This post shares information about the 7 best Manuel Antonio beaches, in and out of the famous national park. From secluded coves to pumping surf beaches and palm-lined paradises.
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About Manuel Antonio
Misunderstood by many, Manuel Antonio is a small town on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, around 3 hours from San Jose. Often confused with the famous national park of the same name, Manuel Antonio is a town too.
👉🏼 Understand more about the layout of the area in our Manuel Antonio guide
The national park, with its abundance of wildlife and gorgeous jungle trails, is the star attraction here (and rightly so), but Manuel Antonio has another major drawcard for visitors – beaches.
The Manuel Antonio beaches are up there as some of the best we experienced in all of Costa Rica.
Sparkling blue waters lined by soft sands, with vibrant green jungle oozing down onto the beach. Throw in year-round warm weather and a great chance of seeing sloths, monkeys or iguanas while lazing on the beach, and Manuel Antonio is the perfect destination in Costa Rica for a beach getaway.
How to get to Manuel Antonio
- 🚙 By car – like everywhere in Costa Rica, getting to Manuel Antonio is best done with your own rental car. It will give you a lot more freedom when choosing somewhere to stay, and getting around the area. It is approximately 3 hours drive from San Jose.
- 🚌 By bus – if your budget doesn’t allow a car, you can get to Manuel Antonio via bus. There are multiple daily departures from San Jose to Manuel Antonio with Tracopa. They have their own terminal in San Jose, located here.
- 🚐 By tourist shuttle – more expensive than the bus, but far more reliable and stress-free, a tourist shuttle will pick you up from your accommodation and drop you off in Manuel Antonio. There are direct shuttles from many different destinations around Costa Rica, like San Jose, Monteverde, La Fortuna, Santa Teresa or Montezuma.
Getting to the Manuel Antonio beaches
You’re in Manuel Antonio, now how do you get around to all these beautiful beaches?
- 🚗 By car – ideally you’ve come with a rental car, giving you complete freedom to explore the coastline of Manuel Antonio on your own schedule.
- 🚌 By bus – if you haven’t, not to worry, the Manuel Antonio bus is affordable and efficient. The bus runs up and down Route 618 between Quepos and the national park all day, every 30 minutes from around 5:30 am. There are bus stops all along the road, making most of the beaches accessible if you’re happy with a bit of walking.
- 🚕 By taxi – there are also taxis plying around the town that can take you to any of the Manuel Antonio beaches. Uber is also available in Manuel Antonio, but it’s not always reliable.
Best Manuel Antonio beaches
The best Manuel Antonio beaches are spread inside and out of the national park.
Those inside the park require a bit more planning to visit, but there are lots of other fantastic beaches outside the park, with free access at any time.
Each beach is a little different. Some are great for swimming, others for surfing and some are completely secluded in nature with no amenities.
I’ll run through the 7 best Manuel Antonio beaches and give you more information on each, so you know what to expect and can choose the ones that suit you best.
OUR ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR A BEACH DAY 🏖️
We are massive beach bums and one of our favourite things to do when travelling is explore as many beaches, islands and slices of coastline as we can. These are all our must-haves for a perfect day at the beach…
- 🧖🏽♀️ Dock & Bay towels: none of these tiny microfiber travel towels that barely go around your waist with the ickiest feeling! These towels are light, big, sand-free and dry super fast.
- 💨 Blow-up pillows: these babies were one of our best purchases. We bring them on all our trips to use on planes, buses, camping or if hotels have terrible pillows. But their best use is at the beach, ultimate comfort to lay on your towel and read a book.
- 📓 Kindle: Brayden and I won’t leave home without our Kindles in our bags. An afternoon lying on the beach reading our books is our idea of heaven. Even if you think ‘you only like paper books’, trust me, a Kindle will change your life, especially for travelling. I’ve levelled up and gotten even boujier with this remote, so I can turn the page hands-free, what a world we live in haha!
