How Much Does Manuel Antonio Cost per Day
A full breakdown of Manuel Antonio prices: daily budgets by tier, every itemised cost from the guide, and where the money actually goes.
The short answer
Budget travellers in Manuel Antonio spend around USD 60 a day. Mid-range travel runs closer to USD 140, and a splurge day lands around USD 320. USD per day, per person, covers accommodation, food, local transport, and one paid activity. Manuel Antonio runs higher than most of Costa Rica's coast because of demand and limited land.
Daily cost breakdown
- Stay
- Food
- Transport
- Activities
| Tier | Stay | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | USD 20 | USD 20 | USD 5 | USD 15 | USD 60 |
| Mid-range | USD 70 | USD 40 | USD 15 | USD 15 | USD 140 |
| Splurge | USD 200 | USD 80 | USD 40 | USD 0 | USD 320 |
Hostel dorm or budget cabina USD 20, casado lunch USD 8, dinner from a soda USD 10, local bus into the park entrance USD 2, park entrance fee (confirm current price on SINAC), water and snacks USD 5.
Every priced item in this guide
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Manuel Antonio National Park | USD 16 + IVA (Costa Rica's 13% VAT, so roughly USD 18 total) for foreign/non-resident adults (over 12); USD 5 + IVA for children 2-12; under-2s free. Costa Rican residents and nationals pay CRC 1,600 adult / CRC 500 child (6-12); residents 65+ enter free with ID. |
| Playa Espadilla (public beach, outside park) | free |
| Playa Biesanz | free |
| Whole grilled red snapper | CRC 9,000-15,000 |
| Fresh ceviche | CRC 4,000-7,000 |
| Casado | CRC 3,500-6,000 |
| Patacones with guacamole | CRC 2,500-4,000 |
| Arroz con leche | CRC 1,500-2,500 |
| Local coffee | CRC 1,200-2,200 |
What I actually paid
- Labeeb: paying for a licensed guide at the park entrance is one of the few guide upsells I'd actually call worth it here, they carry spotting scopes and radio each other about where the sloths and monkeys currently are, so you see far more per hour than walking the trails solo.
How to spend less
- Eat at sodas in Quepos town instead of the restaurant strip on the hill, prices drop noticeably a few blocks off the main road
- Stay in Quepos and bus up rather than paying the hillside ocean-view premium
- Skip the paid boat tours and just walk Playa Biesanz for snorkeling instead
- Book the park reservation yourself directly rather than paying a hotel or agency markup on top of the entrance fee