Manuel Antonio National Park was a highlight of our time in Costa Rica. We spent two entire days exploring the park, and still wished we had a little bit more time. There are a plethora of hiking trails, beaches, and wildlife to suit everyone. For the purposes of this blog post, I'm going to divide the discussion of the park into 3 categories.
What to Bring
Bug Spray
I think this should go without saying, but in the forest there are lots of bugs. Wearing bug spray is essential to keeping yourself free of bites and itches. However, please remember that DEET is just as bad for the environment as it is for you, so I recommend finding a natural alternative like tea tree oil
Sunscreen
The sun is intense in this part of Costa Rica. Even though I was there during rainy season, the sun was still brilliant. If you want to protect your skin from aging and burns, sunscreen is a must. Put it on before you get there so that it's effective by the time you are in the sun. You should also keep some in your bag to re-apply throughout the day, especially if you plan to be in the water
Hiking Sandals
I think hiking sandals are the way to go when it comes to Manuel Antonio. They're durable and comfortable enough for the trails, but breathable so that your feet aren't sweltering. They're also perfect for transitioning from woods to sand to water and everything in between without ever having to take them off. I personally love Keen sandals and never took them off during my time in Manuel Antonio.
Water (and lots of it!)
You will be hot and sweaty and thirsty. You absolutely need to bring water to stay hydrated. There are no restaurants or filtered water options once you enter the park and there is no re-entry if you exit, so having water is super crucial. I recommend brining a bag with a water pack to make for easy access and portability. I personally have a CamelBak bag that was perfect for Manuel Antonio. It fit all the things we needed plus water all while being lightweight.
Food for the day
To get the most out of the park , you really should stay the entire day. But, as I mentioned before, there is no place to get food or water so you'll need to bring your own. There are very strict limits on this, so please refer to the "What not to do" section for more tips!
A Towel
Whether you plan to go in the ocean or not a towel is essential, because you will be dripping with sweat. I have a super small light-weight towel that I love to travel with for exactly this reason.
Camera/Phone
There is so many amazing viewpoints and wildlife encounters waiting for you in Manuel Antonio. You'll need a camera to capture these moments, so don't miss out by being unprepared!
What Not to Do
Pay for entrance with a credit card
There is a steep fee associated with non-cash purchases. You can save yourself some money by planning ahead and brining the right amount of cash.
Bring banned food items
If you bring prohibited food items, you will be denied entry to the park until you get rid of them. This will waste you money, delay your entry, and slow down the entire line.
Take note of the following:
"We try to minimize the trash, impact on the environment, and the wildlife in the park, and kindly ask all visitors to contribute. ALLOWED: Sandwiches wrapped in paper bags or tupperware (no tin foil), prepared / cut fruit, cookies /crackers that do not come in a tin foil bag (on the inside). You can bring recyclable plastic bottles that you can refill with portable water at several stations throughout the park. NOT ALLOWED: Chips bags of any kind, cans of any kind, junk food in plastic or aluminum bags, alcoholic beverages, NO NUTS OR SEEDS, no cigarettes."
Bother the Wildlife
This applies anytime you visit a place with wildlife. You can observe and take photos, but you should never approach, feed, or taunt the animals. You are a guest in their home and should treat the experience as such. This also includes leaving litter behind that destroys the habitats. Whatever you enter the park with, you should leave with as well - nothing more, nothing less.
Go just for the beach
There is a free beach right outside of the park that is public. It makes no sense to pay to go inside and sit at the beach in Manuel Antonio when there are so many trails, observation decks, and wildlife to see.
Hire a guide
You will see many advertisements and guides offering wildlife tours and observations in the park. I think they are a waste of money given that when there is a wildlife spotting, you see people flock to the area and point it out. You can also see where the tour guides are pointing inside without being on their tour, so there isn't much of a point in that sense.
Go on a Monday
The park is closed every Monday all year. If you try to go on a Monday, you'll be wasting your time. This also means that Tuesday mornings the line is quite long compared to other days of the week, so plan accordingly.
What to Do
Wear comfortable clothing
It will be hot and sticky, so you need to make sure you're comfortable. I wore hiking sandals, shorts, and a breathable t-shirt both days. There are no cars or golf carts inside, so you'll definitely be doing a lot of walking. Dress with that in mind.
Get there early
If you want to get the most out of the park, you should plan to spend the entire day there. That means getting in early and avoided the long line that begins to form at the gate around mid-day. Trust me, you don't want to waist precious time standing in a long line under a beaming sun.
Protect your belongings
Of course there is a chance of pickpockets and thieves being in the park, but they're not actually who you should be concerned about. The monkeys in the park are very intelligent and they are used to humans being in their space. Please read that as "the monkeys are not afraid of you and if they see something they want, they will take it". During our time in the park, we saw sunglasses, umbrellas, and more being snatched from people's heads and side pockets. Make sure that everything is zipped in your bag and out of sight and reach of curious monkeys.
Wear your swimsuit under your clothes
While there are some changing rooms near the beach, they are overcrowded and not the cleanest. I recommend already wearing your bathing suit to save time and headaches. You can simply slide out of your shirt and shorts and are instantly beach ready. It also makes it easier to leave.
Go to the Playa Espadilla Sur
Many people stop and settle at the first beach the stumble on, which is Playa Manuel Antonio. However, if you go just a little further, you'll find a quieter, calmer, and less rocky beach that is absolutely beautiful. We didn't discover until the end of our second day and we were upset we hadn't found it earlier!
Keep your food closed
Just like the monkeys will steal you belongings, food is not off limits. In fact, while eating our sandwiches on the beach, we turned around just in time to see an iguana running straight for our food, which was in tupperware on top of a small rock.
Bring a Map
There are plenty of park maps inside at the beginning of trails, but it is nice to have your own to reference throughout the day. You can buy them outside of the park, but they are overpriced. I'd recommend just printing one off from online before your trip.
Overall, we had an amazing time at Manuel Antonio. We learned a lot about the animals and plants inside the park, saw every animal from sloths to agoutis, took in breathtaking views, and relaxed on surreal beaches. For more photos and videos, check out the "Costa Rica" highlights on Instagram. I hope this post gives you some insight on the do's and don'ts of the park and that you plan to go soon. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out!
Until next time,
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