- 💦 Insulated water bottle: to stay hydrated, avoid single-use plastic bottles and drink COLD water. We are big Yeti fans.
- 🏝️ Sand-free beach mat: we only bring this if we’re on a specific tropical trip, but if you’re going to be beaching every day, having an extra mat to lie on instead of your towel is a treat! It’s sand-free, water repellent and comes with plastic pegs so it doesn’t blow away in the wind.
- 🌴 Hammock: another item we don’t always bring, but if we know we’re primarily going to be on beaches/islands, this lightweight travel hammock is amazing. The new rope system is so easy to string up anywhere with clips (instead of tying hundreds of knots).
- 👜 Tote bag: when I’m travelling, I can’t pack all my usual beach stuff, like my big beach bag I have at home. Instead, I bring this canvas tote bag, but it’s bigger and sturdier than the standard ones, with tons of pockets to organise your stuff.
- 👝 Dry bags: we also always use dry bags (aka dry sacks) to protect our electronics at the beach, and to keep our dry stuff dry, even when we’re chucking in wet towels and swimmers.
Manuel Antonio beaches inside the national park
The Manuel Antonio National Park is the premier activity in Manuel Antonio and hosts some incredible beaches inside its boundaries.
However, a visit to the park’s beaches is not as simple as just turning up with a towel and some swimmers.
To reach the beaches, you’ll need to walk a series of trails through the park. Most are well-made boardwalks or flat paths, nothing too strenuous. Expect to walk at least half an hour to reach any of the Manuel Antonio beaches inside the park.
Planning a day at Manuel Antonio National Park requires careful coordination. Tickets must be bought online in advance, and there are strict limits on visitor numbers each day. There are restrictions to what you can bring into the park, and you’ll want to learn more about the trails and wildlife before your visit.
We have a number of posts about the Manuel Antonio National Park to help you plan your visit:
1. Playa Manuel Antonio
- 🏖️ Best for – swimming and tropical vibes
- 📍 Location – Google Maps – inside the national park
- 🚗 How to get there – enter the park, hike approx. 1.7 km / 1 mi along either the Access Road or the Manglar and Perezoso Trail to the junction, then take the Playa Manuel Antonio Trail to the beach
- 🅿️ Parking – outside the park, there are private lots near the entrance and expect to pay up to $10 USD per day
- 🚻 Amenities – toilets, outdoor showers
- 🤿 Activities – swimming, sunbaking, snorkelling
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – humans, capuchin monkeys, racoons, coatis, sloths
Playa Manuel Antonio is the most popular of all the Manuel Antonio beaches, but for good reason!
Situated inside the national park, this beach is a gorgeous bay with powdery white sand and sparkling blue waters that are perfect for swimming. The jungle practically falls onto the sand, with palm trees and almond trees lining the beach, providing shade to lie under.
Despite being on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, which usually has a more rugged coastline, with surfable waves, Playa Manuel Antonio feels like it belongs on the Caribbean Coast. Its blue, calm waters, white sand and palm trees looked like a tropical postcard.
Compared to other beaches in the park, and in Manuel Antonio more broadly, Playa Manuel Antonio is less wavey, without strong rips. It has a sandy bottom, not rocks. You do have to be careful, as there are still waves and currents, but it was far more gentle, and you could just roll with the waves without getting completely dumped.
I absolutely adored swimming and floating around on this beach. We spent almost an hour just floating in the water, and couldn’t drag ourselves out!
It is possible to go snorkelling here around the rocks in the bay, but I don’t think it’s anything too special. If you want to do this, you’ll need to bring your own gear into the park. You can either rent them in town for the day or carry your own from home.
Considering all these positives, the beach does get busy. It will most likely be crowded when you visit, but we decided it was worth it for the calm waters. However, being inside the national park, there aren’t any vendors, speakers blasting loud music or coolers full of alcohol, so it still feels relatively serene.
