Last Updated on September 14, 2026
Three Days In Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: A Family Guide To Costa Verde, The National Park And More
Manuel Antonio is one of those places in Costa Rica where you can pack a surprising amount into a few days without feeling like you are constantly driving from one attraction to the next.
You have rainforest, wildlife, beaches, ocean views, adventure activities and one of the country’s most recognizable national parks all clustered together. And then there is the fact that you can actually sleep inside a Boeing 727 surrounded by jungle.
That airplane stay at Hotel Costa Verde was one of the highlights of our entire Costa Rica trip. We spent two nights inside the converted Boeing 727 at Costa Verde (and one in a regular hotel room at the resort), and the airplane was the kind of accommodation our kids were still talking about long after we left.
But Manuel Antonio is about much more than the airplane.
We spent our three days balancing time at the resort, exploring Manuel Antonio National Park, looking for wildlife, enjoying the beach and squeezing in some of the area’s more adventurous activities. Along the way, we also learned a few things about visiting the park that are worth knowing before you arrive — particularly when it comes to parking and guides.
If you are planning a family trip to Manuel Antonio, here is how we would spend three days, plus everything we think you should know before you go.
Why Manuel Antonio Is So Good For Families
Manuel Antonio is an especially fun destination with kids because you don’t have to choose between a wildlife experience and an adventure vacation.
One morning can involve walking through rainforest looking for monkeys and sloths. That afternoon you can be swimming in the Pacific. The next day you can be flying through the canopy on a zip coaster or pedaling a canopy bike above the trees.
And unlike some Costa Rican destinations where activities are spread far apart, Manuel Antonio gives you a lot of variety within a relatively small area.
The landscape is part of the experience, too. The road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio winds through lush tropical vegetation, with restaurants, hotels, tour operators and viewpoints tucked into the hillsides. The closer you get to the national park, the more the rainforest and ocean become the backdrop to everything.
For our family, though, the biggest surprise was that the place we were staying ended up being an attraction in itself.
Where We Stayed: Hotel Costa Verde
Our home base was Hotel Costa Verde, a hillside property overlooking the Pacific near Manuel Antonio.
Costa Verde is very much a rainforest hotel rather than a traditional resort where everything is contained on one flat property. It is built into the hillside, so expect slopes, stairs and plenty of tropical vegetation. That setting is a huge part of its personality.
There are ocean views, pools, restaurants and different types of accommodations scattered throughout the property. The hotel also has several restaurants and food options, making it possible to spend quite a bit of time there without needing to leave every time someone gets hungry.
And then there are the airplanes.
Costa Verde has several aircraft accommodations, including the famous Boeing 727 Fuselage Home. The hotel describes the aircraft as a genuine retired Boeing 727 that was converted into a fully equipped accommodation and positioned in the jungle canopy.
For us, staying in the Boeing 727 was not just a quirky place to sleep. It was one of the experiences we specifically wanted to have in Costa Rica.
We spent two nights inside the converted Boeing 727, and it was every bit as unusual as you would imagine.
The airplane itself becomes part of your accommodation, with the fuselage transformed into a comfortable living space and a large deck extending out over the surrounding jungle. Instead of looking out of a hotel window at a parking lot or another building, you are surrounded by tropical greenery with the Pacific beyond it.
It is the kind of hotel room where the kids immediately want to explore every corner.
If you want to see exactly what the Boeing 727 stay was like, we wrote a separate post about the experience here: Our Boeing 727 Airplane Hotel Experience at Costa Verde, Costa Rica
What We Loved About Costa Verde
The biggest appeal of Costa Verde is that you don’t have to go looking for the jungle experience. It is right outside your door.
The property is surrounded by rainforest and has expansive views toward the Pacific. Wildlife is also part of the atmosphere, so don’t be surprised if your kids become very interested in what is moving through the trees around the hotel.
