Pura Vida means more than “pure life” in Costa Rica—it is a way of living for the friendly locals affectionately known as Ticos. This country of social people and adorable animals was just itching to be marked off of my travel wish list. I feel so fortunate to share this dream vacation with you!

Seth and I recently celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on the Central Pacific Coast in Manuel Antonio. This area is one that Seth has not yet explored (extensively), is drivable from the San José airport (SJO), and offers both lush jungle adventures and pristine beach days. Notably, Jaco is the closest beach town to SJO, but recent reviews are mixed in terms of safety.

Costa Rica captures the hearts of many by exuding its effortless charm. One visit is all it takes to be imprinted by the local culture, energetic atmosphere, and vibrant landscape. In our opinion, our itinerary is meant for adventure seekers. I hope this guide is helpful in deciding if Costa Rica is the place for you!

Table of Contents

1. Our Daily Itinerary Table
2. Our Mapped Route
3. Our Itinerary Summary & Logistics
4. Costa Rica
5. Manuel Antonio & Lodging
6. Shana By The Beach
7. Manuel Antonio National Park
8. Uvita
9. Dominical
10. Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
11. The Monkey House
12. Crocodile Bridge
13. La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park
14. Poás Volcano National Park
15. Poás Lodging
16. Favorite Beaches
17. Favorite Restaurants: Manuel Antonio
18. Other Recommended Activities
19. Helpful Traveling Tips
20. Transportation
21. Final Thoughts

Our Daily Itinerary Table

Day 1 – Tuesday	Drive from SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio Stops: Crocodile Bridge; The Monkey House Dinner: Shana Restaurant (Our Hotel)
Day 2 – Wednesday	Biesanz Beach (Hotel Beach/Pool Day) Quepos Supermarket Dinner: Arbol
Day 3 – Thursday	Private Guided Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio & Espadilla Sur Beaches Lunch: Emilio’s Café Dinner: El Wagon Pizza
Day 4 – Friday	Drive to Uvita & Dominical, Explore Towns/Beaches Nauyaca Waterfall Ballena National Marine Park – Whale’s Tail Dinner: Ronny’s Place
Day 5 – Saturday	Biesanz Beach Day Quepos Marina & Town Dinner: Agua Azul Biophilia Night Jungle Tour Drinks: Avion (Skipped)
Day 6 – Sunday	*Spontaneous Itinerary Change* Drive from Manuel Antonio to Alajuela La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park Drive to Poás Altura Hotel Check-in Dinner: Pizza House (Delivery)
Day 7 – Monday	Poás Volcano National Park SJO Airport

Our Mapped Route

Our Itinerary Summary & Logistics

I know, I always say schedules aren’t really our thing. We like to be free!! However…

A daily itinerary for our Costa Rican Pacific Coast road trip was essential given all of the things we wanted to do (with only 7 days to spare for this trip). I had to factor in availability of excursions and driving logistics. The estimated arrival times from navigation apps can be very unpredictable and variable in Costa Rica. Distance doesn’t correlate well with the time to drive for the way driving in the States has conditioned us to expect. We weren’t sure how much ground we could cover each day, so we allotted a conservative amount of time in Manuel Antonio.

Looking back on our 7-day itinerary, we could have spent 1 or 2 less days in Manuel Antonio. On Day 6, we decided to leave on a whim and travel up to the La Paz/Poás attractions. If we had done this 1 day sooner, we could have hit Braulio Carrillo National Park (1.5 hours drive, east of La Paz Waterfall) for a cloud forest tour on the Park’s aerial tram. We considered squeezing this in anyway, but we don’t like to exhaust ourselves on a vacation meant to recharge. Ultimately, it was nice to end our trip staying in Poás—just under 1 hour back to SJO airport by car. We had an adventure on departure day and still got to sleep in!

Our itinerary could also be done in reverse if you don’t mind saving the long drive back to the airport for the very end. You could eat and explore in San José if you arrive early, but giving a generous cushion of time for this leg of your journey is necessary. Missing flights is no bueno.

It is also feasible to add Corcovado National Park to the list; this Park is just over 3 hours south of Manuel Antonio, or 2 hours from Uvita. I will share our driving times to help further guide anyone planning a similar trip to ours.

