The journey from Granada, Nicaragua to Manuel Antonio took about 15 hours. I arrived at the Ticabus office in Granada at 6AM. That bus took me to San Jose by approximately 5:15PM. I then took an Uber from the Ticabus station to the Tracopa bus station for $5USD. Then I took the 6PM bus from San Jose to Quepos and arrived at approximately 9PM. My Airbnb host was in town and gave me a ride back to the accommodation. I settled in around 9:30PM.
I found my Airbnb in Manuel Antonio for $10USD/night. You can take a taxi to and from Manuel Antonio to Quepos or Manuel Antonio to the beach, but I found the bus a reliable option for 350 Colon.
Costa Rica is a very expensive country. Possibly even comparable to Belize or even more expensive. The best way to describe the prices here are they’re comparable to US prices for cities by the beach. A typical dinner time meal will cost anywhere from $20USD upwards.
To cut back on costs and because I was tired of eating out everyday anyways, I decided to grocery shop at the supermarket. I got a bag of coffee, some candy, lays chips, pasta, pasta sauce, bread, chicken deli slices, sandwich spread, one bottle of water, one cup of ramen noodles for $26USD.
On my first day, I went to Manuel Antonio Park which costs $16USD to enter. If you’re going during the high season (US winter months) go early as they get really busy and start capping the amount of people who can enter. I was told there is also an ATM there but I didn’t look for it. You are also only allowed to bring water, sandwiches, and fruit into the park for the animals safety. The animals here have gotten used to tourist leaving food which can hurt their digestive system, which is why the park limits what you can bring in. Before you enter the park, some tour guides will ask if you would like a guided tour for $20USD.
I highly recommend taking a guided tour because 1) tour guides are professionals at spotting animals invisible to the tourist eye 2) they carry around telescopes to give everyone a closer look.
We saw sloths, monkeys, lizards, crabs, large rodents native to Costa Rica, rainbow grasshoppers and more!
At the end of the tour, our guide left us at the secluded beaches in the park. There are two beaches to choose from, and I picked the one that was less crowded. There weren’t many people there so everyone had their own spot away from the noises of other groups. It was so incredibly relaxing.
Bring extra water because vendors are not allowed in the park to sell food/drinks although you can purchase these at the cafe inside the park.
Bring extra water because vendors are not allowed in the park to sell food/drinks although you can purchase these at the cafe inside the park.
The second day I booked a canyon and zip-lining tour that fell through so I decided to spend the day at the beach instead. I packed myself two sandwiches, chips, water, a book, sunscreen, and a towel. You have the option to purchase beach chairs but I opted for natural shade under the trees. There are plenty of shaded areas just keep walking towards the right of the beach until you find an unoccupied space. Be careful if you sit under the apple/coconut trees because those fruits have known to fall and cause more people sent to the emergency room than shark attacks. That night I made pasta at home.
On my final day I went to the beach again, but a little later in the day. I packed the same items as the previous day. My goal was to catch the sunset that I missed yesterday (from 5:45-6:15PM). I found the same shaded spot and set up shop. There are many people offering surf lessons here, and the waves are just right for beginners surf. If that’s your cup of tea, give it a try! I don’t know how to swim so the thought of getting crushed by waves was not too appealing for me.
That night I took the bus home and got off in front of Samui, a Thai restaurant. I ordered the Thai Iced Tea and Chicken Pad Thai for $24 plus tip. The food was DELICIOUS and the service was outstanding. I found the taste of the food comparable (shall I say even better) than the States. While I was feasting, mosquitoes were also feasting on my repellent-free legs. Don’t forget to reapply bug spray after swimming!
Once leaving Manuel Antonio, I took a public bus to the bus station in Quepos. Although, I believe you could save money and time and catch this bus in Manuel Antonio as it stops there first. Ask around! The pink bus arrived at 12:15PM and will park parallel to the street in front of the bus station.
Concluding thoughts on Manuel Antonio:
This is a place I would definitely revisit although I would consider staying either closer to the beach or in Quepos. It costs 350 Colon from Quepos to the beach even if you get on halfway through (Manuel Antonio is located halfway between Quepos and the beach). I would do a guided tour in the park again. I would also book a canyon repelling or zip-lining tour WAYYY in advance to ensure a spot. Overall, this town truly showed me the Pura Vida lifestyle, and I am hooked!
Tips on traveling to Manuel Antonio:
- Go on a guided tour of the park
- Live the pura vida life by the public beach
- Go on zip-lining or canyon rappelling tours
- Enjoy the phenomenal sunsets on the public beach (5:45-6:15PM)
- Eat at Samui Thai!
- Take it slow, take in the true paradise lifestyle, PURA VIDA!
The Wandering Moon 