Manuel Antonio National Park is fringed by a cluster of beaches that are among the most beautiful on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. All are considered safe for swimming, and the relatively sheltered coves make them calmer than the open breaks further up the coast at Jacó.
Playa Manuel Antonio is the most famous — a perfect crescent of white sand inside the park, backed by rainforest. The Manuel Antonio Surf School (MASS) operates here, offering lessons from $65 with bilingual instructors and all equipment provided. Call +506 2777-4842 or book through their Quepos office on the main road.
Playa Espadilla Norte and Sur sit just outside the park entrance, making them the liveliest and most accessible. Natural rock outcroppings create warm tide pools and attract shore birds. If you want to base yourself near these beaches, the Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort is the obvious choice, with an electric shuttle between the hotel and the beach.
Playa Puerto Escondido and Playitas are reached through the park and stay quieter as a result. Playitas, at Punta Quepos, sits on a small peninsula of primary forest with interesting rock formations.
The park enforces a daily visitor cap, so arrive early or book ahead, especially in the dry season (December–April). You cannot purchase food or drink inside the park, so pack water and snacks. Stock up at the supermarket in Quepos rather than relying on the strip of shops near the park entrance.