Costa Rica Beyond the Resort: What I Loved About Manuel Antonio

When I planned our family trip to Costa Rica, I knew I wanted more than a traditional resort vacation. I wanted us to experience the wildlife, scenery and laid-back atmosphere Costa Rica is known for, while still having a comfortable place to come back to at the end of the day.

Manuel Antonio turned out to be exactly that.

We spent six nights in a three-bedroom villa with our own plunge pool, which gave us the best of both worlds: plenty of space to relax as a family and easy access to everything that makes this part of Costa Rica so special.

And one of my biggest takeaways from the trip? You don't have to be an extreme adventurer to love Costa Rica.

Why We Chose Manuel Antonio

For our first trip to Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio felt like the perfect fit. It offered the combination I was looking for—beautiful beaches, incredible wildlife, lush tropical scenery and plenty to do, without feeling like we needed to be on the go every minute of the trip.

I also loved that we could stay in a private villa rather than a traditional resort. Having three bedrooms gave everyone their own space, and our plunge pool quickly became one of our favorite places to relax. There was something pretty amazing about coming back after exploring and having our own little piece of Costa Rica waiting for us.

Manuel Antonio also made it easy to balance sightseeing with downtime. We could experience the destination and then spend an afternoon at the villa, enjoy the pool, or simply take in the scenery. For our family, that balance made the trip feel like an actual vacation rather than a checklist of activities.

The Wildlife Really Is Everywhere

One of the things I loved most about Manuel Antonio was that the wildlife wasn't something we had to seek out—it was simply part of being there. We saw sloths tucked into the trees, colorful scarlet macaws flying overhead, toucans, crocodiles, and the adorable Central American squirrel monkeys, known locally as titís.

The titís were probably my favorite. They're tiny, incredibly cute and seem to travel with their entire extended family! Seeing animals like this in the wild—not in a zoo or animal park—is one of those experiences that makes Costa Rica feel completely different from a typical beach vacation.

I found myself constantly looking up into the trees because you never knew what you might spot next. Even during the quieter parts of the trip, there was always something that reminded us we were surrounded by Costa Rica's incredible natural environment.

Costa Rica at Your Own Pace

One thing I learned on this trip is that Costa Rica doesn't have to be a nonstop adventure vacation.

There are endless opportunities for hiking, ziplining, waterfalls and outdoor adventures, and you can absolutely build a trip around those experiences. But you don't have to do everything to feel like you've experienced Costa Rica.

We intentionally left room in our itinerary to slow down. Some of my favorite moments were simply enjoying our villa, relaxing by the plunge pool and taking in everything around us. We skipped a few of the more strenuous activities, and I never felt like we were missing out.

That's one of the reasons I think Costa Rica works for so many different types of travelers. Your trip can be as active—or as relaxed—as you want it to be.

The Experiences That Made the Trip

While I loved having downtime built into our trip, we definitely had our share of adventure—and some of our favorite memories came from getting out and experiencing Costa Rica beyond the typical tourist stops.

We went ziplining through the jungle, visited waterfalls and jumped from them into the water, spent an amazing day at the beach, and stopped at fresh fruit stands along the way. Each experience gave us a different glimpse of the country and made the trip feel like so much more than a beach vacation.

One of my favorite experiences was visiting a local farm, where we picked our own vegetables and then used them to prepare a traditional Costa Rican meal. It was hands-on, personal and such a fun way to experience the culture rather than simply observe it.

We also ate at several local sodas—small, family-run restaurants where we could enjoy traditional Costa Rican food in a casual setting. Those meals ended up being part of the experience themselves and gave us another opportunity to connect with the destination beyond the more tourist-oriented areas.

That's what I loved about this trip. One day we could be flying through the jungle on a zipline or jumping into the water beneath a waterfall, and another could be spent relaxing by our plunge pool or enjoying the beach. We didn't have to choose between adventure and vacation—we got both.

Would I Go Back?

Absolutely.

Costa Rica was one of those destinations that gave us a little bit of everything—adventure, beautiful scenery, incredible wildlife, great food and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.

What I loved most about Manuel Antonio was how easy it was to make the trip our own. We could spend one day ziplining through the jungle and another relaxing by our plunge pool. We could eat at a local soda, wander through a farm, spot monkeys in the trees or spend the day at the beach. No two days felt the same.

And even after six nights, I left feeling like there was still so much more of Costa Rica to experience.

That's probably the best compliment I can give a destination: I wasn't ready to leave, and I'd happily go back.

Thinking About Costa Rica?

Costa Rica can be an incredible choice for families, couples and travelers looking for a vacation that combines adventure with time to relax. The key is creating an itinerary that fits how you actually like to travel rather than trying to fit every possible experience into one trip.

If Costa Rica is on your list, I'd love to help you create a trip that's just as memorable—and completely your own.