FAQ
FAQ
Hello! This FAQ paget is for anyone who is staying with us in Manuel Antonio! Pura vida!
How`s the weather?
Costa Rica has 2 seasons: Wet (rainy) & Dry season. In Manuel Antonio, the average temperature year round is 28-30 degrees Celcius / 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
December- April its dry season. It`s hot and sunny every day and hardly rains, if it rains it is usually overnight. Temperatures are various from 28 till 35 degrees Celcius, 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit. February and March are the hottest months of the season!
May- November: Wet (rainy) season. Even during this season, it is hot and sunny during the day, or sometimes overcast. It usually rains in the afternoons or just overnight when you`re sleeping. Most people find the afternoon showers refreshing after a hot sunny day. There are still plenty of activities to do during wet season, and September and Octobor are the months to see the humpback whales here! Temperatures are 25-30 degrees celcius / 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainiest months are usually Sept-Nov, but overall, there is never a “bad time” to visit Manuel Antonio!
Do not waste your time looking at the weather forecast online. Since Manuel Antonio is a rainforest / jungle / beach town, the forecast always says chance of rain even during dry season but it simply is just not accurate. Costa Rica has microclimates; it can rain in Manuel Antonio and be dry and sunny in the next town 15min away.
*We haven`t mastered the skill of being able to control the weather yet, so please do not be silly and ask us if it will rain. The best advice we can give you about the weather is the info above 🙂
Do you provide beach towels?
Yes! We provide plenty of towels to use for the shower or at the beach, so no need to pack them! Moreover, each of our vacation rentals has a washer and a dryer, so you can always wash the towels if you find you`re going through them quickly.
In Manuel Antonio, how close are you located to the beach and national park?
All of our vacation rentals are in the heart of Manuel Antonio. We are within a 5-minute drive, or bus ride distance to 3 different beaches and the National Park, inside of the National Park there are 4 more beaches to visit.
Can I walk to the beaches?
It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk to the public beaches, although we do not recommend it. Manuel Antonio is a beach town built on a mountain, the heart of MA is at the top of the mountain, so the walk along is narrow, curvy and steep roads without sidewalks. In addition to the road conditions, it is so hot here you do not want to walk in the sun for that long. You can grab the bus to get down to the beach in 5 minutes- super simple!
Are there supermarkets and restaurants close by?
Yes! We are within walking distance to an abundance of supermarkets, restaurants, the pharmacy, gym, yoga studio, spa, souvenir shops, bars, nightlife, etc.
We cannot say it enough- we are located in the heart of Manuel Antonio and everything you need is within walking distance.
Which restaurants do you recommend?
Our top 3 favorite restaurants are:
- Falafel Bar
- Emilio`s
- Cafe Milagro
There are over 200 restaurants in the area, we have an entire page in our welcome book inside your vacation rental with all of our favorites. There is detailed info including food delivery info, which restaurants have sunset views, which ones are vegan friendly, etc.
*You do not need reservations unless you are visiting during a holiday week (Christmas & New Years Eve are definitely days we recommend reservations).
Can I check in early / check out late?
Check in is 3:00pm / Check out is 10:00am.
Sorry, but no, we cannot accommodate early checks ins or late check outs. Luckily we are fully booked around the year so we have guests checking in and out every day. We need time to clean the place in-between guests. We do not make exceptions to this rule, so please be respectful and do not try to check in early.
What should I do while I wait to check in at 3:00pm? Can I drop off my luggage early?
Here are some ideas you can do in the afternoon while you wait for check in at 3:00pm:
- Stop at the Tarcoles bridge during the drive here to see the crocodiles.
- Explore Jaco, a big beach town on your way; go to the beach, have lunch (Taco Bar is awesome), shop for souvenirs, etc.
- Get lunch in town, Emilio`s, Cafe Milagro or Falafel Bar are our top 3 choices.
*We do not have a secure place to store your luggage, we can’t provide a luggage drop off.
How do I book tours?
First, check out Our Favorite Activities that we recommend in the area. To book tours and receive our guest discounts, contact us and provide the following info:
- your name
- vacation rental name
- preferred date
- tour
- number of people
- kids ages (if applicable)
You will receive an email confirmation from us with your tour details within 24 hours. No need to pay in advance.
Do I really need a guide for the Manuel Antonio National Park?
No, you do not need a tour guide to go hiking, see monkeys or enjoy the 4 beaches at the park. However, if you want to see and learn more about a variety of wildlife, and get to use a telescope to get a close up view and great pictures, then a guided tour is definitely the way to go!
To read all the advice we have to give about the National park read our full blog post: Manuel Antonio National Park- FAQ
I don`t like crowds. Is there another wildlife tour you recommend?
YES! If you are interested in a wildlife tour with 90% less people than at the MA National Park, we recommend Hacienda Baru.
Do I need a rental car?
If you are planning to spend your entire trip in Manuel Antonio, you do NOT need a car. As mentioned above, all of our vacation rentals are within walking distance of everything you need. In addition, buses and taxis are readily available.
If you will be visiting multiple destinations in Costa Rica, or if you want to be able to explore places on your own in the surrounding areas, then we definitely recommend renting a car.
