Day Itinerary
15 Activities
Day 1
68 mi3 mi
Animals and Beaches in Carara and Manuel Antonio National Parks
Welcome to the first day of this incredible journey through the nature of Costa Rica!
The proposal of the day is to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park (one of the most beautiful in the country) and its nearby beaches. But on the way you will also stop at the Carara National Park.
In the Carara National Park, you can take a short hike on one of the trails through a transitional forest. It is also one of the best places for bird watching.
In Manuel Antonio National Park you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches in this part of Costa Rica and do several trails with viewpoints. If you are lucky, you will also be able to see many animals in the park, such as sweet sloths, howler monkeys, birds and reptiles. On the beaches outside the park you can also take a surfing, kayaking or windsurfing lesson.
If there is time, you can enjoy the hotel's swimming pool and then watch the sunset from a bar and have dinner in Quepos, the town near Manuel Antonio Park.
A day full of nature and pure life!
The proposal of the day is to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park (one of the most beautiful in the country) and its nearby beaches. But on the way you will also stop at the Carara National Park.
In the Carara National Park, you can take a short hike on one of the trails through a transitional forest. It is also one of the best places for bird watching.
In Manuel Antonio National Park you can visit some of the most beautiful beaches in this part of Costa Rica and do several trails with viewpoints. If you are lucky, you will also be able to see many animals in the park, such as sweet sloths, howler monkeys, birds and reptiles. On the beaches outside the park you can also take a surfing, kayaking or windsurfing lesson.
If there is time, you can enjoy the hotel's swimming pool and then watch the sunset from a bar and have dinner in Quepos, the town near Manuel Antonio Park.
A day full of nature and pure life!
08:301 hr
Parque Nacional Carara
After driving for almost an hour and a half you can stop at this park to see one of the best places for bird watching.
To get to the park you will cross a bridge known as the crocodile bridge. This is because it crosses the Tarcoles River, where many of these animals live.
In the park there are several trails to do. As a matter of time, I recommend the Las Araceas trail, which takes less than an hour. You can also see the trail options on the park's website.
Open Hours • From May to November: Every day: 8:00 - 16:00. • From December to April: Every day: 7:00 - 16:00.
There is parking space at the entrance to the park.
The entrance fee can only be paid by credit/debit card at the park. Cash is not accepted.
Note Each national park in Costa Rica has different opening hours, prices, closing days and methods of payment for entrance fees. Therefore, it is always recommended to check the official website of the national parks.
If you prefer to spend more time in Manuel Antonio National Park (because it closes at 15:00), you can bypass this park and continue driving.
To get to the park you will cross a bridge known as the crocodile bridge. This is because it crosses the Tarcoles River, where many of these animals live.
In the park there are several trails to do. As a matter of time, I recommend the Las Araceas trail, which takes less than an hour. You can also see the trail options on the park's website.
Open Hours • From May to November: Every day: 8:00 - 16:00. • From December to April: Every day: 7:00 - 16:00.
There is parking space at the entrance to the park.
The entrance fee can only be paid by credit/debit card at the park. Cash is not accepted.
Note Each national park in Costa Rica has different opening hours, prices, closing days and methods of payment for entrance fees. Therefore, it is always recommended to check the official website of the national parks.
If you prefer to spend more time in Manuel Antonio National Park (because it closes at 15:00), you can bypass this park and continue driving.
16.3 mi
30 min
10:0015 min
Mirador de Jacó
You can stop at the Mirador de Jacó to take a picture at the big, colourful letters that say "JACO" and admire the beaches and the ocean.
43.2 mi
1 hr 20 min
11:455 min
Parking
Welcome to Manuel Antonio! The proposal is to park, have a quick lunch and enter the park before 13:00 to be able to enjoy it for at least two hours. Then you can spend the rest of the afternoon on the beaches next to the park.
From Jaco you will get to Quepos (the closest town to Manuel Antonio Park) and, from there, you will take route 618. This route is a beautiful mountain road, with a lot of greenery around and you will see a lot of hotels and bars. On the way, you might see some people gesturing for you to turn off and park the car where they tell you to. You must ignore them and keep driving until you are almost at the entrance to the park.
Along the street leading into the park there are several car parks and places to eat.
From Jaco you will get to Quepos (the closest town to Manuel Antonio Park) and, from there, you will take route 618. This route is a beautiful mountain road, with a lot of greenery around and you will see a lot of hotels and bars. On the way, you might see some people gesturing for you to turn off and park the car where they tell you to. You must ignore them and keep driving until you are almost at the entrance to the park.
Along the street leading into the park there are several car parks and places to eat.
0.1 mi
5 min
12:0045 min
Bar & Restaurant El Chante del Parque
One of the places you can choose to eat is the Chante del Parque. There, you will find abundant and tasty dishes. In general, almost all meals are accompanied by rice and potatoes. If you don't eat meat, there is a vegetarian restaurant on the same street.
Open Hours Wednesday - Monday: 7:00 - 21:00 Closed on Tuesdays (the same day as the park closes).
