Manuel Antonio is a beautiful town 157 km from the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. Apart from a world-famous national park, Manuel Antonio has plenty of beaches and forests. You can find a hotel there, whether you want a beachfront or a place where the calls of monkeys can wake you up in the morning.
Because I wanted to explore Manuel Antonio extensively, I decided that the best thing was to stay there. However, I was unsure if Manuel Antonio had decent places to stay, so I had to research and find places to stay.
Key Takeaways
Manuel Antonio is a small town near the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park. However, another city, Quepos, is next to it and is more prominent than Manuel Antonio. Although it’s a small town, Manuel Antonio has few budget-friendly hotels. Here are my key takeaways on where to stay in Manuel Antonio.
- Most of the hotels in Manuel Antonio are along the road to the national park. Several budget-friendly hotels are nearby, though they might be a bit basic and not ideal for staying for several days.
- Manuel Antonio has high-end, mid-range, and budget-friendly hotels. A hotel like Gaia has a private reserve that protects some animal species. However, whichever hotel you stay in, you are likely to see monkeys and various bird species.
- If staying in Manuel Antonio for a few days, I would recommend staying in the hotels that are a bit far from the national park for peace and quiet. Hotels near the park have a lot of foot traffic.
Best Places To Stay In Manuel Antonio
Despite Manuel Antonio being a small town, you’ll have plenty of options when looking for a nice place to stay.The good thing is that you can get a place to stay depending on your preferences.
| Place | Description | Pros | Cons | Recommended hotels |
| Manuel Antonio town | Near the shops, the park, stores, markets, and other facilities. | Has cheaper facilities. | It was a bit noisy due to the huge human traffic going to the park. | Hotel La Mariposa |
| You can easily walk to the park. | Hotel La Colina | |||
| Playa Espadilla Norte | 10-minute drive from Quepos airport and 5 minutes from the pier. | You can enjoy other activities such as snorkeling, fishing, diving, canoeing, and horseback riding. | Hotel San Bada | |
| La Vela Boutique hotel | ||||
| Hotel Manuel Antonio | ||||
| Playa Biesanz | The best place to stay in Manuel Antonio is for surfers. | Apart from surfing, rainforests surround the beach, offering the best hiking trails. | Hotel Shana by the Beach | |
| Secluded if you want a quiet time at the beach. | There’s a lot of wildlife to spot, such as monkeys. | |||
| Quepos | It has a vibrant nightlife. | Access to shops, restaurants, and bars. | Can get a bit noisy at night. | Gaia hotel and reserve |
| Near the marina and surrounded by rainforests and the jungle, ideal for wildlife spotting. | Hotel Plaza Yara |
Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio
After leaving Quepos, a 6km road leads up a hill into Manuel Antonio town. The hotels and restaurants line up at the bottom of the hill. The top of the hill is flat, where you’ll find most hotels. You’ll see more hotels as you go down the other side of the hill. The road leads to the beach at the bottom of the hill before reaching the national park.
Hotel La Mariposa-MidRange
Check-In/Out: You can check in at 3.00 PM and check out by 11 AM at the latest.
Website: lamariposa.com/hotelcostarica/
Social Handles: Youtube, Instagram, Facebook.
Phone numbers: + 506-8703-9645.
It’s one of the biggest hotels in Manuel Antonio, with 62 rooms. Hotel La Mariposa is atop the hill, promising a great ocean view. Alternatively, you can stay at one of the apartments, especially if traveling with kids for privacy. Hotel Mariposa has a honeymoon suite with a spacious jacuzzi and views of the park and the Pacific Ocean.
Hotel Mariposa has 70 rooms with stylish bathrooms and spacious living rooms. Your private balcony offers an excellent view of Manuel Antonio National Park or the Pacific Ocean, and other rooms have a garden view.
You can eat at the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Le Papillion. This open-air restaurant has a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, Manuel Antonio National Park, and the bay. Not only does the restaurant offer delicious traditional Costa Rican foods, but it also has fresh seafood. Le Papillion also offers the following international cuisines:.
- Mediterranean
- French
- Italian
Their menu comprises gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options. You can get your complimentary breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30 AM.
You will see a monkey, a macaw, or a toucan from your balcony. At the end of the day, you can enjoy your cocktails at the hotel’s Sunset Bar and Lounge. The hotel has three more beach bars and two poolside bars. The bars have a wide selection of wines and champagne.
