Manuel Antonio

If you are ever looking for a nice vacation destination in Costa Rica, I would recommend Manuel Antonio. It is a wonderful little beach town on the pacific coast. The beach is definitely more touristy than others I have visited, but it is well worth the crowds. (It was Spring Break and super busy when I visited.) We stayed at Backpacker Manuel on the main road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. We had a nice pool and a wonderful view of the ocean from the top of the hill the hostel sat on.

Our nice little hostel.

If I were to do it all over again, I would prefer to stay in the actual town of Manuel Antonio. It would save a lot of bus rides and time walking. 

Not a bad view on our walk to town though.

We spent our first day on the public beach. While it was hard to find an open spot to claim, I still enjoyed the picturesque beach. There was a little street market along the beach. I ended up haggling with and buying a tapestry from a local booth.

 Manuel Antonio public beach

Sunset

The next day we ventured into Manuel Antonio National Park. We were pleasantly surprised with some good hiking, great beaches, and crazy monkeys. Because you have to pay to get into the park, the beaches are cleaner and less populated. It is well worth the entry free for not only these certain perks but also to support the Costa Rican national park system and preservation of the rainforest. Tip: If you are anywhere on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, get off of the beach by late afternoon or you, or your belongings, my get washed to sea with the high tide. (lesson learned)

 Betsy and I ready to concur the park.

 While they look cute, these little guys like to steal whatever they can from the beachgoers.

 First beach in the park.

 An equally nice second beach just a hike away.

 Sometimes I forget that I am actually hiking through a rainforest.

After a long hike uphill, this is not a bad view to be rewarded with.

On our last night in Manuel Antonio, my roommates and I ate at El Avion, a restaurant partially made out of an old cargo plane. It sits on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. We could not have asked for a better view of the the setting sun (I wish I had brought my camera) or better food. The fresh tuna was probably the best meal that I have had in Costa Rica thus far.

I give my weekend in Manuel Antonio two thumbs up. It is a good balance of nice scenery and slightly touristy things to do (and also some really nice hotels). It is a must see in Costa Rica.