views through professional scopes

Walk past camouflaged animals

Guide spots what you cannot see

No context on behavior or ecology

Learn why animals do what they do

Free (park entry only)

$25 to $40 per person

Dallas’s tip: Book your guide through Toorizta and we will match you with someone who fits your group. Families with young kids get a guide who keeps it engaging for children. Birders get someone with deep ornithological knowledge. Photography groups get a guide who understands light and positioning. The guide makes or breaks the experience.

Book a Guided Park Walk with Toorizta

Trails Inside the Park

Quick answer: The main loop trail is flat, paved, and suitable for all fitness levels. It connects the park entrance to all 4 beaches and passes through the densest wildlife zones. The full loop takes about 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace without beach stops. With a guide and beach time, plan for 3 to 4 hours total.

Main Loop Trail (Sendero Principal)

This is the trail most visitors walk and the one your guide will take you on. It is flat, well-maintained, and shaded by the canopy for most of its length. The trail winds through primary and secondary rainforest, past mangrove wetlands, and connects to all 4 of the park’s beaches. Wildlife density is highest along this trail, particularly in the first 30 minutes of walking from the entrance where the forest is thickest.

Sendero Perezoso (Sloth Trail)

A short spur trail off the main loop that passes through habitat favored by two-toed and three-toed sloths. Your guide will know whether sloths have been spotted here recently. The cecropia trees along this section are a favorite food source, so look up. Sloths blend into the canopy remarkably well, which is another reason a guide with a scope is so valuable.

Cathedral Point Trail (Punta Catedral)

This trail climbs to a headland between Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur. It is the only trail with any elevation gain, but it is short and the reward is a panoramic viewpoint over the Pacific. On clear days you can see the coastline stretching south toward Dominical. This is also a good spot for scarlet macaw sightings in the early morning.

Playa Gemelas Trail

A short trail leading to the smallest and most secluded beach in the park. Playa Gemelas is a twin cove tucked between rocky outcrops. It is less visited than Playa Manuel Antonio and feels genuinely remote.

Dallas’s tip: If you hire a guide for the morning walk (7 to 9:30 AM), you can then spend the rest of the morning on Playa Manuel Antonio on your own. The guide walk covers the wildlife. The beach time is your reward. Most visitors leave by noon, so the beaches get quieter as the morning goes on.

Wildlife You Will See

Manuel Antonio has the highest wildlife density of any national park in Costa Rica, packed into one of the smallest protected areas. Here is what you can realistically expect to encounter on a guided morning walk.

Monkeys (3 Species)

White-faced capuchins are the most visible. They are bold, intelligent, and will approach visitors (do not feed them). Troops of 15 to 30 move through the canopy and along the ground near the beaches. Howler monkeys are heard before they are seen. Their roar carries over a kilometer and is one of the loudest sounds made by any land animal. Squirrel monkeys are the rarest and most special. They are critically endangered, with only about 1,500 remaining in the wild, found exclusively in Manuel Antonio and the Osa Peninsula. Troops of 40 to 75 move quickly through the mid-canopy. A good guide knows their current feeding routes.

Sloths (2 Species)

Both two-toed and three-toed sloths live in the park. Three-toed sloths are more commonly spotted because they are active during the day. Two-toed sloths are nocturnal and harder to find. Both species are nearly invisible without a guide and spotting scope.

Birds

184 bird species have been recorded in the park. The most sought-after sighting is the scarlet macaw, which flies in pairs over the canopy at sunrise and sunset. Other common sightings include fiery-billed aracaris, mot-mots, tanagers, and several species of hummingbird.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Green iguanas sun themselves on the trails and are impossible to miss. The basilisk lizard is regularly spotted near the mangroves. After rain, look for poison dart frogs: the strawberry poison frog and the green-and-black poison frog are both present in the park.

Other Mammals

Coatis are the raccoon-like animals you will see near the park entrance and on the beaches. They are habituated to humans and will investigate bags left unattended. Do not feed them. Agoutis are common on the forest floor. Bats roost under the Tombolo trail bridge.