Just a short walk from the beach are bathrooms and outdoor showers where you can rinse off the sand and salt before continuing on the trails.
Being inside the national park, Playa Manuel Antonio is a great beach to spot wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see sloths high in the trees behind the beach, and there are cheeky capuchin monkeys and occasionally racoons and coatis hanging around.
Unfortunately, people in the past have fed the animals, so they are always on the lookout for food. Please be very careful with your belongings and any food you may have, and make sure it’s secure and inaccessible. It’s not good for animals to eat an unnatural diet. They will not hesitate to walk over and rifle through your bag, so please be careful!
2. Playa Espadilla Sur
- 🏖️ Best for – peace and quiet, sunbathing on a vast beach
- 📍 Location – Google Maps – inside the national park
- 🚗 How to get there – enter the park, hike approx. 1 km / 0.6 mi along the Manglar Trail to the Playa Espadilla Sur Trail, or connect from Playa Manuel Antonio
- 🅿️ Parking – outside the park, there are private lots near the entrance and expect to pay up to $10 USD per day
- 🚻 Amenities – toilets, changerooms, feet washing taps
- 🤿 Activities – sunbaking, swimming (if experienced)
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – capuchin monkeys, racoons, coatis
Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur are located on either side of a natural land bridge, known as a tombolo. It’s essentially a sandy peninsula jutting out with two bays on either side. The tombolo connects the rocky Punta Catedral (Cathedral Point), one of the trails for hiking in the park, to the mainland.
Just behind Playa Manuel Antonio is Playa Espadilla Sur, a much quieter alternative if you’re looking to get away from the crowds. The beach is a natural extension of Playa Espadilla Norte, which is accessible outside of the park.
Espadilla Sur is a lot bigger than Playa Manuel Antonio and feels as if it sweeps on forever, with its crescent-shaped bay. It has the same powdery sand and blue waters, but the waves are not as calm here. The rip tides are strong, and it can be dangerous for swimming if you’re not experienced.
Whereas the path to reach Playa Manuel Antonio is purely functional, the trail to Playa Espadilla Sur is gorgeous, and an attractive part of the beach. Palm trees and other coastal plants shade the sandy path, and you’re likely to spot capuchin monkeys swinging through the trees, and racoons and coatis scurrying along the forest floor.
You can connect to the trail from two points. Via the Manglar Trail from the entrance of the park or via the Punta Catedral Trail near Playa Manuel Antonio.
There are dedicated access points to the beach from the trail, with ropes blocking the rest of the way, so if you want to get out on the sand, enter at the start or end of the trail.
There are toilets, changerooms and somewhere to wash your feet at the connection to the Manglar Trail, at the northern end of the beach.
3. Playa Gemelas
- 🏖️ Best for – wildlife and seclusion
- 📍 Location – Google Maps – inside the national park
- 🚗 How to get there – enter the park, hike approx. 1.7 km / 1 mi along either the Access Road or the Manglar and Perezoso Trail to the junction, then take the Playa Gemelas Trail to the beach
- 🅿️ Parking – outside the park, there are private lots near the entrance and expect to pay up to $10 USD per day
- 🚻 Amenities – none
- 🤿 Activities – wildlife spotting, sunbathing, swimming (if experienced)
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, crabs, iguanas
Meaning ‘the twins’ in Spanish, Playa Las Gemelas is in a different section of the park to the other two beaches. It’s often empty and is a much quieter and more peaceful option than the alternatives above.
This beach is actually made up of two separate coves divided by some rocks. At low tide, you can easily walk between the two. The beach is gorgeous, but the waves and rip currents can be very strong here, so take precautions if swimming.
We saw a whole troop of capuchin monkeys come down onto the beach here. They were wrestling and playing with each other, and running, jumping and swinging around like crazy!