For all of our advice about getting around the country, read our full blog post: Transportation Options
What is your address? How do I get there?
All of our locations are super easy to find, just follow our Directions , includes detailed hand written instructions, maps, addresses, how to get off the bus or tell your taxi driver where to go, etc.
How does Self Check In work?
To provide you with the flexibility of arriving on your own schedule, we have set up super clear directions and self-check in instructions. It is your responsibility to be prepared! If you follow all of the given instructions carefully, you will have no problem arriving by yourself. We have had over 1,000 guests check themselves in, so we are confident you can do it too!
*The Self-Check in link will be sent to you within 2 weeks before your arrival. For security reasons, the link will not be visible until 4 days before your check in, but that is still plenty of time to review the info!
What if I don`t have wifi? Will I still be able to arrive and check myself in?
Yes you can! If you will not have wifi while driving here, you can print or screenshot all of the directions and self-check in instructions. You can also download the offline-map with google of this area.
Also, Wi-Fi is available all throughout Costa Rica, all you have to do is stop at any restaurant or shop and ask if you can use their Wi-Fi. Everyone here is super friendly and willing to help you!
Will I get to meet you in person?
Yes, most likely! We visit all of our properties on daily base to meet our guests in person, check how you are doing and see if we can help with anything! If you do not meet us because of your activities or simply our paths do not cross each other, no worries, we are always available via text message to help you out!
Can I pay in USD? Do I need to exchange money?
The national currency in Costa Rica is Colones, however both Colones and USD are accepted throughout the country! If you are traveling with USD, you do not need to exchange your money. If you want to exchange money, either go to a bank or just pay a bill in USD and you will get Colones back in change. Do not exchange money at the airport, they charge a high exchange rate!
Is the water safe to drink?
Yes! The tap water around Costa Rica in general is super clean and safe to drink! All of our vacation rentals have safe, clean and drinkable water!
*Pack a reusable water bottle that you can refill throughout your stay. Please be eco-conscious and avoid buying single use plastic water bottles 🙂
What should I pack for my trip?
Please check out our full blog post: What to Pack for Costa Rica
How can I be eco-friendly while traveling in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is a SUPER ECO-CONCIOUS / ECO- FRIENDLY country, so please do your part to be a sustainable traveler and take part in eco-friendly efforts! Being eco-friendly is the way that Costa Rica is able to maintain it`s beautiful landscape, beaches and wildlife and it is the responsibility of everyone who visits here to do their part!
- Bring a reusable water bottle , and do not buy single use plastic water bottles. Remember, the tap water is potable!
- Take a reusable shopping bag to the supermarket, or simply decline a plastic bag if you can carry the few items you are purchasing. If you can carry the items around the store without a bag, then you should be able to carry them out of the store without a bag!
- Pack snacks for the beach or park in reusable containers instead of plastic bags we provide Tupperware containers in our vacation rentals.
- Turn off the AC, lights and fans when not in use and every time you are not in the house.
- Reduce your water consumption turn off water while lathering up in the shower, do not leave water running while brushing your teeth or doing dishes, only fill the washing machine with the amount of water you need to wash your clothes with.
- Hang your clothes outside to dry when possible instead of using the dryer.
- Recycle bins are provided.
- Do not flush anything down the toilet everything should go in the trash.
- Do not waste food! If you have food left over on your check out day, please give it to someone else or leave it for our housekeepers to take home 🙂
- Choose souvenirs wisely, is it something you really want or need, or will it end up on a shelf collecting dust?
- Buy eco-friendly / cruelty- free body care products: Bioland is an awesome Costa Rican brand! You can find their products at most supermarkets in town Super Joseth, Super Pura Vida & BM have them for sure.
- NEVER feed the monkeys or any other wildlife or take a selfie with animals. The animals are only to look at in the wild! Learn more about animal selfies here – https://stopanimalselfies.org/en/home/
- Eat vegan meals as much as possible. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of climate change, rainforest deforestation, ocean dead zones, and of course- animal cruelty. Choosing what we eat 3 times, a day has a big impact not only on the sustainability of Costa Rica, but of the entire world! The restaurants page in our welcome book has vegan friendly restaurants noted, or if you are ordering a casado (typical Costa Rican dish), order it without the meat. Plant based milks are available all over town.
- Do not throw your shoes or clothes in the garbage when you pack to go home. I know this sounds ridiculous, but you would not believe the amount of these items we find in the trash upon guest checkouts! If you have items you do not want to take home with you, let us know and they can be gifted to our housekeepers and their families or donate to another family in need!
- Refuse a straw at restaurants, or bring your own reusable one.
Will I really get to see monkeys?
Yes! Monkeys are everywhere and pass through all of our properties at least once a day, sometimes even multiple times a day! It is also very common to see toucans, scarlet macaws, agouti’s, hummingbirds, and even sloths!
Manuel Antonio is famous for the abundance of wildlife it has, so you can see wildlife anywhere at any time. Just keep your eyes open!
Thanks for taking the time to read this! We hope you have a great time in Costa Rica.
Thank you for choosing as as your host!
Thank you for choosing as as your host!
PURA VIDA!
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