Our approximate driving times in Costa Rica were as followed:

• SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio – 2.5 hours (without the stops & no bad traffic)
• Manuel Antonio to Dominical – 1 hour
• Dominical to Nauyaca Waterfall – 20 minutes
• Nauyaca Waterfall to Uvita (Whale’s Tail) – 40 minutes
• Uvita to Manuel Antonio – 1 hour & 20 minutes
• Manuel Antonio to La Paz Waterfall – 3.5 hours
• La Paz Waterfall to Poás (Volcano) – 25 minutes
• Poás to SJO Airport – 1 hour

I recommend estimating more time for your own travels during high season of Costa Rica, in the event of traffic jams, or until you see how comfortable you are driving. Other than airport toll traffic and 1 minor wreck in front of us, we had smooth driving our entire trip. That is not in line with other traveler experiences though. For example, some report 5 hours driving time from SJO to Manuel Antonio, double the time it took us! See my “Helpful Tips” and “Transportation” sections for more information on rental cars, our driving experience, and shuttles.

For our planned itinerary we chose to fly into SJO, rent a medium sized SUV, and drive ourselves around the fantastic country for tourism that is Costa Rica!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America and bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the South, the Pacific Ocean to the West, and the Caribbean Sea to the East. This remarkable country is often hailed as a model of ecotourism and conservation for the rest of the world.

Truly a wildlife-lovers paradise, the 51,000 square kilometers of Costa Rica (about the size of the US state of West Virginia) are a hotbed of biodiversity. Despite its small size, over half a million animal species live here, accounting for more than 4% of the world’s species. A quite impressive feat for a small but mighty country! Within its borders visitors can experience wetlands, rainforest, cloud forest, tropical dry forest, mangroves, coral reefs, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and a variety of beaches.

Costa Rica has a longstanding establishment of ecotourism, with a stable democracy and a high quality of living. Locals are happy, tourists are welcomed, infrastructure is ever improving, and the overall vibe is safe compared to some other Central American countries.

There are two seasons in Costa Rica: the dry season from December to April (with the Northern Pacific Coast staying fairly dry year-round), and rainy season from May to November. Due to the many microclimates, researching the specific regions of interest will provide the most accurate weather predictions. Many travelers shy away from visiting during the rainy season, so I will mention that our experience during the start of it was ideal for us. We traveled near the end of May and did not experience constant rain all week long as many envision. Rain showers mostly occurred late in the evening for brief periods of time. This was quite a nice break from the intense heat, and it did not disrupt our outdoor activities. Prices will dip and crowds will wane during rainy season—two advantages in our opinion! Manuel Antonio in particular is a very small area with limited parking spots, so we aren’t sure how much we would love visiting when it gets crowded during high (dry) season.

The two largest international airports are Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) near San José, the capital of Costa Rica, and Liberia International Airport (LIR) of the Guanacaste Province. It is common to either rent a car, book a shuttle (even if your hotel is hours away), or hire a personal driver. When you walk out of SJO, you’ll be standing on the sidewalk for transportation pick-up. Rental car companies are directly across the street, but they will likely be most expensive here. If you are really pinching every penny, it could be cheaper to take a shuttle from the airport and book a rental car in the town of your destination.

Manuel Antonio

Manuel Antonio, located in the Puntarenas province, is a seaside town boarding the Manuel Antonio National Park. It is only 15 minutes by car from the larger town of Quepos. Choosing a location when visiting other countries can pose a dilemma when you want to see it all. I was confident that the lively beaches plus tropical forests offered by Manuel Antonio would yield a happy Anniversary for the both of us, and it delivered!

Wildlife spotting, sport-fishing, hiking trails, waterfalls, beaches, and coral reefs are among some of the impressive Manuel Antonio features.

There are a ton of unreal Airbnb rentals that tempted us. Manuel Antonio and the surrounding towns offer a wealth of fabulous restaurants and large supermarkets, giving an edge to vacation rentals in my opinion. We really preferred more options for service to relax on this vacation, ultimately deciding to book a hotel. See the town’s top-rated TripAdvisor hotels here.

Manuel Antonio was full of heart and teeming with discovery. Despite its small size, its natural beauty attracts tourists from all over the world. Don’t discount this rare gem when visiting Costa Rica!

Shana By The Beach

We booked a Junior Suite at Shana by the Beach Manuel Antonio for its magnificent views. It is ranked as TripAdvisor’s number #1 resort in Manuel Antonio! We had a balcony encompassed by the jungle and it was exactly what we wanted for this trip. Each morning, curious capuchin monkeys made their rounds to see if breakfast leftovers were forgotten on the balcony. It was the highlight of my day, every day, followed by our daily breakfast date. It saved money to do two separate bookings for our hotel room and flights on Orbitz.