Some of the monkeys were picking on an iguana that was on the beach, and others were harassing tourists trying to get into their bags. As I mentioned early, be very careful with your belongings. They can open zips and carry bags that look a lot bigger than they are!
There are no amenities here, but you’re not too far away from the toilets at the junction of the park near the cafeteria, and a short walk further to the showers at Playa Manuel Antonio.
🌴 Psst the beaches on the Caribbean Coast are actually my favourite! Check out the best beaches in Puerto Viejo
Manuel Antonio Beaches outside the national park
Although the national park beaches are pretty stunning, there are a handful of public beaches outside the park that are worth visiting too, for free.
These public beaches don’t have any entrance fees and are great to check out on your other days in Manuel Antonio.
4. Playa Espadilla Norte
- 🏖️ Best for – beach day in style, water activities
- 📍 Location – Google Maps
- 🚗 How to get there – easily accessible via car, the local bus or by walking from nearby accommodation
- 🅿️ Parking – if you’re driving, there are private lots near the beach (those also used for the park), expect to pay up to $10 USD per day
- 🚻 Amenities – toilets, food and drink vendors, restaurants, umbrella and lounge rental
- 🤿 Activities – sunbathing, surfing, parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat rides
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – humans
Playa Espadilla Norte, also known simply as Playa Espadilla, is the main beach of Manuel Antonio. It’s a natural extension of Playa Espadilla Sur inside the national park, but there is a large swathe of sand that falls outside the boundary.
If you like your beach days with all the trimmings, this is where you’ll want to come.
Umbrellas and loungers line the sand, available to rent for the day. Vendors stroll up and down selling cold drinks, fresh coconuts and other snacks. You’ll be offered massages and all kinds of water activities from parasailing to banana boat rides and jet skis. All this to the thrum of music, blasting at high decibels from different restaurants and shacks along the beach.
This might sound like hell to you if you prefer your beaches natural, and peaceful like we do. But I will admit, I was enamoured with the huge palm trees lining the sand, the sparkling blue waters and the vibrant greenery of the national park in the distance.
We managed to find a quiet spot right down the end of the beach near the national park, where no one bothered us. We sat on our own towels in the shade of the palm trees and didn’t spend a cent on anything. It was a great spot to spend a few hours with a book, and I can see the appeal despite all the hoo-ha!
The beach itself here is actually quite rough though. It is tide-dependent, and I think it would be better for swimming at low tide. But when we visited, the tide was coming in and the waves were pretty big and dumpy.
Espadilla is one of the best places for surfing in Manuel Antonio. You’ll see boards lined up along the beach for rent, and locals shredding it up if the swell is right.
Oh, and this is a wonderful place to watch the sunset in the evening.
5. Playa Biesanz
- 🏖️ Best for – swimming, jungle vibes
- 📍 Location – Google Maps
- 🚗 How to get there – it’s best to come in your own car or taxi, or walk around 1.5 km / 0.9 mi from the main road if you’ve taken the bus. To access the beach, you need to park on the road here, and then walk down a jungle trail for approximately 10 minutes.
- 🅿️ Parking – other travellers report being asked to pay for parking on the road, with the usual Costa Rican parking attendant strategy. We visited towards the end of the day and no one was there, but expect to pay a couple of bucks to have your car ‘attended’ while you’re away.
- 🚻 Amenities – toilets and showers (for a fee), umbrella and lounge rental, limited food and drink vendors
- 🤿 Activities – swimming, sunbathing, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – howler monkeys, sloths, iguanas
I wouldn’t call Playa Biesanz a secret beach, but in comparison to Playa Espadilla Norte and other Manuel Antonio beaches, it’s a bit of a hidden gem!
Mainly because access to this beach isn’t so straightforward. If you’ve got a car, (or taking a taxi), you’ll want to drive to this point and park on the road. You may or may not be asked to pay a small fee to the parking attendants if they’re there.
