Ask a local

Join Our Facebook Community

Still have questions or want local tips straight from our team? Join our Facebook community. That’s where we share updates, answer questions, and help you plan your Costa Rica trip the smart way.

Facebook group, insider tips

Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio: Beach, Hill or Quepos?

Picking the right area matters more here than in most beach towns. The main road is long, steep and not much fun to walk.

• Playa Espadilla: flat, busy and a few minutes’ walk from the beach and the park entrance. The best pick without a car.
• The hill: about 7 km of winding road between Quepos and the beach, with the best views, wildlife and restaurants. You’ll need the bus, taxis or a hotel shuttle.
• Quepos: the harbor town, with the bus terminal, supermarkets and the cheapest beds. The bus to the park takes 15 to 25 minutes.

Here’s a quick look at all 15, with rough nightly rates for two people:

Hotel	Area	Rough Nightly Rate
Tulemar Resort	The hill	About $380 to $630
Makanda by the Sea	The hill	About $540 and up
Gaia Hotel & Reserve	The hill	About $245 to $420
Arenas del Mar	Playa Espadilla	About $550 and up
Parador Resort	Punta Quepos	About $250 to $900
La Vela Boutique Hotel	Playa Espadilla	About $125 to $315
Tico Tico Villas	The hill	Around $65 to $80 in low season
The Falls Resort	The hill	About $140 to $250
Hotel Verde Mar	Playa Espadilla	About $55 to $150
Karahe Beach Hotel	Near Playa Espadilla	About $115 to $250
Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens	Playa Espadilla	About $130 to $340
White Sands Hotel	Playa Espadilla	About $70 to $110
Planet B Hostel	The hill, Quepos end	Budget dorms
Hostel Plinio	The hill, Quepos end	Beds around $33
Wide Mouth Frog	Quepos	Private rooms about $42 to $57

Rates swing a lot by season, so treat these as a rough guide. December to April costs the most, especially Christmas and Easter, and the 13% tax often comes on top.

Luxury Hotels in Manuel Antonio

The luxury hotels here are all about the setting: private coves, ocean views and monkeys on the balcony. These five are worth the splurge for a honeymoon or a big trip.

1. Tulemar Resort

Tulemar is the family favorite, with its own private beach at the bottom of the property. Loungers, kayaks and boogie boards are free, and a shuttle runs down so you don’t have to walk the hill.

Rooms are bungalows, villas and houses, all with air conditioning and a kitchen or kitchenette, so it’s great for longer stays. There are three pools, including an adults-only one, and kids 10 and under stay free.

Expect about $380 a night in low season and $495 to $510 in high season, plus 17.5% tax and fees. Christmas and Easter cost more. Breakfast isn’t included.

2. Makanda by the Sea

Makanda is adults-only and built for couples. There are just 11 studios and villas, and some have their own plunge pool or hot tub.

Breakfast is included and delivered to your room, and the Arbol restaurant is on site. A steep trail, or a golf cart, takes you down to a small, rocky cove that feels almost private.

It’s pricey, at about $540 to $620 a night in low season and $1,000 and up at peak times. Fair warning: there are lots of stairs, so pack proper shoes.

3. Gaia Hotel & Reserve

Gaia is the quiet retreat on the hill, in its own rainforest reserve about 3 km from the park. Younger kids can’t stay, so it’s calm and mostly couples.

There are three infinity pools, the La Luna restaurant and breakfast included. Gaia also runs a scarlet macaw reintroduction program, so keep an eye on the treetops.

You can’t walk to the beach from here. But a free shuttle runs down to the beach and park area during the day. Rates run about $245 to $300 a night in low season and $420 and up in high season.

4. Arenas del Mar

Arenas del Mar is the luxury pick right on the beach, at the north end of Playa Espadilla. The park is about 2 km along the sand, and the small Playitas cove is right below.

It’s part of the Cayuga Collection and holds Costa Rica’s top sustainability rating. There are two pools, two restaurants and breakfast included, plus golf carts for the steep grounds.