The breakfast buffet was fresh and delicious at Shana by the Beach! We didn’t miss a single morning. The staff was friendly, the options were plentiful, and the quality was consistently above par. Pancakes, omelets, rice, beans, beef, fresh fruits, cheeses, deli meats, flakey pastries, toast, cereals, juice, and endless Costa Rican coffee could be expected each day. Did I mention the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean meeting the jungle’s edge from the open-air breakfast seating? Yes, please!!!

Our room at Shane by the Beach was very spacious, especially the bathroom, and clean. The balcony was definitely the best feature as it provided our very own monkey show each day! These clever little cuties will try to pry open the sliding doors, so be sure to keep them locked. We rushed out for breakfast on our last morning, forgetting to lock the balcony door, and came back to catch them red-handed stealing sugar packets from the coffee station. I will share this footage on the video blog at the very end.

This hotel was not lacking in amenities as it boasted a playground, gym, spa, and 2 outdoor pools with a bar. The adults-only infinity pool had a view of the surrounding flora, ocean, and mountains—truly unbeatable! The landscaping included some of the most vibrant flowers I have ever seen. The pathway of stairs to the Biesanz Beach leads guests on a mini expedition through the jungle where howler monkeys will often roar from the treetops. For $30 USD, we rented 2 chairs and a cabana. Don’t skip out on the drinks here because they were legit fresh and fruity!

Like most places in Manuel Antonio, the resort is situated on top of a steep grade, making the parking situation a little stressful for guests with vehicles. The majority of spots were in a one-way line on a hill (parallel skills needed). Several nights we returned to a completely full parking lot; subsequently, this required some creativity from both the driver (Seth) and security staff. I do not think this scenario is unique to Shana, but it is worth mentioning if you are really on the fence about renting a car versus hiring a driver, or booking a shuttle from the airport. Although a minor inconvenience at times, it would not deter us from returning with a rental car in the future.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Don’t let the small size of Manuel Antonio National Park fool you, its range of biodiversity is remarkable! In fact, it is the most visited National Park in all of Costa Rica. In this splendid reserve you can potentially see 3 out of the 4 Costa Rican monkey species (squirrel, howler, and white-faced capuchins), three-toed sloths, two-toed sloths, hundreds of bird species (toucans), reptiles (red-eyed tree frogs), crabs, insects, and so much more.

The best feature of Manuel Antonio National Park is the main easy-access trail that only requires a leisurely stroll instead of a rigorous hike. In my opinion, this makes it easier to scout wildlife, is inclusive to more persons of limited mobility, and saves energy for swimming after a tour. At the end of the trail, some of the country’s best beaches are waiting for visitors to cool off in their turquoise waters. I wore my swimsuit under my clothes, but restrooms are conveniently located at the end of the trail for changing. There are several additional trails for those who want a more challenging jungle expedition as well.

The Park’s website clearly states that no food of any kind is permitted. Your bag will be searched at the gate. This is done to prevent the animals from being fed, which is illegal in Costa Rica. The restaurant that used to operate inside the Park had to shut down due to monkeys attacking the staff for food, so these rules are for good reason. We were told unofficially that it is acceptable to pack peeled and chopped fruit in a tupperware container. No flash photography, flashlights, or disposable plastic bottles are allowed.

If you only have one splurge on your trip, booking a private tour guide for Manuel Antonio National Park is what I recommend above all else! Guides can be booked on the Park’s website or outsourced from small businesses. We used Hector with HecTours Costa Rica. Hector came highly recommended by Costa Rica Travel Information & Tips group members on Facebook. He responded quickly to my WhatsApp inquiry and was phenomenal for our tour! His ability to spot, identify, and educate was really impressive. Trust me, we wouldn’t have seen much on our own except a coati walking across the main path. His prices are very affordable for the individualized service you will receive!

Park entry tickets ($18/adult) may need to be purchased on the Manuel Antonio Park Website in addition to booking a guide. Have your passport handy, create a new account, and purchase non-resident tickets (for tourists). The English translation on the website is spotty, so I’ve provided a screenshot of my ticket purchase below. If you booked a guide, be sure to select an entry window to correlate with your meetup time. Bring a government-issued ID in addition to your tickets for entry. Book well in advance because the daily allotment of tickets is limited. Many people find the Park to be sold out weeks prior to their trip, leaving them to either miss out or overpay a tour company that buys up large quantities of tickets.

