Manuel Antonio Guides: Tickets, Guides, Trails, Timing
Whether you need a guide in Manuel Antonio, how SINAC tickets work, the trails, night walks, the best time to go, the drive from San José, and if it's worth it.
The Best Time to Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
Dry season runs mid-December to April; September and October are the wettest, quietest months. Go at 7 am, never on a Tuesday, and book early for the holidays.
Read guide →Do You Need a Tour Guide in Manuel Antonio National Park?
No. A SINAC ticket is all you need to walk the trails. A guide adds a spotting scope and eyes that find sloths and snakes. Who can skip one, who shouldn't.
Read guide →Is Manuel Antonio National Park Worth It?
Yes, for rainforest wildlife and a swim in one morning. What you realistically see, guided or not, ticket included or not, and which park walk fits you.
Read guide →How Long Is the Drive From San José to Manuel Antonio?
About three hours from San José, an hour and a half from Jacó, about an hour from Uvita. Quepos or Manuel Antonio, parking at the gate, and a day from Jacó.
Read guide →Manuel Antonio National Park Tickets: Do You Need Them in Advance?
Yes, buy ahead. SINAC sells tickets online only, for a date and entry time, with each visitor's passport number: $18.08 a foreign adult. None at the gate.
Read guide →Manuel Antonio National Park Trails: How Much Time Do You Need?
Half a day covers a guided walk and a swim; give it 7 am to 3 pm to walk every open trail. The trails, the calm beach, the rip currents and the rules.
Read guide →Manuel Antonio Night Tour: A Private Reserve After Dark
The national park closes in the afternoon, so night walks run in private reserves. Xplore's two-hour walk in Sukia: frogs, snakes and insects, from 5:30 pm.
Read guide →Want the guided park walk booked first? See dates and prices →