From here, it’s a short walk down a pretty jungle trail. It’s nothing too strenuous, but there are some roots and steep sections to navigate, and it’s slippery in parts, so you may want to wear more than just thongs (flip-flops).
It’s gorgeous and lush, and this is a fantastic place to spot wildlife. Listen out for howler monkeys, which are frequently hanging around in the trees here. Sloths are commonly found sleeping in the branches, and on the beach, you can see iguanas lazing in the sun.
The bay is sheltered by rocks, making this one of the calmest Manuel Antonio beaches for swimming. If you want to swim, it’s best to enter the water from the right side of the bay, where there are fewer rocks.
How much activity and amenities there are here seems to depend on the season and time of day. Vendors will set up during weekends, holidays and peak tourist times. But outside of that, the beach can feel pretty quiet and secluded.
There are toilets and showers at a small house just behind the beach, which you can use for a fee.
There are usually people there renting umbrellas and loungers, but they aren’t too pushy and generally accept no for an answer if you’re not interested. Some limited snacks and drinks are on offer, but if you’re planning a day here I would recommend bringing along some food.
Often, you will find someone renting snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards too. Being a calmer beach, this is a great place for these activities.
If you want to snorkel, you should head to the left side of the bay where the rocks and reefs are. Do be careful, although the beach is calm, the rocks are bearing the brunt of the waves and currents.
6. Playa La Macha
- 🏖️ Best for – nude sunbathing (if you’re into that), swimming, seclusion
- 📍 Location – Google Maps
- 🚗 How to get there – drive, taxi or take a short walk from the main road bus stop to BongO Hotel. From here, follow the signs down a jungle trail for approximately 30 minutes. The final stretch of the trail is a very steep descent down to the beach.
- 🅿️ Parking – there is a small parking lot near BongO Hotel. It should be free, but attendants may be around asking for a tip. Be careful of your belongings here, people have reported thefts.
- 🚻 Amenities – none
- 🤿 Activities – swimming, (nude) sunbathing
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – monkeys, birds, insects
Playa La Macha is the true hidden gem of all the Manuel Antonio beaches. This beach offers complete seclusion to those willing to work for it!
Top tip – only visit at low or mid tide. At high tide, the entire beach disappears and there is nowhere to sit or leave your things.
Getting there is quite an adventure, but if you’re up for a walk in the beautiful jungle (who wouldn’t be), you’ll be rewarded.
To get there, you first need to get to BongO Hotel. If you’ve got a car it’s an easy drive, but it’s also a short walk from the main road so it’s accessible via bus.
If you have a 4×4 or high clearance SUV, you can drive a little further down the road past BongO Hotel. You’ll eventually reach a point with a sign that says you can’t continue driving, walking only. In the wet season, this road can get a little sketchy. Assess the situation at the time of your visit and decide if it’s worth driving a bit further to the trailhead or just walking from BongO Hotel.
The trail leads through the jungle for around 30 – 40 minutes. It’s uneven, slippery and muddy in places so we would definitely advise wearing proper shoes, not flip-flops. The last section of the trail is an intense climb down a steep ledge. There are ropes there to hold on to, but just take it easy and sit down if need be.
The beach is a beautiful wide bay, that is pretty sheltered from the waves. But the best thing is the quiet! There are no amenities, and usually few other visitors, so you can enjoy the sounds of the waves and nature all around you.
Pack everything that you need, including food and drinks as there are no amenities at all at the beach. Please remember even better than you found it, and pack out any rubbish.
This beach is an unofficial nudist beach, so do be aware and ready to avert your eyes if required!
7. Playa Playitas
- 🏖️ Best for – sunbathing, surfing, seclusion
- 📍 Location – Google Maps
- 🚗 How to get there – best visited with a car, drive all the way down a dirt road to the sand
- 🅿️ Parking – there is a small parking lot behind the beach with attendants trying to charge, but you don’t have to park here or pay. You can drive right to the edge of the sand and park for free
- 🚻 Amenities – nothing
- 🤿 Activities – sunbathing, surfing
- 🐒 Wildlife spotting – capuchin monkeys
Playa Playitas is an extension of Playa Espadilla, in the northern end of Manuel Antonio. A much quieter, much less popular option if you’re looking for a low-key beach day.