BEWARE OF SCAMS: If you have your own vehicle in Manuel Antonio, you will encounter aggressive people walking in the middle of the road (some wearing fake ranger shirts and badges) flagging you down/directing you into their parking lots. Many of these are scams claiming to be “official” lots for the Park, but can be as far as 1 mile away from the entrance! Some are also said to sell fake tours and entry tickets. Keep driving past all of these folks, past the beach, and through the town until you can see the Park’s green gate pictured in the gallery below. Other than scoring a free street parking spot, this private lot to your left is the closest to the entrance and includes security for $5-$10 USD/day.

Uvita

Uvita is a tiny beachside town on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. One of its main attractions is the Ballena National Marine Park, home of the Whale’s Tail and a migration site for humpback whales. The Whale’s Tail is a natural formation of two separate beaches merging together to remarkably resemble the shape of an actual whale’s tail. This is a popular spot for good snorkeling too!

Adult non-residents pay $7 to enter the Park. Be sure to check the hours of operation on the website and tide charts prior to your visit. It is optimal to visit during low tide to walk out on the sandbar and rock formations. The Ballena National Marine Park is liable to close for dangerous conditions and high tide.

You can see rough waves crashing from 3 directions in my photos of the Whale’s Tail below by clicking to enlarge it. The evening of our visit, the Park closed early due to dangerous conditions. A friendly staff member let us enter and explore for 10 minutes. The water was rising fast, causing a divide to form on the beach. I ran out to the Whale’s Tail for a quick look before I found myself stuck in a sketchy situation. The tide had completely covered the tail during my visit. It was still pretty incredible to see, but I definitely want to return during whale watching season (mid December-March & July-October) and for snorkeling!

Catarata Uvita is worth mentioning for those planning a visit to Uvita since it is located right outside of town. This easy-access waterfall doubles as a natural waterslide into a swimming pool below. The entry fee of $4 USD/person includes parking and access to the trail and butterfly garden.

Dominical

Dominical is an easy-going surf town that is drivable in only 1 hour from Manuel Antonio. This is a fun stop on the way to Nauyaca Waterfall or Uvita. Known for its year-round swells, both skilled surfers and those looking to learn are sure to enjoy what these beaches have to offer. There are multiple surf schools in town where visitors can rent a board and/or schedule lessons.

The Dominical Playa road parallels the shoreline and is adorned with merchandise from local vendors that set up shop beside the road. Several restaurants and stores are walkable from the beach as well. Although small, this town offers a wealth of charm. The beach is curiously covered in small rocks before reaching the sand, with a backdrop of green hills and blue mountain ranges. It is worth the visit!

Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park

This is a must-see attraction that deserves priority on your itinerary!! Nauyaca is a two-tiered waterfall system towering nearly 200 feet tall in total, and one of the best in all of Costa Rica! It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive along the African Palm tree lined highway from Manuel Antonio to the check-in office near Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park.

From the office, you’ll be directed to a nearby parking lot where you’ll start your journey up to the Nauyaca Falls by hiking, riding horses, or truck trolley. As much as Seth enjoys hiking, we were both so happy we booked the truck haul after passing so many unhappy faces on the ride. I chatted with a local at the falls who told me he regretfully walked up one time, and that couples frequently fight at the top after enduring it. It was nice to save our energy for enjoying both waterfalls and swimming in the lower pool.

Purchase tickets and reserve the roundtrip truck ride on Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park’s website. I purchased tickets the day prior, but more advance booking is needed during high season.

Once you’ve arrive at the top, walkways will lead you to two different viewing points of the Nauyaca Falls. I suggest going to the top waterfall viewing point first, where visitors have a photo op in front of the colorful Nauyaca sign. Then, work your way back down to the lower falls to enjoy more time swimming and lounging on the rocks. The lower swimming pool offers a vantage point of both waterfalls!

The Monkey House

This unique attraction was a 20 minute detour from our route to Manuel Antonio, and our first stop after picking up the rental car. It took us 1 hour and 20 minutes to arrive from SJO airport after hitting some toll traffic.

I am an animal lover. I am also not here to judge this establishment or anyone for their decisions while visiting it. I do want to make any future travelers aware that it is illegal to feed wild animals in Costa Rica. This law is for the benefit of both animals and humans alike. Many people come bearing food, which I am sure the monkeys love. It is obvious they are accustomed to being fed, and many tourists are unaware this is against the law. You can still have a fulfilling visit if you choose not to feed these white-faced capuchin monkeys.