Open Hours Wednesday - Monday: 7:00 - 21:00 Closed on Tuesdays (the same day as the park closes).
0.2 mi
5 min
13:0015 min
Manuel Antonio Nature Reserve & Wildlife Refuge
In Manuel Antonio National Park you will have two hours to walk along some of its trails, viewpoints and beaches. You can take the shorter trails and visit Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. Or you can take a longer trail.
At the entrance to the park there is a sign with the trails and their duration. Tickets can only be purchased online. See the park's website for more information and links to purchase tickets.
Open Hours Park Wednesday to Monday: 7:00 - 15:00. Tuesday closed.
At the entrance to the park there is a sign with the trails and their duration. Tickets can only be purchased online. See the park's website for more information and links to purchase tickets.
Open Hours Park Wednesday to Monday: 7:00 - 15:00. Tuesday closed.
0.5 mi
15 min
13:3015 min
Espadilla South Beach
Espadilla Sur beach has white sand and turquoise waters, with little swell, so it is good for swimming.
Remember not to have food in your backpack because the animals will want to take it, especially the fruit.
Note You will see that there is a tree on this beach that provides a lot of shade, but it is a toxic tree. For this reason, it is requested not to be under its shade and not to touch or eat its fruits. You will see several signs indicating this.
Note You will see that there is a tree on this beach that provides a lot of shade, but it is a toxic tree. For this reason, it is requested not to be under its shade and not to touch or eat its fruits. You will see several signs indicating this.
0.6 mi
15 min
14:0030 min
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio beach is the most famous beach in the park, also with white sand and clear waters.
It is ideal for snorkelling.
1 mi
25 min
15:005 min
Manuel Antonio National Park Tours
Remember that you have to be out of the park by 15:00, but the beach life goes on! You have several hours to enjoy Espadilla beach, near de park.
0.4 mi
10 min
15:151 hr 30 min
Playa Manuel Antonio
This beach is called Espadilla (although it says Manuel Antonio on the map). In front of the beach there are bars, restaurants and small supermarkets.
You can swim, relax, walk along the shore, read or just look at the scenery.
There are also places where you can rent kayaks. Other places where you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas. And there are places to hire a surf lesson and others for parasailing. All of them are on the beach, so it is easy to see them. In general, lessons are offered until 17:00 or 18:00.
There are also places where you can rent kayaks. Other places where you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas. And there are places to hire a surf lesson and others for parasailing. All of them are on the beach, so it is easy to see them. In general, lessons are offered until 17:00 or 18:00.
0.1 mi
5 min
17:0045 min
Restaurante Buru Seaside Manuel Antonio
You can choose one of the places overlooking the beach for a mid-afternoon drink and a snack.
Although this place is a restaurant, you can order a juice or a coffee and a quick snack.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 7:00 - 22:00
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 7:00 - 22:00
0.2 mi
5 min
18:005 min
Parking
Return to pick up the car to go to the hotel where you will spend the night.
2.3 mi
10 min
18:151 hr
Hotel Naoz
Look for a nice hotel near route 618, with a swimming pool, parking and lots of greenery around. You can enjoy the pool, take a shower and get ready to go out for dinner.
1 mi
5 min
19:3030 min
El Avion
Before going to Quepos to look for a place to have dinner, you can stop for a drink at the Avión bar and enjoy the sunset.
El Avión is not a bar like other bars, because it has the peculiarity of having a real plane at the entrance (the fuselage of a Fairchild C-123, which was used in the Cold War).
Although it is a famous place and usually crowded, it is worth stopping there to see the sunset and the curiosity of the plane.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 6:30 - 22:00
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 6:30 - 22:00
3.1 mi
10 min
20:301 hr 30 min
Soda Sánchez
Now it is! It's time for dinner!
The proposal is that you go to the town of Quepos and look for a place to eat.
You can walk along the Malecon and look for a place to eat along Avenues 1, 3 and 5. You will find many places that say Soda. Sodas are small restaurants serving Costa Rican cuisine. They are usually simple and cheap. But in the more touristy places, some sodas have modernised and increased their gastronomic offer (and their prices).
One of the places where you can go is Soda Sanchez, on Central Avenue. Here you can order the casado, the traditional meal. The casado consists of a piece of some meat with rice, beans, plantain and a side of salad or pasta. You will find a great variety of casados on your trip through Costa Rica, but they all have more or less the same ingredients.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 6:30 - 23:00
One of the places where you can go is Soda Sanchez, on Central Avenue. Here you can order the casado, the traditional meal. The casado consists of a piece of some meat with rice, beans, plantain and a side of salad or pasta. You will find a great variety of casados on your trip through Costa Rica, but they all have more or less the same ingredients.
Open Hours Monday - Sunday: 6:30 - 23:00
2.2 mi
10 min
22:159 hrs
Hotel Naoz
Time to rest! Return to the hotel to recharge your energies and continue your route through the nature of Costa Rica tomorrow.