By the Where to Stay in Costa Rica editorial team · Updated November 5, 2026
The Short Answer
Stay on the hill road (the road from Quepos to the park) for ocean views, pools and monkeys in the trees around your room. Our pick there is Si Como No. A cheap public bus runs along the road, but many hotels have steep drives and stairs, so ask about access if anyone in your group has trouble walking.
Stay at the bottom of the hill, near Playa Espadilla, if you want to walk to the beach and be at the park gate when it opens at 7 am. Stay in Quepos for the lowest prices, the marina and local restaurants; it's 15 to 20 minutes to the park by bus or taxi.
Manuel Antonio's Areas Compared
| Area | Best for | To the park | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hill road | Ocean views, wildlife, couples and families | 5–15 min by car or bus | Steep stairs and drives; walking at night isn't pleasant |
| Beach by the park | Walking to the beach and park gate | Walk | Few views, busy with day visitors |
| Quepos town | Budgets, marina, local food, sportfishing | 15–20 min | Not on a beach |
Map of Manuel Antonio Hotels
Quepos is at the top of the map; the hill road runs south to the park entrance and Playa Espadilla.
Map prices come from Booking.com and other partners through Stay22. Enter your dates on the map to see live rates.
Search all Manuel Antonio stays →Best Splurge Hotels
Big views, quiet grounds and good restaurants. Arenas del Mar is the one on the beach.
Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge
Middle of the hill road, Manuel Antonio
Our top pick: halfway along the hill road, with ocean views, two pools (one adults only) and its own wildlife refuge.
Best for: Couples and families
- Separate family and adults-only pools
- Private balcony in every room
- On-site cinema and spa
More about this hotel
A 54-room resort in the middle of the ridge with balconies over the forest and the Pacific. It splits guests sensibly: a family pool on one side, an adults-only pool on the other, plus a small cinema for rainy afternoons.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Kenza Gharbi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Playitas beach, Manuel Antonio
The only upscale resort right on the sand, between Playa Espadilla and Playitas.
Best for: Beachfront luxury
- Direct access to two beaches
- Two pools and a beachfront restaurant
- Ocean-view suites and a family suite
More about this hotel
The only big Manuel Antonio hotel with direct access to the sand, on Playitas at the north end of Playa Espadilla. Suites look over the ocean from an 11-acre forest reserve, and the beach restaurant is a short walk down.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: jmcmichael from No Fixed Abode, The World, CC BY-SA 2.0
Gaia Hotel & Reserve
Start of the hill road (Quepos end), Manuel Antonio
Adults-only boutique hotel with a private reserve, at the Quepos end of the hill.
Best for: Honeymoons and couples
- Adults only
- Three-level infinity pool
- Spa with six treatment rooms
More about this hotel
An adults-only hotel set in its own rainforest reserve at the Quepos end of the hill road, with a three-level infinity pool and a full spa. It is the quietest of the high-end options, but every beach trip is a drive or shuttle ride.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tulemar Resort
Hill road, private Tulemar beach, Manuel Antonio
Bungalows and villas with their own sheltered beach, good for families.
Best for: Families who want a private beach
- Private, sheltered beach with beach service
- Bungalows and multi-bedroom villas
- Spa, pools and The Sloth Institute on site
More about this hotel
Octagonal bungalows and private villas spread over 33 acres of jungle that run down to Tulemar's own cove beach. An internal shuttle links the rooms, pools and beach, so you rarely need the car.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Tarrazu, Public domain
Best Mid-Range Hotels
One cliffside favorite and two you can walk to the park from.
Hotel Costa Verde
Hill road, cliffside, Manuel Antonio
Cliffside rooms with big views, plus the famous converted-airplane suites.
Best for: Families and quirky stays
- Studios with kitchen facilities
- Three cliffside pools
- The 727 fuselage suite
More about this hotel
Famous for its suite built inside a converted Boeing 727, Costa Verde also has plain studios with kitchenettes, three cliffside pools and separate adults-only blocks. Good value for the hill road if you are fine with steps.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Gotanero, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens
By the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio
Garden hotel a short walk from the park entrance and the public beach.
Best for: Walking to the park and beach
- Walk to the beach and the park gate
- Breakfast included
- Family rooms, pool and tennis courts
More about this hotel
About a minute's walk from Playa Espadilla and roughly 200 m from the national park entrance, so you can be at the gate when it opens. Breakfast is included, and there are family rooms, a pool and tennis courts.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Axxis10, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hotel Villabosque Eco Boutique
By the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio
Small eco-boutique next to the park entrance, for couples who want to walk everywhere.