I had an unopened bag of honey roasted peanuts shoved in the side pocket of my camera backpack. As an early ice-breaker, one of the monkeys jumped right on top of my shoulders, snatched the peanuts, and took off running. Seth attempted to chase after it to no avail. It was pretty hilarious, shocking, and adorable. I feel bad contributing human food to the little fella, but c’est la vie. 🙊

The monkeys here are very used to people. Some are shy, some are not. We had them crawling all over our arms and shoulders—swoon! We loved admiring all of their personalities and quirks. The baby monkey made faces at us like a curious human toddler and I couldn’t get enough!

Here is the exact address on Google Maps for The Monkey House; bring cash for the $5 USD/person fee. Tips are very appreciated!

We are so glad we had such a fun experience on our travel day. Adding a few unordinary stops really made the road trip more memorable instead of daunting!

Crocodile Bridge

This fun little stop is drivable in 1 to 1.5 hours from SJO airport, depending on traffic. After venturing a little off the mapped route to stop at The Monkey House, this bridge was right on the way to our hotel. Before crossing over this bridge, there is a parking lot to the right of the road. The bridge has a walkway and is steps from the parking lot. The sunset was beautiful and the crocodiles were abundant. I was thankful this was the ONLY place we saw crocodiles for the entire trip! Click here for the google map address of Crocodile Bridge.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park

We had a great time at La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park; however, many tourists do not realize the La Paz Waterfall is not actually located inside of the park. I was one of those people. We planned this part of our itinerary the night before coming here, so I barely did any research. For anyone wanting to see La Paz Waterfall for free, keep driving north of the entrance to the park and you will come right to the waterfall at the bottom of the hill. There are wide spots for parking and a few little markets set up beside the road. The park claims viewing the top of La Paz as a “5th waterfall”, but we found this to be a little deceiving after looking on the map to see it is located right beside the main road.

For those who do choose to spend a few hours inside this 70 acre park, there are 4 other waterfalls, hiking trails, botanical gardens, butterflies, hummingbirds, toucans, sloths, pumas, reptiles, and other rescued animals to see. After seeing so many animals in their natural habitat, it was hard to see the animals caged (even though they are rescues). Hand-feeding hummingbirds was honestly a once in a lifetime experience, and taking pictures with the rescued toucans was amazing as well. The flower gardens were incredible, and the grounds were easy to navigate.

The 4 (entire) waterfalls we viewed inside La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park ultimately connect to La Paz waterfall and were all pretty amazing. One of the platforms allows visitors to stand behind Magia Blanca Waterfall—incredible!

We paid $50 USD/person for tickets on the official website and spent close to 2 hours exploring the park. It took us 3.5 hours to drive here from Manuel Antonio on an early Sunday morning. There is a reasonably priced lunch buffet located inside.

I was not disappointed with the sightseeing inside La Paz Waterfall Gardens & Nature Park, I just find the misleading advertisement to be a little dubious in regards to viewing La Paz. It is nice information to pass on for those who don’t have time to enter the park but still want a quick view of La Paz Waterfall during their travels!

Poás Volcano National Park

Welcome to Poás Volcano National Park, where you will literally be racing the clouds at 8,900 feet to see one of the largest active craters in the world! This National Park is an easy daytrip from San José. Tourists from far and wide come for the unique opportunity to view an active volcano up-close, and two inactive ones, as permitted by various conditions.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website for Poás Volcano National Park. I can’t stress enough how important it is to shoot for the earliest timeslot possible when cloud coverage is least likely. It would be such a bummer to purchase tickets, make the trip up, and have no visibility of the Poás crater due to cloudiness. I have read endless reviews of visitors facing this disappointing scenario caused by Mother Nature. Conditions can change by the minute, so if you find the crater covered by clouds, wait as long as your ticket allows (up to 20 minutes per most recent safety recommendations) in hopes of some shimmers of visibility. We arrived a few minutes before the opening time of 8 a.m. to find a short line of cars already waiting at the gate.

You may notice the sulfurous air as soon as you exit your car in the parking lot. It is normal to feel as if you are developing a sore/scratchy throat, and have the urge to cough. Anyone suffering from health disorders that compromise their respiratory system should proceed with caution. In our experience, the degree of the gas effects oddly lessened as we got closer to the active crater.

From the parking lot, a 10 minute walk is all it takes to reach the Poás Volcano viewing areas. There is a paved road providing a straight shot to the volcano from the gift shop building. After gawking at the stunning milky blue Poás crater and surrounding lush landscape, there are other trails into the forest to explore. Visitors have the option of trekking the 2.1 mile Botos Lagoon loop trail, or a shorter trail (less than 1 mile) cutting through the thick of the cloud forest to a viewing platform for the beautiful Lake Botos (inactive crater).

