Ultimate 2 Day Manuel Antonio Itinerary
Are you wondering how to spend 2 days in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica? You’re in the right place.
Manuel Antonio was by far the most memorable place I visited in Costa Rica. It’s home to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, beautiful white sand beaches, and all four species of Costa Rican monkeys!
I spent 2 days in Manuel Antonio, which ended up being the perfect amount of time to explore the national park, and visit nearby attractions.
Here is an ideal 2 day Manuel Antonio itinerary for anyone that wants to pack their days full of fun and adventure.
How To Spend 2 Days In Manuel Antonio
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Day 1- Manuel Antonio National Park
Explore Manuel Antonio National Park
Spend your first day in Manuel Antonio visiting the famous Manuel Antonio National Park. This is Costa Rica’s most visited national park, and it’s incredibly beautiful and biodiverse. Entrance to the park is $18.95/nonresident, and you must buy your tickets beforehand online at SINAC.
But, before visiting Manuel Antonio Park, you may want to stop for breakfast ahead of time, as no food is allowed in the park. They will check your bags once you enter the park to ensure you don’t have any single-use plastic or food.
In case you need to refuel while in the park, there is a small cafeteria in the park that sells everything from kombucha to smoothies and sandwiches.
Manuel Antonio National Park has a variety of well-marked hiking trails that lead to beaches, and scenic viewpoints of the coast.
I spent around 3-4 hours hiking in the park, and I was able to spot deers, multiple species of monkeys, birds, iguanas, and a sloth right by the beach!
If you want the best chance of spotting wildlife, you can go on a guided hiking tour in the park. You can book a guided hiking tour ahead of time, or if you’re offered by a guide at the entrance.
From the entrance, there’s a short (~1 mile) trail until you reach a junction where the cafeteria is located.
At this junction, you can turn right and walk down to Manuel Antonio Beach, the popular beach where you’re almost guaranteed to spot a capuchin monkey.
This is a beautiful beach to swim in, and watch monkeys try to steal people’s food.
On my visit to Manuel Antonio Park, I hiked to Playas Gemelas, and the Punta Serrucho viewpoint (Sendero Mirador trail), before visiting Manuel Antonio Beach.
Playas Gemelas is a small sandy beach, and Punta Serrucho is a gorgeous overlook of the rugged coastline.
However, I recommend skipping these, as Punta Serrucho requires climbing up over 200 stairs to get to, and Playas Gemelas is not swimmable (due to the strong currents).
Instead, I recommend visiting Manuel Antonio Beach, and then hiking Punta Catedral, or visiting Playa Espadilla Sur.
Punta Catedral is a short trail (~1 mile round trip) that circles around a peninsula, with multiple amazing viewpoints of the ocean. Playa Espadilla Sur is a beautiful long stretch of white sandy beach, and a popular hangout spot for huge iguanas.
These are both accessible by walking towards the end of Manuel Antonio Beach.
For more details on what to do in the park, make sure to check out our guide to visiting Manuel Antonio Park.
Dine At El Avion Restaurant
After a long day at Manuel Antonio Park, head to El Avion Restaurant to enjoy a sunset dinner overlooking the coast. This is a unique restaurant built inside of an old cargo plane that has the best view in town.
They have outdoor seating where you may get to spot a few little capuchin monkeys in the trees as well.
Stroll Around Marina Pez Vela
If you’re looking for somewhere to walk around after dinner, stroll around Marina Pez Vela. This is a marina in the heart of Manuel Antonio with excellent seafood restaurants, small boutiques, and ice cream shops.
From this marina, you can also go on a sunset catamaran cruise to enjoy unlimited drinks, spot dolphins, and watch the sunset over the harbor.
Day 2- Waterfalls, Chocolate Tour, Night Jungle Walk
Hike to Nauyaca Falls
Start your day off with a morning hike to the gorgeous Nauyaca waterfall in Dominical. This is a spectacular 2-tiered waterfall with a large natural pool that you can swim in.
The main entrance to the waterfalls is Don Lulo’s, which is just over an hour drive from Manuel Antonio, and doesn’t require a 4×4 vehicle to get to. Entrance for the hike is $10 USD, plus $5 USD for parking.
To get to the waterfall from Don Lulo’s parking lot, it’s a 7 mile (12km) roundtrip hike. It took me around 1.5 hours to hike to this waterfall, but it was very scenic, and I passed by horses along the way.
Once you reach the waterfall, there’s a boardwalk, and a steep set of stairs leading down to the waterfall. This is a beautiful waterfall to swim in during dry season, and there’s restrooms on site so you can change into your swimsuit.
If you’d rather skip the hike, you can go horseback riding, or on a 4×4 tour to the waterfall. For more details on prices and transportation options, check out our complete guide to visiting Nauyaca Falls.
Go On Chocolate Tour
After the long waterfall hike, head back to Manuel Antonio for a chocolate tour.
You’ll get to walk through their farm to see how cacao, coffee, sugarcane, and other crops are grown locally, and watch chocolate be made from bean to bar.
Plus, you’ll get to enjoy tons of samples, from raw cacao beans to ancient hot chocolate, and freshly made chocolate dip!
Spot Wildlife On A Night Time Jungle Tour
To end the night, go on a night time jungle tour at Rainmaker Park. This is a private nature reserve, located just 40 minutes outside of Manuel Antonio, that offers guided night time hiking tours.
At night, you’ll get to spot bats, sleeping birds, colorful tree frogs, and other fascinating nocturnal animals with a knowledgeable guide. Their tours include dinner, and they offer round trip transportation from Manuel Antonio.
Manuel Antonio Attractions Map
Manuel Antonio FAQs
How many days do you need in Manuel Antonio?
You only need 2 days to visit Manuel Antonio National Park, and the nearby attractions. However, Manuel Antonio is a great place to stay for 3 to 4 days, as it’s an hour from Uvita, where you can visit Marino Ballena National Park.
There are many incredible beaches within an hour’s drive of Manuel Antonio in Dominical and Uvita as well.
What is there to do in Manuel Antonio besides the national park?
Beyond Manuel Antonio National Park, there’s animal sanctuaries, waterfall hikes, chocolate tours, mangrove boat tours, and much more.
Check out our list of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio for more ideas on how to spend your time in town!