There are multiple pools, several dining options and plenty of places to slow down between excursions. The hotel also offers activities and can help with arranging adventures around Manuel Antonio.
One afternoon, we went for a swim and suddenly found ourselves surrounded by a dozen monkeys swinging through the trees, playing and carrying on as if we weren’t even there. It was one of those completely unexpected moments that made our stay at Costa Verde feel like so much more than just a hotel stay.
One thing to understand before booking is that Costa Verde is on a hillside. This is not the place to expect a perfectly flat resort where you can wander everywhere without thinking about elevation. For most families, it is simply part of the experience, but it is worth considering if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.
For us, the location worked particularly well because we could spend part of the day exploring and then come back to a place that still felt like an adventure.
And after a busy day, that mattered.
Day 1: Enjoy The Airplane And The Resort
Our first day in Manuel Antonio was intentionally slow.
We had two nights at Costa Verde, and we didn’t want to immediately turn our arrival into another race from one attraction to the next.
The Boeing 727 was too interesting to simply check in, drop our bags and leave.
We explored the airplane, spent time on the deck, took in the jungle and ocean views and let the kids enjoy the novelty of where we were staying.
This is one of my biggest recommendations for anyone booking a unique accommodation: give yourself time to actually enjoy it.
It can be tempting to book an unusual hotel and then spend the entire trip away from it because you’ve packed your itinerary so tightly. We didn’t want to do that here.
The airplane was part of our Costa Rica adventure.
Dinner At El Avión
For dinner, we headed to one of the area’s most recognizable restaurants: El Avion.
And yes, it really is an airplane.
El Avión is built around a Fairchild C-123 cargo aircraft that has been converted into a pub and restaurant. It sits high above the coastline, with views toward the Pacific and is particularly popular around sunset.
This is exactly the kind of place our family loves because dinner becomes an experience instead of simply being another meal.
The kids can explore the airplane, you can enjoy the views and everyone has something to talk about while waiting for dinner.
The menu includes seafood, fish, Costa Rican dishes, burgers, salads and other casual options, so there is enough variety for a family with different tastes. Expect an informal, pub-style dining atmosphere.
If you can time your visit around sunset, do it.
The combination of an airplane, jungle, ocean and sunset makes El Avión one of those Manuel Antonio experiences that is about much more than what is on your plate.
And you don’t have to be staying at Costa Verde to visit. El Avión is open to outside visitors as well as hotel guests.
Day 2: Manuel Antonio National Park
Day two was our big wildlife day.
Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the main reasons people come to this part of Costa Rica, and it absolutely deserves a spot in your itinerary.
Entrance tickets are purchased through SINAC’s online system. Current non-resident admission is listed at $18.08 USD for adults over 12 and $5.65 USD for children ages 2–12, including tax. Tickets can fill up during busy travel periods, so it’s a good idea to reserve your tickets in advance. Just give yourself a little extra time to navigate the SINAC website — we found it wasn’t exactly the most straightforward site to figure out, especially if you’re trying to book quickly.
But before you even get into the park, there is something I want you to know…
Be Careful With Parking
This was one of the more frustrating parts of our visit.
As we approached Manuel Antonio National Park, people were waving us down and trying to direct us into parking areas. Some were implying that they worked for the park.
One person even told us, “I work for the park, why would I want to rip you off?”
That didn’t exactly make us feel more comfortable.
We were also being directed toward a roadside parking area where vehicles were double parked. Our immediate thought was: How the heck are we supposed to get out?
Rather than pulling into the first spot someone pointed us toward, we kept driving.
We continued toward the end of the road, past Costa Verde and farther toward Manuel Antonio, and eventually found a parking option on the left near Hotel Manuel Antonio and Restaurante Manuel Antonio.
We paid around $10 USD for the day, which we thought was reasonable, and from there it was a relatively short walk toward the park entrance.
The important takeaway isn’t that every person offering parking is dishonest. It’s that you should not assume someone is an official park employee simply because they tell you they are.