It’s best visited with your own car, as you can drive down a well-made dirt road right to the edge of the beach on the sand.
This is a great place for surfing, and the waves are quite big and rough here. If you want to surf, there is a school on the beach, Da Hui. I would recommend getting in touch in advance of your visit, to organise a lesson or board rental.
The beach itself is vast and beautiful at low tide. It’s perfect for lazing under the shade of palm trees, splashing in the shallows or checking out the unique rock formations.
It can be popular with locals on the weekends, but outside of that, this is a pretty secluded beach. Capuchin monkeys are always hanging around, and you can catch a gorgeous sunset from the beach during the dry season.
TOP ACTIVITIES ON COSTA RICA’S CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST
Where to stay in Manuel Antonio
There are some incredible places to stay around Manuel Antonio.
Although many travellers base themselves in nearby Quepos, which is a larger town, we recommend staying in Manuel Antonio. It has a much more natural, jungle vibe, and you’ll be much closer to all these gorgeous beaches and the national park.
Many accommodations have direct beach access, while others are nestled up in the hills with incredible sweeping ocean views. Here are some of our top picks for a range of budgets.
- 💰 Planet B Hostel – similarly located on the main road, not exactly near the park, but there is a bus stop out the front. Mixed reviews but a decent budget option with free breakfast, communal kitchen and lots of hammocks.
- $16 USD + per night check prices Hostelworld | Booking.com
- 💰 Teva Jungle Hotel and Hostel – an eco-style hotel and hostel nestled into the jungle near the centre of town. The property has a huge nature reserve attached with miles of trails to explore. There are dorms and very lovely private hotel rooms, an on-site pool, a communal kitchen and a restaurant.
- $10 USD + per night check prices Hostelworld | Booking
- 💰💰 Peace of Paradise – well equipped, well located with gorgeous jungle views and a ton of wildlife around. What’s not to love? If you want the ability to cook your own meals, this is a fantastic option. Located within easy walking distance of the shops, restaurants and cafes of Manuel Antonio town, the bus stop is close by to reach the national park and beaches. Superbly rated by all previous guests.
- 💰💰 La Posada Jungle Hotel – fantastic location near Playa Espadilla Norte and the park entrance. A simple but well-maintained hotel with jungle vibes, and tons of wildlife! There is a swimming pool, and the rooms are spacious and well-equipped.
- 💰💰💰 Shana By The Beach – there are countless gorgeous boutique hotels and resorts in Manuel Antonio but this is a goodie. Situated right next to Playa Biesanz, nestled into the rainforest, you’ll spot monkeys, toucans and other wildlife throughout your stay. Gorgeous ocean views, multiple pools and daily breakfast included.
- 💰💰💰 La Vela Boutique Hotel – the pick of the bunch near the park and Espadilla Norte, this stunning hotel is sleek and modern. The grounds ooze tropical vibes and there is a large swimming pool. The suites are worth splurging for, with a spacious covered balcony with jungle views. Daily breakfast included.
Final thoughts: Manuel Antonio beaches
I hope this post has you excited about all the beautiful Manuel Antonio beaches! Manuel Antonio really does have all the right ingredients for perfect beaches – blue water, palm trees, wildlife, lush green jungle and plenty of sunshine! Let me know which beach sounds like your vibe in the comments.
MORE MANUEL ANTONIO POSTS
- 20 Best Things to Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
- Complete Manuel Antonio National Park Visitors Guide
- 11 Trails for Hiking in Manuel Antonio National Park
- Spotting Animals in Manuel Antonio National Park
OUR COSTA RICA TRAVEL GUIDES