Best for: Couples who want to walk everywhere
- About 200 m to the park and beach
- Rooftop pool with forest views
- Air-conditioning and breakfast included
More about this hotel
A 20-room hotel about 200 m from the park entrance and Playa Manuel Antonio, with a rooftop pool and breakfast included. A simple, walkable base for couples who plan to spend their days in the park and on the beach.
Opens Booking.com with prices for your dates
Photo: Keagiles, CC BY-SA 3.0
Best Budget Base
Quepos is the cheapest place to sleep, with frequent buses up the hill.
Best Western Hotel & Casino Kamuk
Quepos town, Manuel Antonio
Budget base in Quepos town, by the waterfront and the buses up the hill.
Best for: Budget base in Quepos
- Seafront in central Quepos
- Outdoor pool
- Walk to town restaurants
More about this hotel
A seafront hotel in central Quepos with a pool and an ocean-view restaurant. Rooms cost less than on the hill, and you are close to the marina, restaurants and the bus to the beaches.
Manuel Antonio Hotels at a Glance
Prices change by date and room type, so check your own dates on Booking.com before you decide.
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Si Como No Resort & Wildlife RefugeMiddle of the hill road, Manuel Antonio · SplurgeCouples and familiesCheck prices -
Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest ResortPlayitas beach, Manuel Antonio · SplurgeBeachfront luxuryCheck prices -
Gaia Hotel & ReserveStart of the hill road (Quepos end), Manuel Antonio · SplurgeHoneymoons and couplesCheck prices -
Tulemar ResortHill road, private Tulemar beach, Manuel Antonio · SplurgeFamilies who want a private beachCheck prices -
Hotel Costa VerdeHill road, cliffside, Manuel Antonio · Mid-rangeFamilies and quirky staysCheck prices -
Hotel Playa Espadilla & GardensBy the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio · Mid-rangeWalking to the park and beachCheck prices -
Hotel Villabosque Eco BoutiqueBy the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio · Mid-rangeCouples who want to walk everywhereCheck prices -
Best Western Hotel & Casino KamukQuepos town, Manuel Antonio · BudgetBudget base in QueposCheck prices
| Hotel | Location | Price level | Best for | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge
Hillside resort
|
Middle of the hill road, Manuel Antonio | Splurge | Couples and families | Check prices |
|
|
Arenas del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort
Beachfront eco-resort
|
Playitas beach, Manuel Antonio | Splurge | Beachfront luxury | Check prices |
|
|
Gaia Hotel & Reserve
Adults-only boutique
|
Start of the hill road (Quepos end), Manuel Antonio | Splurge | Honeymoons and couples | Check prices |
|
|
Tulemar Resort
Bungalows and villas
|
Hill road, private Tulemar beach, Manuel Antonio | Splurge | Families who want a private beach | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Costa Verde
Quirky cliffside hotel
|
Hill road, cliffside, Manuel Antonio | Mid-range | Families and quirky stays | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Playa Espadilla & Gardens
Garden hotel
|
By the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio | Mid-range | Walking to the park and beach | Check prices |
|
|
Hotel Villabosque Eco Boutique
Small eco-boutique
|
By the national park entrance, Manuel Antonio | Mid-range | Couples who want to walk everywhere | Check prices |
|
|
Best Western Hotel & Casino Kamuk
Town-center hotel
|
Quepos town, Manuel Antonio | Budget | Budget base in Quepos | Check prices |
Hotel details checked on November 5, 2026.
Visiting the National Park
- Closed on Tuesdays. The rest of the week it's open from 7 am to 3 pm. Don't plan your only park day on a Tuesday.
- Tickets are online only. Buy them in advance on the SINAC website (about $16 plus tax for foreign adults). They are not sold at the gate, and each ticket is for a time slot.
- Take a guide. A guide with a spotting scope finds far more sloths, monkeys and birds than you will alone. Most hotels can book one.
- Go early, and pack light. Wildlife is most active right after opening. Food isn't allowed inside, bags are checked, and single-use plastic bottles are banned.
The beaches inside the park, such as Playa Manuel Antonio, are calmer for swimming than Playa Espadilla outside it, which can have strong currents.
Getting to Manuel Antonio
- From San José airport (SJO): About 3 hours, mostly on the Route 27 highway and the coastal highway past Jacó.
- By air: short domestic flights from San José land at Quepos airport (XQP), about 15 minutes from the hotels.
- From La Fortuna: 4.5 to 5 hours. From Monteverde, about 4 hours.
- To Uvita: about 1 hour south on the coastal highway, if you're continuing to the south Pacific.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to help you choose where to stay.