Don’t let someone pressure you into parking somewhere that doesn’t look practical or secure.
Take a minute, look at where your vehicle will actually be parked and make sure you are comfortable with how you will get back out.
That small bit of patience saved us from parking somewhere we weren’t comfortable leaving the car.
You Don’t Have To Hire A Guide
The other thing we heard repeatedly from the fake parking attendants was that we needed a guide.
People around the entrance were making it sound like having a guide was mandatory if we wanted to enter the park or see wildlife.
It isn’t.
You can visit Manuel Antonio National Park without a guide and explore on your own.
However, after getting inside, we decided to accept a guide’s offer — and in our case, we were really glad we did.
We paid $45 USD total for six people for approximately two hours.
Our guide made a noticeable difference in what we saw.
Without someone pointing things out, there is a very good chance we would have walked right past some of the smaller creatures and wildlife hiding in the vegetation.
The guide seemed to know exactly where to look, and there were particular places where he stopped because he knew something interesting was nearby.
We saw considerably more wildlife than I think we would have spotted wandering around by ourselves, including plenty of creepy crawlies that would have been very easy to miss.
There was also something interesting happening between guides.
As guides passed each other on the trails, they communicated about wildlife sightings. It was almost like a little real-time information network moving through the park.
Someone might spot something farther down the trail, tell another guide, and suddenly your guide knew where to look.
That made the experience feel much more active than simply walking through a rainforest and hoping something crossed our path.
Guided services are available inside the park through the Association of Certified Tour Guides of the Canton of Quepos. If you decide to use a guide, our experience is also why I would recommend arranging one through the official options inside the park rather than allowing someone outside the entrance to pressure you into overpaying for a tour. SINAC’s visitor information specifically advises visitors to use guides from inside the park and verify what is included and what they will be charged.
We can’t speak to what every guide charges, and prices can change, but our $45 USD total for six people and about two hours worked out well for our family.
If you choose to hire a guide inside the park like we did, make sure you carry some cash!
The Wildlife Is The Main Event
Manuel Antonio is the kind of place where you need to slow down.
You aren’t walking through a traditional zoo where animals are guaranteed to be sitting in a particular enclosure.
You are entering their environment.
That means looking up into the canopy, checking branches, watching the vegetation and paying attention when your guide suddenly stops walking.
For kids, this turns the hike into a giant scavenger hunt.
Where is the monkey? Can you spot the sloth? What’s moving in those leaves? Did you see that lizard?
And then there are all the tiny creatures that you probably would never notice on your own.
The guide experience made this especially fun for our family because the kids were constantly looking for whatever he was trying to show us next.
Don’t Skip The Beach
One of the best parts about Manuel Antonio National Park is that your hike can turn into a beach day.
But there is an important family warning here:
Pay attention to the signs before getting into the water.
Pacific beaches can have strong conditions and currents, and you should not assume that every stretch of water is safe simply because other people are swimming.
With kids, we always want to know where the safe swimming areas are before anyone gets in.
The combination of rainforest and beach is one of the reasons Manuel Antonio feels so special. You can spend the morning surrounded by wildlife and then find yourself looking at the ocean a short time later.
Just remember that wildlife doesn’t stop at the beach.
Keep your stuff secured, don’t feed animals and give wildlife plenty of space.
Yes, You Become Part Of The Wildlife Problem
One of the most interesting parts of visiting Manuel Antonio was discovering that even eating lunch becomes a wildlife-management exercise.
Inside the park, there is a designated area for eating, and it is enclosed in a caged space.
Why?
Because the animals know exactly where food comes from.
Food consumption is restricted to the designated food area, and SINAC specifically states that food cannot be taken onto the beaches or trails. You are also not permitted to bring in single use plastic bottles.
Basically, you become part of the animal-control strategy.
The monkeys don’t need to learn that human visitors sometimes carry snacks.