It’s a big splurge, at about $550 to $700 a night in low season and well over $1,000 at peak times. Monkeys and sloths turn up on the grounds, so keep your balcony door shut.

5. Parador Nature Resort and Spa

Parador is the full resort, on the Punta Quepos headland with big Pacific views. It’s great for families who want everything in one place.

There’s a main pool with a swim-up bar, plus adults-only pools and a toddler pool. You also get a 9-hole mini golf course, a spa and several restaurants, including sushi. Buffet breakfast is included.

A free shuttle runs to Playa Espadilla, with the last ride back around 5:30 PM. A trail also leads down to Playa Biesanz in about 15 minutes. Rates run about $250 to $600 a night in low season.

Mid-Range Hotels in Manuel Antonio

Mid-range hotels here give you a pool, air conditioning and often breakfast for about $100 to $250 a night. These six each do something well.

6. La Vela Boutique Hotel

La Vela is the best mid-range pick for the national park. It’s on flat ground near Playa Espadilla, about 200 to 300 meters from the park entrance. That means you can walk in at 7 AM.

There’s a pool, a pizza restaurant and bar, and breakfast is included. The beach is a two-minute walk away.

Rates run about $125 to $170 a night in low season and $225 to $315 in high season. Some booking sites still list it under its old adults-only name, but families can stay here now.

7. Tico Tico Villas

Tico Tico Villas is a great-value adults-only pick on the Quepos end of the hill, opposite Hotel Mono Azul. Every unit has a kitchenette or kitchen, so it’s handy for cooking a few meals yourself.

There’s a pool, air conditioning and laundry service, but no restaurant and no breakfast.

Rooms run about $65 to $80 a night in low season. Squirrel monkeys sometimes visit the pool in the evening, which is a nice bonus at this price.

8. The Falls Resort at Manuel Antonio

The Falls is a good-value pick on the hill, about 2 km from the park. It has a garden pool and a jungle feel. Some units have a full kitchen, including a 3-bedroom apartment for families.

Breakfast is included, and Medusa, the Peruvian restaurant here, gets lots of love for its food and cocktails.

The beach is about 5 minutes away by car. Walking down isn’t safe, so plan on the bus or a taxi. Rates run about $140 to $150 a night in low season and $220 to $250 in high season.

9. Hotel Verde Mar

Hotel Verde Mar is right on Playa Espadilla, so you walk out of your room and onto the sand. For a beachfront hotel, it’s surprisingly cheap.

Studios and suites have kitchenettes, and there’s a pool and air conditioning. Breakfast isn’t included, but you’re close to plenty of restaurants.

Rooms are simple, with wooden furniture rather than boutique style, so keep your expectations in check. Rates run about $55 to $85 a night in low season and around $150 in high season.

10. Karahe Beach Hotel

Karahe is a good beach base at kilometer 5, near the north end of Playa Espadilla. Breakfast is included at Canto del Mar, its beachfront restaurant.

The main road splits the property in two. Beachfront rooms are right on the sand, while standard rooms and villas are across the road and up 30 to 100 steps.

Ask for a beachfront room when you book, especially with kids or heavy bags. Rates run about $115 to $125 a night in low season and $180 to $250 in high season.

11. Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens

Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens has about the best location in town for the price. It’s about 200 meters from the park entrance and a one-minute walk from the beach.

It’s two connected parts: the main hotel, with nicer rooms and suites, and the cheaper Gardens section. Both share two pools, a kids’ pool, a tennis court and the Puerto Escondido restaurant, and breakfast is included.

Rates run about $130 to $175 a night in low season and $250 to $340 in high season.

Budget Hotels in Manuel Antonio

Budget beds here are mostly in Quepos or on the Quepos end of the hill. There’s one good-value pick right by the park gate, though.

12. Manuel Antonio White Sands Hotel

White Sands is about 20 meters from the park entrance, so you can’t really sleep any closer. It used to be called Millenium Manuel Antonio, so you may see both names online.