The Poás Volcano gift shop on the way back to the parking lot is worth a peek. The cute stuffed animals make a great souvenir, with a portion of proceeds benefiting local wildlife rescues. You can also find snacks such as fresh strawberries and cream here, or stop at one of the many roadside fruit stands on your way down the mountain leaving the town of Poás if you worked up an appetite on the trails.

Poás Lodging

I am thrilled to have stumbled across Altura Hotel when we decided to explore a new area before our trip came to an end. I wish I could share ALL of the quirky, gorgeous shots I got from the grounds here. There was something fun everywhere I looked. The flowers were vibrant and the décor was downright funky. We loved its bold personality!

Altura Hotel is one of the closest hotels to Poás Volcano National Park, so you know the views are going to hit. Our room made me feel as if we were “glamping” with windows that showcased the twinkling lights of the city below. When the daytime skies were clear, our view stretched from the green valleys of San José all the way to the blues of the Pacific. The rooftop access was a peaceful spot to watch the sunrise, with neighboring cows grazing on the hillside like a postcard scene.

The increase in altitude to over 6,000 ft. meant a big temperature change from our previous beach town location. I was glad to have packed a long-sleeved shirt because it got quite chilly at night in Poás. We ordered pizza delivery directly to our hotel room from Pizza House. We were very fortunate they were still open as many restaurants in town close early on Sunday. The hotel offers free breakfast in the morning, always a bonus!

We appreciate accommodations that are memorable, and the Altura Hotel won’t be soon forgotten by us.

Favorite Beaches

Espadilla Sur Beach – Located inside Manuel Antonio National Park, this beach was pretty secluded compared to its neighbors. Its strong waves and long stretch of soft sand made for a stunning sight.

Manuel Antonio Beach – The most aesthetically pleasing beach of the entire trip, also located inside Manuel Antonio National Park. This is the first beach you will reach after the main trail ends, and gets more crowded with each passing hour. The soft white sand and turquoise water attributes to its rep of being one of the most beautiful beaches in the country!

Biesanz Beach – This public beach was accessible from our hotel. Although a little rocky, it was a total vibe as locals and tourists mingled on the sand with music playing and drinks flowing. Howler monkeys (photographed below), capuchin monkeys, and sloths could crash the party at any moment! Chairs and cabanas can be rented for approximately $30 USD. The drinks here are fresh and delicious, costing 2 for $17.

Uvita Beach – This beach is part of Ballena National Marine Park and features the famous Whale’s Tail. I want to come back during whale watching season and spend some time snorkeling here. The views are wonderful and the Whale’s Tail is pretty cool to see in person!

Dominical Beach – Known for its surf, this beach showed off its impressive waves during a stormy day when we visited. There is a playground and local markets set up right at the sand’s edge. The mountain backdrop here is so pretty!

Favorite Restaurants: Manuel Antonio

(click restaurant’s name for menu link)

Arbol

Arbol is located inside the 5-star Makanda By The Sea Hotel of Manuel Antonio and was the perfect spot for our celebratory anniversary dinner. The atmosphere is elegant yet artsy, service is top-notch, views are great, and the food is well worth the upscale pricing. The best cocktails of our entire trip were had at their pool terrace bar prior to dinner. The Makanda cocktail, made with Cacique Guaro, passion fruit and grenadine was so fantastic it merits specific mention.

Agua Azul

A close second for the favorite meal of our trip is Agua Azul of Manuel Antonio. I worried this place was hyped up too much by other travelers and would lead to disappointment. We were impressed though! The ocean views speak for themselves in the pictures below… amazing. The atmosphere is laidback and the food is wonderful!

Emilio’s Café

This fan-favorite in Manuel Antonio was also highly praised by several travelers prior to our trip. It lived up to its sparkling reputation! I was thrilled to watch two brilliantly colored scarlet macaws fly in and out of the trees while I waited for my food. In these reviews you may notice a pattern—I am a sucker for good views! Emilio’s does not disappoint as impressive views of the sea and forest can be enjoyed here. The food was delicious and the desserts were the best we had all week! Get the Trio Chocolate dessert. It looks simple, but comes out swinging at your taste buds with a massive punch of flavor!

