Costa Rica Pacific Coast Tour Itinerary
Travel Designer Review:
This is the day I prefer to take the morning slow, the afternoon exciting, and the evening wild. So here is a list of how to do that in Manuel Antonio.
Breakfast..
A few of my favorite breakfast places to enjoy a relaxed morning are:
This restaurant is directly on the main beach (playa espadilla) of Manuel Antonio. They have an amazing breakfast, delicious cocktails, and you'll be able to enjoy it with your feet in the sand!
You'll have to trust me on this one. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you step inside, you realize that this might be the best breakfast that you have had so far. This cafe has great views and plenty of outside tables.
This beach gets ranked as the second-best beach in Central America. It's located in the national park and has a lot of wildlife around it. However, watch out for monkeys stealing your belongings! There is no lifeguard so keep an eye on the kids.
This is the main beach. There are plenty of options to rent a surfboard or to get lessons. There is a lifeguard, opportunities to eat, locals renting out beach equipment, and many more attractions. An excellent place for the family or to meet people.
This beach is much more hidden than the other beaches. Suitable for some more quiet beach experiences, encountering wildlife, and going for a hike. Make sure to take food and water with you. You will easily walk 40 minutes through the hot rainforest to get to the beach!
Wild afternoon.
Are you after some increase of adrenaline? Take note.
• Adrenaline on the beach.
The main beach from Manuel Antonio has the option to rent a Jetski, learn to surf, or go for a parasail. There are other beaches where you can surf, but not a lot offer surf lessons.
• White water rafting.
A personal favourite when there are no waves to surf! You'll meet some new people while charging down a wild water river on a raft. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings and get your daily dose of adrenaline.
• Canyoning.
Loving the outdoors? If you have never done canyoning before, now is the time! There are a few beautiful canyoning spots in Manuel Antonio national park, where you get both the nature and the adrenaline that you're after.
• ATV tour.
Get to see the area on a quad bike. This way, you get to visit the places most vehicles won't get! They choose exciting paths and make you work that quad bike! Just make sure you're not too tipsy because otherwise, they won't let you join the group.
Evening vibes.
After an exciting afternoon, I'd recommend you enjoy some food at your accommodation or any of the restaurants I've told you about. And then it's time to join the nightlife.
Pro tip: depending on which day it is, there might be some live music! During the high season, you'll see it almost everywhere and every day, but it's always good to double-check online in the off-season.
• El Avion.
This restaurant and bar is located on the side of a hill, and it's inside an airplane. Great place for food, but it also has a unique bar inside the cockpit.
• Cuban Republik Disco Lounge.
Alright, now we're talking. This place is legendary in Manuel Antonio for its parties! Make sure to visit it at least once. Great place for drinking and dancing!
• Zion bar.
Chill vibes with lots of reggae. Great place for some drinks and moves! Not always busy, but always a good atmosphere.
• Byblos.
The local sports bar. You'll be able to play some pool, darts or just watch your sport on television. Heaps of locals go to this bar for a beer, chat, and a game. Insider tip: they have something else every night, like dance lessons, karaoke, or lady's night. Make sure to check if tonight has something you'd like.
To see the description of the day activities clic on the videos or description button
The following suggested activities and notes are not included in the reservation of this itinerary. The Travel Designer included them so that you can optionally do them on your own during your trip.
This itinerary is about a tour of one of my favorite coastlines—the west coast of Costa Rica. The country is famous for its amazing surf, volcanos, national parks, wildlife diversity, great climate and of course for its lifestyle of ‘Pura Vida’.
My name is Luuk van Garderen. I moved to Costa Rica after almost ten years of backpacking around the world, experiencing the hostel- and van life, doing volunteer work for food and accommodation, and surfing as much as possible, trying to experience everything this world has to offer. I have met lots of amazing people and gained heaps of fantastic experiences throughout my years of traveling.
Since I love traveling, hospitality and writing, it seemed logical to become a travel designer. This way, I could use my experiences and knowledge to help others get the most out of their journey.
Costa Rican has world-class waves, an amazing climate, and just way too much to see and do. I try to include the best variety of activities per location, good advice, and some locals-only information in my itineraries. There will be different options, and when necessary, don’t hesitate to contact me. (Important advice before booking your flight…! Decide if you want to enter and exit the country through the same airport. Traveling within Costa Rica can be time-consuming. It would make sense to land in San Jose for this itinerary and book your return ticket from Liberia Airport. However, if this is not possible, don’t worry, I’ll provide you with other options too).
The maps are automatically generated and an indicative and inaccurate representation of the route.
