When I arrived to Costa Rica for the first time, everything that I researched myself prior to visiting, seemed to all point at one essential stop – visit Manuel Antonio. It is the first and most popular thing that appears on most searches when looking for what to experience while in the country. To my delight, the day arrived for a short visit to check out Manuel Antonio, in the month of February.
Being from Scandinavia where the sun does not appear that often, I was mainly intrigued by the climate, animal life and beaches that Manuel Antonio offers.
Unfortunately for me, the tickets for the National Park in Manuel Antonio were sold out. The first advise I can offer you based on my little misfortune, is to book National Park access in advance. It is difficult to organize spontaneously on the day. If your intention is to see the amazing wildlife that this place is world famous for – plan in advance.
After a scenic drive, we arrived to Manuel Antonio at prime lunch hour, which was great, because it was an opportunity to visit the famous “El Avion” restaurant, which is as indicated by the name – an airplane, which to some degree has been turned into a restaurant & bar.
The menu had a variety of universal meals, anything from pasta, salads, burgers, you will be covered. The drinks were refreshing and delicious. Something that Costa Rica is thoroughly good at, is their range of healthy fruity drinks. The weather in February is very hot, humid and you will have to take your hydration seriously in this region.
Where to stay in Manuel Antonio?
We stayed in Igloo Beach Lodge. The actual hotel rooms are igloo shaped cabins, with beds, TV, a bathroom and shower. We were looking for something price worthy for a weekend stay, and to be honest, you don’t need to go for something high-end, as Manuel Antonio is already quite expensive being a prime tourist spot. This lodge was amazing for our duration, not to mention the location too!
It was also family friendly, as many cabins had sufficient sleeping space and comfort for families. The pool was also a great facility to use, ideally in the evening after spending a day at the sandy beach. The vibe was incredibly nice, and I often come back to think about the days here as a favorite memory.
As always in Costa Rica, tropical evenings attract mosquitos, so you are strongly advised to use the OFF-mosquito spray. I realized this a little too late and got six bites my first evening, so trust me on this. This is something that even the Costa Ricans use.
Opposite the lodge entrance was a small super market which made it convenient to pick up snacks and water during the day. Additionally, the hotel had a basic restaurant with some options such as pizza, sea food and some Costa Rican local dishes.
If you want to stay in a prime location to enjoy the beach without hurting your wallet, and still manage to complete the whole Manuel Antonio agenda, I can strongly recommend the Igloo Beach Lodge. It was unique and had a calmer vibe to it, while still offering everything that is needed.
It is important to understand that many of the hotels are located in the center of Manuel Antonio, however plenty of them are on the way to Manuel Antonio (just before reaching it), which means that they might have good views and access to other beaches, but are located a significant walking distance from there. Therefore, double check and choose your hotel wisely to avoid unpleasant walking distance surprises. However, if you enjoy walking then do not worry about this (it is actually a good-conditioned road). You might see monkeys or sloths along the way!
The beach in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
About 3 minutes walk from our lodge was the beach (more accurately called Playa Espadilla). What stunned me was how much space there was available to comfortably pick a spot, put the blanket down, without having to worry about crowds.
I also appreciated to walk endlessly along the beach and just observe the new details that appeared – a Costa Rican flag in the sand, an iguana in the tree for some natural wildlife, coconuts, and just stunning angles of the sunset. Those are things that we do not naturally have in Europe, so to me, those details were special to take in.
Conclusion
I arrived with some pre-assumed thoughts about Manuel Antonio, for example that it would be the typical hot-spot tourist trap, pricey and crowded. While there are definitely areas in Manuel Antonio where that is accurate, the key is to target week days rather than weekends, and perhaps stay at least 3 days to enjoy everything that Manuel Antonio offers.
Remember to:
- Book in advance, whether that is hotels or national park entries.
- Preferably go on weekdays (for better prices and fewer crowds)
- Before you book hotels, look at the actual location to ensure that it is within reasonable walking distance to the beaches
Any questions? Let us know in the comments