Ronny’s Place

Three words: “everybody loves bananas”. If you know, you know. 😉 This restaurant was recommended to me by Manuel Antonio locals that I connected with on social media during the planning stage of our trip. I’m sad that we arrived after dark and missed out on the spectacular views. All of our food was tasty and the Banana Flambe fire show was an unexpected treat!! The lights went out and we didn’t know what was happening. Then, a catchy song about bananas started playing. The staff came out to the sound of patrons clapping along and performed a thrilling fire show that comes with every order of this famous dessert. It really made me happy to witness this unique tradition of Ronny’s Place. The gift shop across the street was a hit for our souvenir needs too!

El Wagon Pizza

We love wood fire pizza and this place was really clutch after a long day of touring when we didn’t feel like going out. Pickup, dine-in, and delivery are available options for this establishment. They spoke excellent English when we called in our order over the phone. The ambiance was joyful with cozy lighting and colorful décor and gave us a touch of regret that we had chosen the pizza in bed route.

Shana Restaurant

Located inside our hotel of Shana by the Beach, we chose to eat here on our first night as it was a convenient option after a long day of traveling from the States. We were initially hesitant after reading a couple of negative reviews beforehand, but we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of food and great service. It was a nice preview to our delicious daily breakfast that we enjoyed every morning.

El Avion

We skipped our plans to have drinks at the famous El Avion, but I obviously couldn’t leave it off my list of recommendations. I mean look at it. It’s a whole plane!! A scandalous Iran-Contra Affair C-123 military cargo plane purchased and recycled into an iconic restaurant of Manuel Antonio. This plane is also said to have been featured in the “American Made” film starring Tom Cruise. Read more about the fascinating history and transportation process of the plane on the website linked above.

“She has gone from the Cold War to Sunsets and Cocktails in paradise…” – A. Templeton

Other Recommended Activities

Here are links for other tours and activities near Manuel Antonio that were done by us (but not discussed in this blog) or highly recommended by locals, guidebooks, and other sources of my pre-trip research.

Rainmaker Conservation Park *waterfalls, swinging bridges, and swimming holes*

Corcovado National Park *on the Osa Peninsula, houses 2.5% of world’s biodiversity*

Paddle9 Tours *waterfalls for thrill seekers, surf lessons, kayaking & more*

Zip Lining *canopy tour, TripAdvisor’s top recommended list*

Jaco Beaches *TripAdvisor’s ranked list, Jaco is well known for its beaches*

Coffee & Chocolate Tour *Costa Rica is known for brilliant coffee and chocolate*

Night Jungle Tour *tour of Biophilia, private reserve that borders MA National Park*

Braulio Carrillo National Park *close to San José/La Paz/Poás, ride aerial tram through cloud & rain forest*

Starbucks Hacienda Tour *on the slopes of Poás, could be easily added to itinerary*

Helpful Traveling Tips

• It gets dark by 6 p.m. in Costa Rica, so adjust your sleep schedule to wake up very early in the morning. This way, you get to enjoy more of the day (and more time without showers in the rainy season).

• Other than a pizza joint in the mountains of Poás, we faced no language barriers. Everyone we encountered spoke enough English to communicate well with us, but Manuel Antonio is an area that caters to tourists. Download Google Translate app just to be safe if your Spanish is muy pobre like mine is!

• Although we used Google Maps out of habit (with few issues), Waze is the most accurate and more widely used for navigation in Costa Rica.

• We also downloaded WhatsApp as many locals and tour guides communicate this way.

• Everyone has a differing opinion on the best exchange rates—local ATMs and U.S. banks most commonly recommended—but we were able to use U.S. dollars at the highway tolls and get Costa Rican colones back in change. Score! Our banks may differ with exchange rates, but we can all agree that the airport is probably the most expensive of all options.

• Highway tolls from SJO to Manuel Antonio all accepted credit cards, USD, or CRC during our trip in May of 2023… so no need to panic if you’ve not had a chance to get colones beforehand.

• The weather on the Pacific Coast in May ranged from hot temperatures up to 90° F (32° C), to cooler mid 70°F (21°C) temps up in the mountains. The higher elevation in Poás brought chilly temps of 60-70° F (15-21°C) at night.

• Soda is a term used for authentic Costa Rican restaurants. These mom and pop style establishments are affordable and a great way to experience the most authentic local cuisine.

• The cheapest cell phone plan for many tourists is to purchase a Kolbi SIM card. This is especially true for travelers with long stays or traveling to multiple destinations. These SIM cards can be found at supermarkets or any phone company store. Your cellular device must be unlocked prior to traveling. Look for “Recargue Aqui” signs when recharging is needed.

• U.S. ports (2-pronged flat) are used in Costa Rica. No outlet converter is needed for those traveling from the States.

