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Sandy beach beside the sea and a wooded headland in Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica · Manuel Antonio

Trails and viewpoints in the park

All are covered by the same SINAC ticket; pair a forest trail with a beach and leave before closing time.

7 places

  1. Punta Catedral trail1

    NatureOpen

    Punta Catedral trail

    Inside the park, between Playa Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur1.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A loop of about 1.4 km around a former island now joined to land by a sand tombolo. It has five viewpoints over islands where seabirds nest.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).
    Time needed
    About 1 hour.

    Tip: Start at Playa Manuel Antonio; the loop works in either direction. There are climbs and steps: wear closed shoes.

    Nearby: Pre-Columbian fish trap (La Trampa) (0.2 km) · Manuel Antonio Beach (0.4 km) · Espadilla Sur mangrove and lookout tower (0.6 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026)

  2. 2

    NatureOpen

    Sendero Perezoso (universal access trail)

    Inside Manuel Antonio National Park1.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    7:00–15:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A flat boardwalk trail running parallel to the main track, with signs every 50 m (also in Braille) and benches. It goes deeper into the forest and links to Playa Espadilla Sur through the mangrove.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).
    Hours
    Wednesday to Monday; closed on Tuesdays. SINAC lists 7:00–15:00; a July 2026 guide says beaches close at 15:00 and everyone must be out by 16:00.

    Tip: It is the best option with strollers, wheelchairs or limited mobility. SINAC says there are drinking-water fountains on the Perezoso vehicle trail and on the Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur beach trails.

    Nearby: Espadilla Sur mangrove and lookout tower (0.3 km) · Espadilla Sur Beach (0.4 km) · Manuel Antonio Beach (0.5 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026) · SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

  3. 3

    NatureOpen

    Mirador trail (Punta Serrucho)

    Inside Manuel Antonio National Park0.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A trail of about 1.3 km with many steps that climbs to the park’s highest viewpoints (about 160 m) and ends facing Punta Serrucho, a jagged headland on a fault line.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).

    Tip: Go early because of the heat and carry water; the viewpoints have benches. One guide suggests the order Gemelas → Puerto Escondido → Los Congos → Mirador.

    Nearby: Puerto Escondido Beach (0.2 km) · Sendero Perezoso (universal access trail) (0.7 km) · Playa Gemelas and Puerto Escondido viewpoint (0.7 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026)

  4. Playa Gemelas and Puerto Escondido viewpoint4

    Photo: Axxis10, CC BY-SA 4.0

    BeachOpen

    Playa Gemelas and Puerto Escondido viewpoint

    Inside Manuel Antonio National Park1.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A small beach split in two by a rock formation, with the same pale sand as Manuel Antonio but fewer people. The trail continues to a viewpoint over Playa Puerto Escondido.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).

    Tip: One guide flags rip currents at Gemelas: stay close to shore. From here the Los Congos path links to the Mirador trail.

    Nearby: Puerto Escondido Beach (0.6 km) · Sendero Perezoso (universal access trail) (0.6 km) · Manuel Antonio Beach (0.7 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026)

  5. 5

    NatureOpen

    Espadilla Sur mangrove and lookout tower

    Inside the park, on the Playa Espadilla Sur trail1.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    About 18 ha of fresh- and saltwater mangrove with red mangrove and species known locally as piñuela and caballero, crossed on the Espadilla Sur trail boardwalk. There is an observation tower.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).

    Tip: It is flat and short; combine it with Sendero Perezoso to loop back to the entrance.

    Nearby: Espadilla Sur Beach (0.1 km) · Manuel Antonio Beach (0.3 km) · Sendero Perezoso (universal access trail) (0.3 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026)

  6. 6

    NatureSeasonal

    Waterfall trail (La Catarata)

    Inside Manuel Antonio National Park0.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A short, mostly concrete trail with a bridge leading to a small waterfall near the entrance. Frogs, monkeys and sloths are often seen along the way.

    SINAC says the waterfall is only visible in the rainy season (May to November); in the dry season the trail stays open but without falling water. Ask at the entrance.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).
    Time needed
    600 m each way (1.2 km round trip).

    Nearby: Manuel Antonio National Park (0.4 km) · Camping or staying overnight in the park (0.4 km) · Sendero Perezoso (universal access trail) (0.9 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio National Park guide (updated July 2026)

  7. 7

    CultureOpen

    Pre-Columbian fish trap (La Trampa)

    Right-hand end of Playa Manuel Antonio, by Punta Catedral1.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Included in the park ticket
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    At low tide a circle of stones appears next to Punta Catedral; SINAC says Indigenous people used it to trap turtles and fish.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Included in the park ticket: $18.08 for non-resident adults and $5.65 for children 2 to 12, VAT included (SINAC).

    Tip: Check the tide table: it is covered at high tide.

    Nearby: Manuel Antonio Beach (0.1 km) · Punta Catedral trail (0.2 km) · Espadilla Sur mangrove and lookout tower (0.4 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

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