They already know.
And if you have ever seen a monkey steal something, you probably understand why the park has rules around food.
Day 3: Adventure Around Manuel Antonio
After a full day of wildlife and hiking, we wanted day three to feel different.
This is where Manuel Antonio really shines because there are plenty of ways to add adventure without spending another full day on a hiking trail.
One of the activities we were interested in was the Zip Coaster, which combines the feeling of a zipline with more of a coaster-style experience.
We also looked at the canopy bike, which is exactly the kind of activity that gets our kids excited.
Instead of simply riding through a traditional attraction at ground level, canopy activities get you up into the rainforest and give you an entirely different perspective of the landscape.
If your family likes adrenaline, this is a great day to choose one or two activities rather than trying to cram five different tours into your schedule.
Manuel Antonio also has opportunities for additional rainforest adventures, water activities and tours around the Quepos area. Depending on the season and your family’s interests, you can add kayaking, paddleboarding, boat trips, fishing or other canopy experiences.
The trick is knowing when to stop adding things.
You are in Costa Rica. You don’t need to prove you can do everything.
A Better Way To Plan Three Days In Manuel Antonio
If we were planning the trip again, I would keep the same basic rhythm.
Day 1: Stay at Costa Verde, explore the Boeing 727, enjoy the property and have dinner at El Avión.
Day 2: Spend the full day at Manuel Antonio National Park. Arrive prepared, be cautious about parking offers, decide whether you want a guide and leave time to enjoy the beach.
Day 3: Pick an adventure activity such as the Zip Coaster or canopy bike, then slow things down with another meal, beach time or exploring around Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
This gives you a little bit of everything without making every day feel like a race.
Family Tips For Visiting Manuel Antonio
Book Your Park Tickets Ahead
You must pre-buy your tickets online, so don’t plan on simply showing up and buying a ticket at the gate. Check the official SINAC system before your visit because park rules, hours and prices can change.
Don’t Feel Pressured Into A Guide
A guide can absolutely improve the wildlife experience, but you don’t have to hire one simply because someone tells you that you must. You’ll hear that you “must” have a guide at every experience, so pick at choose carefully.
If you want a guide, use an official option inside the park and confirm the price and duration before starting.
Give Yourself Time
Manuel Antonio is hot, humid and hilly.
With kids, build in time to stop, drink water, look around and actually enjoy where you are.
Wear Shoes You Can Walk In
You don’t need serious hiking boots for every trail, but comfortable footwear with good traction makes much more sense than flip-flops when you are spending hours walking through rainforest.
Bring Water
This should go without saying, but in Costa Rica’s tropical heat, hydration matters even more when you are walking with kids.
Watch Your Food
Keep food out of the wildlife equation. Don’t feed animals, don’t leave snacks lying around and follow the park’s rules about where food can be consumed.
Don’t Assume The Ocean Is Safe Everywhere
Check signage and local guidance before swimming, especially with children.
Expect Hills At Costa Verde
The hillside setting is part of what makes Costa Verde so scenic, but it also means there are slopes and stairs. Choose your accommodation with that in mind.
Is Three Days Enough For Manuel Antonio?
For our family, three days gave us a really good taste of the area.
We had enough time to enjoy one of the most unusual hotel stays we’ve ever experienced, spend a meaningful day inside Manuel Antonio National Park and still have time for adventure.
Could you stay longer? Absolutely.
You could easily spend several more days exploring beaches, taking boat trips, trying different adventure activities, visiting Quepos or simply enjoying Costa Verde.
But three days works particularly well if Manuel Antonio is one stop on a larger Costa Rica road trip.
And I would strongly recommend not treating the Boeing 727 as simply a place to sleep.
That was one of the experiences that made our time here memorable.