Other facilities at Hotel Mariposa include 4 outdoor swimming pools, a kid’s pool, beach cabanas, and sun loungers. It is near Playa Playitas, Playa Biesanz, and Playa La Macha, where you can participate in swimming, snorkeling, and surfing.
El Faro Beach Hotel-Budget-Friendly
Check-In/Out: 3.00 PM and check out by noon.
Website: N/A.
Social Handles:instagram,
Phone numbers: +506 2777 4025.
It is near Manuel Antonio National Park and Playa de Mancha. The hotel’s rooms are made from shipping containers, giving them a unique appearance. Though the rooms have basic furnishings, they are very comfortable. The hotel is atop a hill, giving you the best ocean views from your hotel rooms.
El Faro Beach Hotel has 50 spacious rooms in different categories. All rooms have cable TV, a tea/coffee maker, a hairdryer, free Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. Other rooms have safety deposit boxes, mini-fridges, sofa beds, and kitchenettes.
Meals will be served at the hotel’s onsite restaurant. At the end of the day, you can have drinks at the poolside bar. Facilities at the hotel include:.
- An infinity swimming pool with an elevated deck where you can watch a beautiful sunset.
- Complimentary parking
Shana by the Beach-High End
Check-In/Out: 3.00 PM and check out by noon.
Website: shanabythebeach.com.
Social Handles: instagram, facebook.
Phone numbers: +506 2272 7036.
The hotel is a short walk from Playa Biesanz and set upon the hills of Quepos Point. Manuel Antonio National Park is a 10-minute walk away. Shana Hotel has an elegant and spacious lobby and a 24-hour front desk. It also offers airport transfer and shuttle services.
The 77 rooms and suites have air conditioning and a view of the ocean, jungle, or garden. They also have a flat-screen cable TV, a safe, a minibar, and bathrooms with rain showers.
| Amenities At Shana by the Beach Hotel | |
| Laundry services | Dry cleaning |
| Safety deposit boxes | Housekeeping |
| Complimentary Wifi | |
| Designated smoking area | |
Shana boasts of the following facilities:
- An outdoor pool with a sun terrace
- Free Wifi
- Luxurious spa with internationally certified therapists.
- Hot tub
- A fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
You can have your meals at Shana’s on-site restaurant, Bella Vista, which includes complimentary breakfast. Alternatively, you can request room service or hire a private chef. Shana has a wine cellar with 1,000 bottles from Spain, Argentina, South Africa, France, and other countries. You can also relax at the restaurant’s pool bar or lounge.
Millennium Manuel Antonio Hotel: Budget-Friendly
Check-In/Out: 2.00 PM and check-out by 11.00 AM.
Website: N/A.
Social Handles: instagram, facebook.
Phone numbers: +506 4700 2631.
It is 50 meters from the Manuel Antonio National Park entrance and a 10-minute drive from Playa Tulemar. Other nearby beaches include Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. Millennium is next to the public parking lot of Manuel Antonio National Park. The hotel is near the bus station if you’re using public transport.
The hotel is small, with only nine spacious rooms, some of which have an adjoining balcony or terrace. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, free parking, a microwave, a coffee-making machine but no coffee bags, a full fridge, and a flat-screen with cable. The hotel is basic, and I recommend it only if you’re in Manuel Antonio for one day or traveling solo.
You will have your complimentary breakfast at the restaurant next door and get your tokens from the reception. Breakfast includes fruits, one meal from the menu, and a beverage choice between coffee and juice.
The hotel’s facilities include a swimming pool, though it’s small, dented and only suitable for a refreshing quick dip. The reception area has a complimentary coffee section.
Gaia Hotel And Reserve-High End
Check-In/Out: 3.00 PM and check-out by 11.00 AM.
Website: gaiahr.com.
Social Handles: instagram, facebook.
Phone numbers: +506 2777 9797.
It’s at the beginning of the road to Manuel Antonio, meaning it’s a bit further from the park and the beach. Gaia is an adult- and teens-only private reserve that allows kids older than 13 years to stay. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to the beach and the national park.
Gaia Hotel is on a 15-acre jungle that hosts its private reserve. It was set up as a particular area for conserving raccoons, iguanas, various bird species, three monkey species, and two-toed and three-toed sloths. With the support of the Costa Rican government, the reserve has a reintroduction program for the scarlet macaws.