There’s a small pool, air conditioning in most rooms and free parking, but no restaurant. Rooms are basic, but you can be first in line at 7 AM.

Rates run about $70 to $110 a night.

13. Planet B Hostel

Planet B is a social hostel on the Quepos end of the hill, with a bus stop right outside. There are 4-bed and 8-bed dorms, a women-only dorm and one private double.

Breakfast and laundry are both free, and there’s air conditioning and a shared kitchen. There’s no pool, but guests can use a partner hotel’s pool about 600 meters away.

It’s a great pick for solo backpackers who want to meet people.

14. Hostel Plinio

Hostel Plinio is a long-running backpacker spot about 1.7 km from Quepos, with a big pool, a shared kitchen and a bar. The park is about 10 minutes away by bus or taxi.

The building is open-air, so it gets warm at night, and you’ll hear the road. Beds start around $33 on booking sites. Bring some cash, since it’s been cash only in the past.

15. Wide Mouth Frog

Wide Mouth Frog is in Quepos town, right by the bus terminal, so it’s handy without a car. The park is about 7 km away, a short bus ride.

There’s a pool with hydromassage, private rooms and dorms, a basic kitchen and air conditioning. Breakfast costs extra. Private rooms run about $42 to $57 a night.

Which Manuel Antonio Hotel Should You Pick?

For a first trip built around the park and the beach, stay near Playa Espadilla. La Vela or Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens let you walk to everything.

For a special trip, Arenas del Mar is the beachfront splurge, Makanda is the couples pick, and Tulemar is best for families.

On a budget, Tico Tico Villas, Planet B or Wide Mouth Frog keep costs down. The bus gets you to the beach in under half an hour.

Whichever you pick, book 3 to 6 months ahead for December to April. Our 3 days in Manuel Antonio itinerary shows how to plan your days. Our guide to tours in Manuel Antonio covers what to book.

Manuel Antonio Hotels FAQ

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Manuel Antonio?

The best area to stay in Manuel Antonio for most people is Playa Espadilla, near the park entrance. It’s flat, walkable and a few minutes from the beach.

The hill has better views and restaurants but needs the bus, taxis or a hotel shuttle. Quepos is cheapest, about 15 to 25 minutes from the park by bus.

How Far Are Manuel Antonio Hotels From the National Park?

Manuel Antonio hotels near Playa Espadilla are 20 to 300 meters from the park entrance, so you can walk. Hotels on the hill are about 2 to 5 km away, a few minutes by bus or taxi.

Quepos hotels are about 7 km away. The local bus runs the whole road every 15 to 30 minutes for less than a dollar.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel in Manuel Antonio?

Book a hotel in Manuel Antonio 3 to 6 months ahead for December to April, the dry season. Christmas, New Year and Easter week fill up earliest, so book those even sooner.

May to November is quieter, and a few weeks’ notice is usually fine, with better rates too.

Are There Adults-Only Hotels in Manuel Antonio?

There are several adults-only hotels in Manuel Antonio. Makanda by the Sea is 18 and over, and Tico Tico Villas is adults-only with kitchens at a lower price.

Gaia Hotel & Reserve doesn’t take younger kids, and Villas Nicolas is adults-only too. Si Como No takes families but has a separate adults-only pool.

Is Manuel Antonio Walkable?

Manuel Antonio is walkable near Playa Espadilla, where the ground is flat and the beach, restaurants and park entrance are close together.

The hill is a different story. It’s steep, winding and the sidewalk comes and goes, so take the bus, a taxi or your hotel’s shuttle up there.

Is Quepos a Good Base for Manuel Antonio?

Quepos is a good base for Manuel Antonio when budget matters most. Rooms cost less, and you’re close to the bus terminal, supermarkets and the marina.

The bus to the park takes 15 to 25 minutes and runs often, and a taxi costs about $5 to $8. You’ll just be farther from the beach.