The Beaches Inside the Park

Beach

Personality

Best For

Playa Manuel Antonio

Calm turquoise water, white sand, iconic

Swimming, families, the postcard shot

Playa Espadilla Sur

Longer, open, slightly more wave action

Quieter alternative, long walks

Playa Gemelas

Tiny twin coves, rocky edges, secluded

Solitude, photography

Puerto Escondido

Rocky, tidal, not for swimming

Tide pools, dramatic scenery

For the full breakdown of every beach in the area including those outside the park, read: Best Beaches in & Near Manuel Antonio (2026).

Practical Tips for Your Visit

What to Bring

Water (at least 1 liter per person), sunscreen (reef-safe preferred), insect repellent, comfortable closed-toe shoes or sport sandals, a swimsuit (wear it under your clothes), a waterproof phone case, binoculars if you have them, and a small dry bag for beach time.

What NOT to Bring

The park restricts outside food to reduce wildlife feeding incidents. Do not bring drones (prohibited). Do not bring plastic bags (banned in the park).

Best Time to Enter

7:00 AM when the gates open. Wildlife is most active in the first two hours of the morning. By 10 AM the canopy heats up and many animals retreat to shade.

How Long to Spend

Plan 3 to 4 hours minimum. A guided walk takes 2 to 2.5 hours. After the walk, swim at Playa Manuel Antonio for an hour.

Rainy Season vs Dry Season

Both seasons are excellent for wildlife. Green season (May to November) often produces better sightings because the forest is lusher, animals are more active, and fewer visitors mean less noise on the trails.

Common Mistakes Visitors Make

Going at midday. Visiting after 10 AM means missing peak wildlife activity. Arrive at 7 AM.

Skipping the guide. The number one regret we hear from visitors who went without a guide.

Feeding wildlife. It is illegal and harmful. Capuchins that become habituated to human food become aggressive.

Not buying tickets in advance. The park enforces a daily visitor cap. In high season, tickets sell out.

Leaving valuables on the beach. Monkeys open bags. Petty theft happens. Bring a waterproof pouch.

Visiting on Tuesday. The park is closed every Tuesday.

How to Get to Manuel Antonio National Park

The park entrance is at the end of the main road from Quepos through the hotel zone. Taxis from Quepos cost $5 to $8. For the full transport guide, read: How to Get to Manuel Antonio from SJO, Arenal & Monteverde.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need tickets in advance for Manuel Antonio National Park?

Yes. Tickets must be purchased online before you arrive. In high season (December to April) tickets sell out 1 to 2 days ahead.

How long should you spend in Manuel Antonio National Park?

3 to 4 hours is ideal. A 2 to 2.5 hour guided walk followed by beach time at Playa Manuel Antonio.

Is a guide worth it in Manuel Antonio?

Absolutely. Guides dramatically increase sightings from 3 to 5 species (self-guided) to 15 to 25+ species (guided). The cost is $25 to $40 per person.

What animals can you see in Manuel Antonio National Park?

Three species of monkey (white-faced capuchin, howler, and the endangered squirrel monkey), two species of sloth, scarlet macaws, toucans, iguanas, basilisk lizards, poison dart frogs, coatis, agoutis, and over 180 bird species.

Is Manuel Antonio National Park open on Tuesdays?

No. The park is closed every Tuesday for maintenance and wildlife recovery.

More Manuel Antonio Guides

The Complete Manuel Antonio Travel Guide (2026)
Best Beaches in & Near Manuel Antonio
Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio: Hotels & Areas
Things to Do in Manuel Antonio Beyond the Park
Manuel Antonio Itinerary: 2, 3, 5 & 7 Days
Manuel Antonio with Kids: Family Guide

Want a Guided Park Visit as Part of Your Trip?

Tell us your dates and group size. We will match you with the right naturalist guide, book your tickets, and build the park visit into a custom Manuel Antonio itinerary.

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