What Not To Bring
Manuel Antonio has some surprisingly strict rules about what you can bring into the park, and they are there for a good reason: the wildlife has learned that humans can mean food. SINAC specifically prohibits bringing food and beverages into the park, with any exceptions determined by park administration. Food purchased inside the park must be eaten in the designated dining area rather than taken onto the trails or beaches.
Before you head to the entrance, check the current rules so you don’t arrive with a backpack full of things you aren’t allowed to take inside. The restrictions can include:
- Food and beverages: Food and drinks are not permitted into the park, except where specifically allowed by park administration. There is a designated food service area inside the park.
- Pets: Pets of any kind are not permitted.
- Feeding wildlife: Absolutely do not feed the animals or leave food where they can get to it. This is about much more than keeping your lunch safe from a curious monkey — feeding wildlife can affect their health and change their natural behaviour.
- Single-use plastics: Check the current park restrictions before packing disposable plastic items.
- Drones: Drones may not be permitted without specific prior authorization.
- Speakers or amplified sound: Leave the portable speaker at the hotel. The park is a place to listen to the rainforest, not your playlist.
- Other prohibited items: SINAC also lists items such as umbrellas, balls, tents and hammocks among things that cannot be brought into the park.
One thing we really appreciated about the food rules was seeing how seriously the park takes the wildlife issue. The animals here are accustomed to people, which makes it even more important that visitors don’t encourage them to associate humans with food.
If you’re visiting independently rather than as part of a tour, check the current SINAC rules before you go. Park regulations and specific exceptions can change, and it is much easier to leave something behind at your hotel than discover it isn’t allowed when you reach the entrance.
What To Pack For Manuel Antonio National Park
A day at Manuel Antonio National Park doesn’t require a serious hiking pack, but there are a few things you’ll be very happy you brought once you’re several trails into the rainforest.
The biggest thing to prepare for is the heat and humidity. Even when you’re walking beneath the trees, it can feel warm and sticky, and kids can go through water much faster than you expect. Add in the possibility of rain, muddy sections and a beach stop, and a little planning makes the day considerably easier.
Dress For The Heat
Think lightweight, breathable and comfortable.
We would skip heavy clothing and anything that takes forever to dry. Moisture-wicking or quick-drying shirts and shorts are much more comfortable once you’re sweating, and they make sense if you’re planning to finish the day with some time at the beach.
A hat is also worth throwing into your day bag, along with sunglasses. The forest provides plenty of shade, but you won’t be under the canopy for the entire visit.
Wear Real Walking Shoes
This isn’t a technical hike, so you don’t need hiking boots. Comfortable running shoes or lightweight hiking shoes are more than enough for most families.
What you do want is something with decent grip. Trails can be damp, uneven or muddy, and tropical humidity means surfaces don’t necessarily dry out quickly.
Save the flip-flops for the beach.
Bring A Rain Layer
Costa Rica has a way of reminding you that the weather is tropical.
A perfectly sunny morning can turn into a quick shower, so we like having a lightweight rain jacket tucked into the bag. It takes up almost no space, and you will be very glad you have it if the skies suddenly open.
A waterproof pouch or small dry bag is also useful for protecting phones, cameras and other things you absolutely don’t want getting soaked.
Pack More Water Than You Think You’ll Need
Walking through a hot, humid rainforest with kids is different from walking a trail at home.
Bring plenty of water for everyone in your group and make hydration part of the plan rather than waiting until someone is already exhausted and complaining that they’re thirsty.
This is especially important if you are combining the park with a beach stop or spending several hours on the trails.
Don’t Forget The Beach
If swimming is part of your plan, make life easier by wearing swimsuits underneath your hiking clothes or packing them somewhere accessible.
That way, when the kids spot the beach and suddenly decide they absolutely must get in the water, you’re ready.
Just be sure to check the park’s signage and current conditions before swimming. Pacific beaches can have currents and changing conditions, so don’t assume that because other people are in the water, it is automatically safe for your kids.
Bring Bug Protection
You’re walking through a tropical forest, so insect repellent is a sensible addition to your bag.