• Lock cars in ALL areas and do not leave anything visible. Petty theft is the most common type of crime in Costa Rica, and several locals make extra bucks by providing security for parked cars in frequently targeted locations. As unusual and sketchy as this sounds, many tourists vouch for the legitimacy of these services.

• Lock hotel and balcony doors even when you are present. Clever monkeys are skilled at breaking in to steal personal items and food. Witness this act on my video blog at the bottom of the page. Its hard not to laugh at our near misfortune! Thankfully, we had already packed up all of our belongings and food!

• Don’t forget sunscreen and bug spray!! Seth is extra paranoid about sunburns (to the point of being somewhat annoying about it at times) and he got roasted early in the trip. Our sunscreen wasn’t expired, but was purchased at a discount store, so there is a chance it was defective. Five minutes in the ocean, outside the protection of our beach cabana, was all it took to fry my sweet husband. His fair skin was no match for the tropical sun!

• All the gas stations are full service, meaning an attendant will pump your gas for you. A tip isn’t expected but is appreciated!

• “Veranillo“, or “little summer”, is a term used for breaks in rain that the country can experience most years during rainy season. Although this phenomenon is reported to happen at varying times each year, July and August are typically when it occurs. The Pacific side (especially North) will see less rainfall and more sunny days; the Caribbean side will endure greater rainfall during veranillos.

Transportation

Driving in Costa Rica is a HUGE topic on travel forums that quite frankly had me terrified beforehand. Seth’s last trip to the country was many years ago when paved roads outside of San José were scarce, so we prepared for a sketchy driving situation. We intentionally arranged our flight to avoid driving after nightfall out of precaution.

Overall, we could not believe how great the roads were and how easy the driving experience was for us. Maybe our experience in other countries with less developed roadways or left-sided driving made Costa Rica seem relatively better; nonetheless, most of the roads on our route were paved and easy to navigate. Praise be! There were some potholes here and there, especially as we got closer to MA. Local drivers commonly pass cars against traffic regulations… but all of this wasn’t much different than rural road driving in the States for us. If you are nervous yet determined to rent your own vehicle, try to avoid driving at night. Also, potholes can become impossible to gauge during heavy periods of rain, so use extra caution during rainy season.

Another hot topic on the subject is rental car insurance and liability fees. Several travelers post to warn of hidden or surprise fees, as much as $1,000 being charged upon car pick-up. Third party liability insurance must be paid, but some companies will allow you to waive other fees such as partial collision, damage, and theft coverage with proof of coverage from your credit card. Your card’s benefit department can email you the appropriate paperwork. American Express is particularly great for this exact scenario. With that said, it is still advisable to research the rental car company and customer reviews prior to booking. You may have more recourse with a larger international company should any problems arise.

Adobe is hailed as having no surprise fees on social media travel tip groups. We used SIXT as part of our Orbitz bundle booking, paid an additional $100 insurance fee plus a $500 hold, and had no issues.

It is widely suggested to take pictures inside, outside, AND underneath the rental vehicle. I read one traveler’s warning of a rental car company in Costa Rica checking UNDER their car upon return and claiming a scratch was found. This resulted in a large penalty being issued with no proof to dispute the claim.

Shuttles are a desirable option for transportation in Costa Rica. Shared or private transfers are possible. Vacro and Adobe both come highly recommended for booking shuttle services to/from the airports.

Tracopa bus service is more widely used by locals, but is a reasonable option for tourists too. A direct route from San José to Manuel Antonio is now offered. Here is the address for the San José Tracopa bus terminal.

Final Thoughts

If you made it this far—WOW! 🤩 I didn’t think I would survive creating and writing this one. It was a lot… but Costa Rica offers a lot. The outgoing personalities of the locals, enveloping beauty of the outdoors, delicious fruits, and rich coffee is a life I could easily acclimate to. This destination provided us with so many opportunities to create memories. I now understand why the norm for many travelers is to spend a minimum of 2 weeks here.

Initially, Seth was a little resistant to so much being planned in advance (even though we left lots of flexibility) as we usually freestyle our trips. He now says this was one of the most fun vacations we have had together to-date. We did so much but also enjoyed some relaxation time.

My animal-loving heart is still so full from our trip, and Seth’s nature-loving soul is yearning to return. If you love adventure, I highly recommend for you to rent a car and plan a road trip. See as many different areas as you can! Then, email me and share all of your amazing pictures and tips for my next trip back to Costa Rica!

Thank you for reading. Your continued support gives our travels more purpose.

-Amanda Kendler <3