Overview Compare Minivan Taxi Bus Flight To Stay
What to expect when visiting Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio’s diverse rainforest is home to a great variety of flora and fauna, particularly the white-faced capuchin monkeys and three-toed sloth.
But that’s not just it. Manuel Antonio’s main draw is actually its beaches – white sand, turquoise waters – the perfect ending after an easy hike through its jungle.
Playa Manuel Antonio is the most beautiful, but can also be the most crowded. The national park is closed on Mondays, so make sure to schedule your visit accordingly!
New to Manuel Antonio? Our compact Manuel Antonio guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Manuel Antonio!
How to get from San José to Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is a popular national park and beach town in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas Province. With a distance of 170 km (105 miles), you have several options to travel from San José to Manuel Antonio: by shared minivan (3-4.5 hours), private transfer (2.5-3 hours), bus (3hr 45m), or flight (1.5 hours incl transfers). Ticket costs range from $10.50 (5,785 CRC) – $130.00 (72,000 CRC).
4 ways to get from San Jose to Manuel Antonio (Sorted by popularity)
Where to stay in Manuel Antonio?
Still looking for accommodation? Don’t forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Manuel Antonio at the bottom of this page.
San Jose to Manuel Antonio by Minivan
The minivan is by far the most comfortable way to travel from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. You can expect an air-conditioned ride including pickup from your hotel in San Jose (or San Jose Airport) and dropoff at your hotel in Manuel Antonio. The journey by minivan takes around 3-4.5 hours with tickets from $40.00 (22,000 CRC).
There are several minivans and shuttle buses on the San Jose to Manuel Antonio route, including Paradise Shuttle, RideCR, EasyRide, and Interbus.
Departure and arrival station
You will be picked up from your hotel in San Jose or from San Jose Airport. Just make sure to choose the correct pick-up point when you book your ride to avoid any hassle on the day of your trip.
The minivan will drop you off at your hotel in Manuel Antonio.
Minivan schedules from San Jose to Manuel Antonio
Minivan tickets sell out fast, so it’s best to book your tickets online beforehand.
San Jose to Manuel Antonio by Private Transfer
Travelling in a group? A private transfer is a faster option at 2.5-3 hours because you don’t need to wait for other passengers. Rates start from $130.00 (72,000 CRC) for a 10-seater private car from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. That’s about $13.00 (7,000 CRC) per person if you are in a group of 10 — much cheaper than a shared minivan.
The private transfer will pick you up and drop you off at your hotels in San Jose and Manuel Antonio. There are also minivans that depart from San Jose Airport. Private transfers are available for groups of 4 to 14 people.
Check Private Transfers with BookAway
San Jose to Manuel Antonio by Bus
The bus is a popular option with locals because tickets cost only $10.50 (5,785 CRC). Although buses used to be only up to Quepos (the town next to Manuel Antonio), starting 2022, you can take a direct bus from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. Travel time by bus is close to 4 hours, or more, depending on traffic.
Tracopa is the only bus plying this route from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. Conveniently, they have a bus trip almost every hour from 06:00 to 19:30.
PRO TIP: Do be careful with your luggage! If you’re going to put them in the luggage compartment, make sure they’re already inside before you board the bus. Don’t forget to also get your luggage ticket from the driver! As for smaller bags with your valuables, it’s safer to put them in front of you (between your legs) instead of the overhead bin.
Departure and arrival station
The bus departs from Tracopa Bus Terminal in San Jose city centre. This bus station is just a few minutes walk from Plaza Gonzalez Viquez Train Station.
The last stop is Tracopa Bus Terminal in Manual Antonio, located near the beach.
Bus schedule from San Jose to Manuel Antonio
You can check the full schedule on the Tracopa website. However, there is no online booking available and you can only buy tickets at the bus terminal. We recommend arriving at the bus station around 30 minutes before your preferred bus departure.
Alternative: San Jose to Quepos by Bus
If you choose to stay in Quepos rather than in Manuel Antonio or somehow miss the direct buses, you can also take a bus bound for Quepos. Buses are also available at Tracopa Bus Terminal in San Jose.
For this route, you can choose between a regular or a direct bus. The regular bus makes several stops along the way and takes different routes, making the travel time around 5.5 hours. On the other hand, a direct bus takes only Route 27 and is faster at 3.5 hours.
The bus ride costs around $8 (4,465 CRC).
Bus schedule from San Jose to Quepos
Buses will drop you off at Quepos Bus Terminal, around 4 km north of Manuel Antonio city centre. From the bus terminal, you can take either a 25-minute bus for $1.00 (1,000 CRC) or a 15-minute taxi with rates from $6.00 (3,000 CRC).
San Jose to Manuel Antonio by Flight
There are no direct flights from San Jose to Manuel Antonio. You can only take a flight to Quepos and from there take a taxi or bus to Manuel Antonio. Combined costs for this option start from $120.00 (65,000 CRC), which is thrice the cost of a shared minivan.
The flight from San Jose to Quepos takes only 30 minutes. But including the journey from and to the airport, it will take close to 1.5 hours plus the waiting and check-in time at the airport. Altogether, we think it’s a lot easier to book a cheaper and direct van that transfers you door to door.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to help reduce your impact on the environment.
