How to Get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park

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If you’re wondering how to get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park, you’re in the right place.

I visited Manuel Antonio National Park as a day trip from Jaco, and it was one of the highlights of my trip to Costa Rica.

Getting there from Jaco is fairly easy and there are several options including driving, catching public buses, booking a shuttle, or doing a day tour.

The best way to get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio depends on your budget and priorities so in this guide, I’ll explain each option in detail to help you decide which one is right for you.

Jaco to Manuel Antonio Overview

Manuel Antonio National Park is located on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast about 74km (46 miles) south of Jaco or 1.5 hours by road.

The closest town is called Manuel Antonio which is about a 10-minute drive from the national park although there’s a cluster of hotels and restaurants around the entrance as well.

There’s also a larger town nearby called Quepos which is about a 20-minute drive from the national park.

To get to Manuel Antonio National Park from Jaco, you’ll pass through both Quepos and the town of Manuel Antonio.

There are several options for getting there including driving, public buses, shuttles, and day tours. The best option will depend on your priorities and your budget.

The table below summarises the key details of each transportation option:

Type	Travel Time (One-Way)	Cost (USD) (One-Way)	Cost (USD) (Return)	Best For
Own Car	1.5 hours	$20	$30	Locals
Hire Car	1.5 hours	$90	$100	Road trippers
Public Bus	2 to 2.5 hours	$4	$8	Budget travellers
Shared shuttle	1.5 to 2 hours	$40	$80	Mid-range & solo travellers
Private shuttle	1.5 hours	$120	$240	Luxury travellers & groups
Group Tour	1.5 to 2 hours	–	$135	Day trips from Jaco
Private Tour	1.5 hours	–	$150	Day trips from Jaco

📝 Note: Times and cost are estimates only. Tours include return transport, a guided nature tour, and entrance tickets which normally cost US$18 per adult for foreign visitors.

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🚗 Jaco to Manuel Antonio by Car

The drive from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park takes about 1.5 hours. The roads are sealed the whole way, so you don’t need a 4WD, and there are no tolls on this route.

The majority of the drive will be on Route 34 (La Costanera Sur) which is the main highway on the Pacific Coast. For directions, you can use Google Maps, but Waze is more reliable and the most common app used by locals.

If you don’t have your own car, you can hire a car in Jaco for around US$70 per day plus petrol (approx. US$10 each way) and parking (approx. US$10).

However, I don’t think it would be worth hiring a car just for this trip. Driving from Jaco to Manuel Antonio only makes sense if you already have a car.

Travel Time: 1.5 hours (each way)
Cost: US$30 (petrol + parking)
Cost: US$100 (hire car + petrol + parking)
Best For: Locals or road trippers who already have a car for their trip

Parking at Manuel Antonio National Park

While the drive from Jaco is simple, parking at Manuel Antonio National Park is notoriously difficult as there is no official parking lot.

Street parking is free but very limited and you’re unlikely to get a spot unless you arrive before 7am when the national park opens.

If you can’t get a spot, some restaurants such as Restaurante Manuel Antonio allow you to use their carpark as long as you eat there and spend a minimum amount.

Otherwise, you’ll have to park in one of the private lots nearby. The most well-known one is called Chalo Parking which is close to the entrance to the national park.

Private lots typically charge around ₡5,000 (US$10) per day but prices vary so check before entering and do not pay more than US$20. They’re usually cash only and some accept USD.

⚠️ Warning: Parking and ticket scams are common around Manuel Antonio National Park. Ignore any aggressive parking attendants and do not buy entrance tickets from them.

Scammers often pose as parking attendants or park rangers so ignore anyone who tries to flag down your car or sell you tickets, even if they’re wearing a uniform.

Tickets must be purchased in advance through the national parks’ website called SINAC. You cannot buy tickets in person, even at the admissions office.

💡 Tip: If you’re staying in Manuel Antonio, leave your car at your hotel and book alternative transport from there so you don’t have to deal with parking.

🚌 Jaco to Manuel Antonio by Bus

Taking public buses is the cheapest way to get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio.

However, it takes the longest and is the least convenient option since there’s no direct bus. You’ll need to get two buses with a change in Quepos.

Bus 1: Jaco to Quepos

The first bus will get you from Jaco to Quepos. The trip takes 1.5 to 2 hours including stops with multiple departures throughout the day and costs about ₡1,500 (US$3).

The Jaco to Quepos route is run by Transportes Quepos Puntarenas (TQP) and you can find the current schedule and ticket prices on their website.

However, you can’t buy tickets online, you have to pay the driver directly in colones.

The bus departs from Jaco Bus Terminal (on the main street) which is called Bus Stop to Puntarenas – TQP on Google Maps.

Bus 2: Quepos to Manuel Antonio

The last stop on the TPQ bus route is Quepos Bus Terminal which is where you’ll change to a local bus for Manuel Antonio National Park.