You may not encounter many bugs, but shaded, humid areas can be attractive to mosquitoes and other insects. A quick application before you start exploring is much easier than spending the rest of the hike swatting at your legs.
Give Your Camera A Fighting Chance
There is a good chance your phone will spend a lot of the day in your hand.
Between monkeys, sloths, birds, lizards and all the tiny creatures hiding in the vegetation, you’ll want a way to capture what you find.
If you have binoculars or a camera with a decent zoom, bring them. Wildlife is often much farther away than it first appears, particularly when you’re looking into the canopy.
And if you hire a guide, don’t be surprised if they spot something you would have walked right past. That was one of the biggest advantages we noticed during our guided portion of the park visit.
Keep Your Day Bag Small
You don’t need to carry your entire vacation with you.
A small backpack with water, rain protection, sunscreen, insect repellent, a phone or camera and a few basic essentials is plenty.
The lighter your bag, the easier it is to enjoy the trails, especially when you’re travelling with kids and somehow end up carrying everyone else’s water bottles too.
Leave The Snacks At The Hotel
This is one of the most important things to know before you arrive.
Do not assume you can bring snacks into Manuel Antonio National Park.
The park has strict rules surrounding food and beverages because wildlife quickly learns that visitors can mean an easy meal. Food purchased inside the park is restricted to the designated eating area, rather than being carried along the trails or onto the beach.
And please don’t feed the animals.
It might seem harmless to give a monkey a tiny piece of something, but wildlife becoming dependent on human food is exactly what the park is trying to prevent. The goal is to see these animals behaving like wild animals, not waiting beside a trail for someone’s lunch.
A Few Other Things To Leave Behind
There are also restrictions on items such as pets, drones without authorization, amplified music and certain disposable items. Park regulations can change, so it’s worth checking the current SINAC rules before your visit rather than relying on an old packing list you found online.
The simplest approach is to pack light, bring the essentials, and leave anything questionable back at your hotel.
Manuel Antonio is much more enjoyable when your attention is on what’s moving through the trees instead of worrying about whether something in your backpack is allowed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Is Manuel Antonio Costa Rica Good For Families?
Absolutely. Manuel Antonio is particularly well suited to families because you can combine wildlife, rainforest, beaches and adventure activities without needing to travel long distances between each experience. Kids can look for monkeys, sloths, birds and other wildlife in the national park, then spend time at the beach or try activities such as ziplining and canopy adventures.
How Many Days Do You Need In Manuel Antonio?
We recommend at least three days in Manuel Antonio if you want to experience the national park without making the entire trip feel rushed. Three days gives you time to enjoy Costa Verde, visit Manuel Antonio National Park, spend time at the beach and fit in an adventure activity or two.
If you have more time, you could easily extend your stay with additional rainforest tours, water activities, beach time or exploring nearby Quepos.
Is Manuel Antonio National Park Worth Visiting?
Yes. The combination of rainforest, wildlife and Pacific coastline makes Manuel Antonio National Park one of the most memorable places to visit in the area. For families, the opportunity to spot wildlife while walking through the rainforest makes the park especially engaging for kids.
Do You Need A Guide At Manuel Antonio National Park?
No, you do not have to hire a guide to visit the park. You can explore independently.
That said, we chose to hire a guide once we were inside the park and were glad we did. We paid $45 USD total for six people for approximately two hours, and our guide helped us spot considerably more wildlife than we think we would have found on our own. Plus, the guide has a scope you can use for a closer look.
If you want a guide, we recommend using an official guide option inside the park rather than feeling pressured by people approaching you outside.
How Much Does A Guide Cost At Manuel Antonio National Park?
Guide prices can vary, so confirm the current price before beginning your tour. During our visit, we paid $45 USD total for six people for approximately two hours.
Our experience was that the guide added significant value because he knew where to look for wildlife and communicated with other guides about sightings throughout the park.