The luxurious rooms have a spectacular view of the rainforest. The adults-only section of the hotel has 18 suites, which have exclusive access to the 3-level infinity pool. Standard features of the suites include the following:
- Sitting area and bedroom
- A bathroom with a stone shower
- LED smart TV with cable and Netflix access
- Home entertainment center
- Coffee maker and a safety box
- Free internet connectivity
Meals are available at the hotel’s on-site restaurant, La Luna, or from 24-hour room service. The complimentary breakfast is à la carte. La Luna offers local Costa Rican dishes and international cuisines. The hotel has a kid’s menu that serves french fries, sandwiches, fish fillets, chicken, and fish fingers.
Gaia Hotel’s spa features a beauty salon, sauna, and steam bath. Certified instructors offer yoga classes at the spa, in your hotel room, or on the rooftop terrace. Complimentary services include free shuttles to the national park and within the private reserve daily, except Tuesdays.
Hotel Manuel Antonio-Budget-Friendly
Check-In/Out: 2.00 PM and check out by noon.
Website: N/A.
Social Handles:instagram, facebook.
Phone numbers: +506 2777 1351
The hotel is at the end of the road across the beach. It’s a traditional-style hotel with small but clean rooms. The rainforest, lush green jungle, and wildlife surround it. I highly recommend this hotel if you visit Manuel Antonio with your family or as a couple.
The rooms are spacious and have air conditioning with free WiFi. From the rooms, you will have either an ocean or garden view. The hotel’s amenities include a private bathroom and a flat-screen cable TV.
Enjoy traditional Costa Rican dishes at the hotel’s connected restaurant. But Hotel Manuel Antonio is also near other restaurants, such as Marlin and Congo at Hotel San Bada.
Hotel Manuel Antonio is a few minutes from Playa Espadilla and a short walk to Manuel Antonio National Park. You might see some capuchin monkeys hanging around the hotel. The beauty of Hotel Manuel Antonio is that it is within walking distance of the park, beach, markets, souvenir stands, shops, and restaurants.
Hotel San Bada-Budget-Friendly
Check-In/Out: 3.00 PM and check-out by 11.00 AM.
Website: hotelsanbada.com.
Social Handles: facebook, twitter, instagram.
Phone numbers: +(506) 2777-5333.
The hotel is next to Manuel Antonio National Park’s entrance. Despite being close to the park, it is still affordable. However, there is a lot of human traffic near the entrance because everyone is going to the park.
Hotel San Bada has 67 spacious rooms with private, spacious bathrooms. The room’s private balconies offer magnificent rainforest and ocean views. The cries of the howler monkeys will wake you up in the morning as you have your coffee.
You can have your meals at their onsite restaurant in Congo. Complimentary breakfast is at the restaurant, or you can request room service. In the evening, you can enjoy some cocktails at Perezoso Sushi Bar, near the adult-only pool on the 6th floor of the hotel. You can also enjoy the sunset and the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean or Manuel Antonio National Park.
The hotel has a spa where you can spend the rest of your afternoon. Alternatively, you can spend the day at the family pool. The park next door offers ziplining, kayaking, and surfing at its beaches.
Tips for Choosing the Best Accommodations in Manuel Antonio
Traveling to Manuel Antonio will take you almost four hours by bus, three by self-drive, and 20 minutes by flight. However, there is nothing as challenging as looking for accommodation when you have just arrived. I therefore recommend that you do a bit of research before reaching Manuel Antonio.
Here are a few tips on choosing the best accommodation options:.
- If you want some quiet hotels, I recommend not staying in Quepos town or near Manuel Antonio National Park. The two areas have a lot of human traffic, and most of them are not scenic. Stay on one of the beaches.
- The accommodations on the hill on your way to Manuel Antonio from Quepos have the benefit of having two different views: the ocean and the jungle view.
- Most of the accommodations near and around the beach are budget-friendly. They are also easier to get around to.
- Book in advance, especially if you want to visit during the peak season (December to April). If you don’t, you’ll find most of the best places filled up.
Before you decide on where to stay, you can check out our guide to help you understand how safe Manuel Antonio is.
Conclusion
Manuel Antonio has a lot of things to see and do. A one-day visit might not be enough to extensively explore the town. Fortunately, Manuel Antonio town has some nice and comfortable hotels you can stay in.
What was the best hotel to stay in Manuel Antonio? Please share your experience.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