The bus departs approximately every 15 minutes and tickets cost about ₡400 (US$1), paid to the driver in colones. The trip takes around 20 minutes including stops.

The bus doesn’t go all the way to the entrance of the national park, instead you’ll need to get off at the last stop which is at the roundabout at the southern end of Espadilla Beach.

From there, take the Beach Trail to the entrance of the national park which is about a 5-minute walk.

Travel Time: 2 to 2.5 hours (each way)
Cost: US$8 (return)
Best For: Budget travellers

🚐 Jaco to Manuel Antonio by Shuttle

The easiest way to get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio is to book a shuttle bus.

Shuttles are much more comfortable and convenient than public buses and easier than driving as you don’t have to figure out parking.

Shared shuttles are great for solo travellers while private shuttles are best for groups who can share the cost of the vehicle.

Shuttles are run by various local companies, and I normally use Bookaway to compare prices, but you can also book directly with the company. I found the best prices on Zuma Tours.

💡 Tip: Shuttles in Costa Rica usually offer hotel to hotel transport. If you want to go directly to Manuel Antonio National Park, you can input the name of one of the hotels close to the entrance such as Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa.

Shared Shuttles

Shared shuttles cost about US$40 per person each way, and the travel time is about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on stops.

They operate on a fixed schedule and usually only have a couple of options for departure times per day depending on the operator.

Travel Time: 1.5 to 2 hours (each way)
Cost: US$80 (per person, return)
Best For: Mid-range and solo travellers

Private Shuttles

Private shuttles cost about US$120 per vehicle each way, but this can be divided among the group so a couple would pay US$60 each and a group of 4 would pay US$30 each.

Travel time is the same as driving (1.5 hours) as you don’t have to make stops for others.

Private shuttles are the most convenient and flexible option overall but they’re also the most expensive option, unless you can share the cost.

Travel Time: 1.5 hours (each way)
Cost: US$240 (per vehicle, return)
Best For: Luxury travellers and groups who can split the cost

➡️ Jaco to Manuel Antonio Day Tours

Booking a tour is the best way to do a day trip from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park.

You can choose between group tours or private tours, and both options typically include:

• Round-trip transportation (hotel pickup and drop-off)
• National Park entrance fee (normally US$18 for adults)
• Guided wildlife tour (bilingual guide)
• Lunch at a local restaurant

Considering the inclusions, tours provide the best value of all the options and are actually more cost-effective than hiring a car or shuttle for day trips.

Group Tours

I recommend this small-group tour of Manuel Antonio National Park which includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Jaco, entrance tickets, and lunch.

The tour goes for 7 hours in total, so you’ll get around 4 hours at the national park including a guided walk along the main trails and some free time at the beach.

During the walk, our guide pointed out wildlife that we wouldn’t have noticed on our own and explained the ecosystem. He also had a spotting scope which allowed us to get a closer look at the animals that live high up in the trees such as sloths.

At the beach, our guide minded our bags so we could enjoy our swim without having to worry about the capuchin monkeys stealing them (which they will do if you leave your bag unattended).

Travel Time: 1.5 to 2 hours (each way)
Cost: US$135 (per person, all-inclusive)
Best For: Day trips from Jaco to Manuel Antonio

Private Tours

This private tour of Manuel Antonio National Park has the same inclusions as the group tour but is completely flexible and tailored to your preferences.

While I really enjoyed the group tour, there were a lot of other people on the main trails (even in off-season), and I would have liked to see some of the quieter areas of the park.

On a private tour, you’re not restricted to the set route along the main trails and beaches, instead you can see more of the national park including some of the less popular trails and secluded beaches.

It’s an 8-hour tour so you also get a bit more time at Manuel Antonio and the drive is slightly shorter as you don’t have to make stops for other people in the group.

The private tour costs US$150 per person which isn’t actually much more than the group tour so I think it would be worth it for the flexibility.

Travel Time: 1.5 hours (each way)
Cost: US$150 (per person, all-inclusive)
Best For: Day trips from Jaco to Manuel Antonio (best value)

🦥 Book Your Private Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park Here!

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts

Getting from Jaco to Manuel Antonio National Park is fairly simple and there are multiple transportation options to choose from.

If you plan to hire a car for your trip around Costa Rica, you can easily drive to Manuel Antonio, however, parking at the national park is quite difficult.

Catching public buses is the cheapest way to get from Jaco to Manuel Antonio but also the least convenient as you’ll need to change buses in Quepos.

Shuttle buses are the easiest and most convenient option overall. Shared shuttles balance price and convenience while private shuttles offer the most flexibility and the price can be shared among your group.

If you’re visiting Manuel Antonio as a day trip from Jaco, booking a guided tour gives you the best value as they also include round-trip transportation, entry tickets, and lunch.

Once you’ve booked your transportation to Manuel Antonio, check out this guide which covers everything you need to know about visiting Manuel Antonio National Park.