Where Should You Park For Manuel Antonio National Park?
We recommend taking your time and not feeling pressured into the first parking lot someone directs you toward.
During our visit, people were waving us down and some implied they worked for the park. We continued driving rather than parking along the road where cars were being double parked.
We eventually found parking on the left-hand side near Hotel Manuel Antonio and Restaurante Manuel Antonio. We paid around $10 USD for the day, and from there it was a short walk toward the park entrance. Carry cash!
Parking arrangements can change, so always assess the current situation when you arrive.
Can You Swim At Manuel Antonio National Park?
There are beaches within Manuel Antonio National Park, but families should pay close attention to posted signs and local guidance before entering the water.
Don’t assume that every part of the coastline is suitable for swimming. Pacific conditions can be unpredictable, and this is particularly important when visiting with children.
Can You Bring Food Into Manuel Antonio National Park?
Food restrictions apply within the park, and visitors must follow the designated rules for food consumption. During our visit, eating was done inside an enclosed, caged dining area at the park café. There are restrictions on what can be brought in the park, and you cannot bring in single-use water bottles or discardable plastics.
This might seem unusual until you realize how interested the local wildlife can be in whatever humans are eating.
Do not feed wildlife, and follow current park instructions regarding food.
Where Should You Stay In Manuel Antonio?
There are accommodations throughout the Manuel Antonio and Quepos area, but Costa Verde was a particularly memorable choice for our family.
The resort is set into the hillside overlooking the Pacific and rainforest, and its unique accommodations include a converted Boeing 727.
We stayed two nights inside the Boeing 727, and it was one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip.
What Is The Boeing 727 Hotel In Costa Rica?
Costa Verde’s Boeing 727 is a retired aircraft that has been transformed into a unique accommodation overlooking the surrounding rainforest and Pacific.
The airplane has been renovated into a comfortable suite, with a deck extending out over the jungle. It is one of the most unusual places we have ever stayed and was a major highlight of our time in Manuel Antonio.
What Is El Avión In Manuel Antonio?
El Avión is a popular airplane-themed restaurant near Manuel Antonio. The restaurant incorporates a converted Fairchild C-123 cargo aircraft and sits in a hillside location with expansive Pacific views.
We visited for dinner after exploring the area, making it an easy way to end the day with a meal and sunset views.
Is Three Days In Manuel Antonio Enough?
Yes. Three days is enough to experience the highlights without turning your trip into a nonstop checklist.
For our family, the ideal combination was a relaxed first day at Costa Verde, a full day at Manuel Antonio National Park and a third day focused on adventure and exploring the surrounding area.
If you’re traveling with kids, that slower pace can make the trip much more enjoyable.
What Are The Best Things To Do In Manuel Antonio With Kids?
Some of the best family-friendly experiences include:
- Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park
- Looking for wildlife in the rainforest
- Exploring the beaches
- Staying at the Costa Verde Boeing 727
- Having dinner at El Avión
- Trying a zip coaster
- Riding a canopy bike
- Exploring the Manuel Antonio and Quepos area
- Adding a rainforest or water-based adventure
The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to choose just one type of experience. Manuel Antonio makes it easy to combine wildlife, beach time and adventure into the same trip.
Final Thoughts On Manuel Antonio
There are plenty of beautiful places in Costa Rica, but Manuel Antonio packs an unusual amount of adventure into a relatively small area.
You can wake up inside a real Boeing 727 surrounded by rainforest, spend the day looking for wildlife in a national park, spend a day at the beach, have dinner inside another airplane while watching the sunset and then spend the following day flying through the canopy.
That’s a pretty good three days.
For our family, the combination of Costa Verde, the Boeing 727, Manuel Antonio National Park and the area’s adventure activities made this one of the stops that stood out during our Costa Rica trip.
And perhaps the best part?
The kids never once complained about being bored. They were too busy asking what we were doing next.
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