In case you don’t mind the extra transfers to and from the airport, here is how to travel by plane from San Jose to Manuel Antonio:
Step 1: San Jose City Centre to San Jose Airport by Bus
From San Jose city centre, you can get to San Jose Airport via a 40-minute bus or a 30-minute taxi.
Taxis are available with rates from $25.00 (14,000 CRC). You can hail them from the street or book via the ride-hailing app Uber.
PRO TIP: Uber is still not 100% accepted in Costa Rica. Many tourists have had great experience using it, but there have been a few cases of Uber rides being stopped in the middle of the journey. We recommend asking advice from your hotel on whether it’s safe to use it before booking a ride.
As an alternative, you can take the bus for only $1.10 (1,000 CRC) per ticket.
There are two bus operators available at TUASA Terminal. TUASA (coloured red and white) and Station Wagon (coloured orange and yellow) buses depart every 10 minutes from 04:00 to 23:00.
Step 2: San Jose to Quepos by Flight
Flights from San Jose Airport to Quepos Airport take only 30 minutes.
There are multiple flights daily and you can choose between two companies: Sansa Regional and Costa Rica Green Airways.
Green Airways offers cheaper flights for $110.00 (59,000 CRC), while Sansa Regional is a bit more expensive at $115.00 (63,000 CRC).
Step 3: Quepos to Manuel Antonio
From Quepos Airport, you’ll then travel around 10 km south to Manuel Antonio.
Taking a taxi is the most convenient option. The taxi ride will take 15 minutes and cost around $10.00 (5,000 CRC).
Buses are also available from Quepos to Manuel Antonio, but they depart from the bus station in the town centre. If you’re taking this option, you’ll have to take a bus from the airport to Quepos town and another bus to Manuel Antonio.
Although the combined bus rate costs only around $3.00 (2,000 CRC), travel time may take more than an hour.
Itinerary from San Jose to Manuel Antonio
Bus
- San Jose
- 3hrs 45m
- Manuel Antonio
Flight
- San Jose City Centre
- 30-40 minutes
- San Jose Airport
- 30 minutes
- Quepos Airport
- 15 minutes
- Manuel Antonio
Our favourite places to stay in Manuel Antonio
Millenium Manuel Antonio – Treating yourself
You can’t really ask for a better location in Manuel Antonio than this one. Millennium Hotel is only 100 metres from Manuel Antonio National Park! That also means that you’re super close to the beach.
The hotel has its own outdoor swimming pool, perfect for a refreshing swim after walking around the national park. The rooms are spacious and offer everything you could need during your stay. A delicious breakfast is also offered for free in a nearby restaurant.
- The best location
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Tasty breakfast included
- Friendly and helpful staff
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Tico Tico Villas – Treating yourself
Tico Tico Villas tick all the boxes. Swimming pool, beautifully designed rooms and a cosy terrace area surrounded by nature. The location of the hotel is also great! All your needs will be fulfilled here.
Especially thanks to the friendly and helpful staff who will make your stay perfect. You can even enjoy a BBQ as there are facilities available in the hotel.
- Outdoor swimming pool
- BBQ facilities
- Amazing staff
- Close to Manuel Antonio National Park
Double rooms start from $80 per night
Peace of Paradise – Mid range
Peace of Paradise feels exactly that. All you have to do to see wildlife is sit on your balcony and wait. Before long, you may be able to see monkeys, toucans, birds and maybe a sloth passing by.
The rooms are large and spacious, offering their own kitchen facilities. You can make yourself a coffee or cook a full-blown meal. The hotel has a great location in Manuel Antonio though, not far from bars and restaurants which may be more tempting than cooking your own meals.
- Lots of wildlife around the hotel
- Great location
- Private balconies
- Private kitchen facilities
Double rooms between $50-$80 per night
Hostel Plinio – Budget friendly
Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple or in a group, Hostel Plinio will suit your needs. There are both dorms and private rooms available, depending on what you’re looking for.
With the outdoor swimming pool and onsite Mexican restaurant, the place feels more like a mini-resort than a hostel. The breakfast in the morning will set you up perfectly for the day ahead, especially the delicious gallo pinto. And don’t forget to try out their tacos!
- Onsite Mexican restaurant
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Shared kitchen
- Delicious and filling breakfast included
Double rooms between $15-$50 per night
About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Thank you. This is very useful information. Do you know if there is any alternative if I miss the last 19h30 bus from San José to Manuel Antonio (something cheaper than a private shuttle)?. I will be leaving from Ometepe Nicaragua the 15th january morning. Then I will catch a bus with Ticabus company at Rivas an it is supposed to arrive to San José at 6pm. But if there is a delay I might miss the last bus to Manuel Antonio. I’m really trying hard to make it to Manuel Antonio on the same day.
Thank you.
Hi Hamza. Unfortunately, the last buses to Manuel Antonio and Quepos (indirect option) both depart at 19:30, and we couldn’t find any other local bus options beyond the last bus trip.
As an alternative, consider taking this bus from Rivas to San Jose that arrives at 15:15. Taking this bus should give you more than enough time to catch a bus to Manuel Antonio and arrive within the day. I hope this helps!