Manuel Antonio National Park Tickets: Prices, Hours & How to Buy (2026)
By the local guides at Manuel Antonio National Park Tours — updated January 2026
If you remember only three things from this article, make them these: tickets are sold online only, the park is closed every Tuesday, and popular dates sell out in advance. Those three facts catch out more visitors than everything else combined. Here's the complete, current picture.
2026 Ticket Prices
| Visitor | Price (USD approx.) |
|---|---|
| Adults (13+) | $18.08 (tax included) |
| Children 2–12 | $5.65 (tax included) |
| Under 2 | Free |
Tickets are not sold at the park entrance — there is no walk-up ticket booth. Cash offered to anyone outside the gate buys you nothing legitimate.
Opening Hours (and the Tuesday Closure)
The park is open Wednesday through Monday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The beaches inside close at 3:00 PM so everyone can walk out by 4:00, and the last timed entry slot is 1:00–2:30 PM — so plan a morning or early-afternoon arrival.
The park is closed every Tuesday, all year, as a conservation rest day. It remains open on holidays like Christmas and Easter unless they fall on a Tuesday. If Tuesday is your only day here, book a mangrove, catamaran, or waterfall tour instead — see things to do beyond the park in our complete guide.
How to Buy Tickets Through SINAC (Step by Step)
Entry tickets are sold exclusively by SINAC, Costa Rica's national park authority, through its online reservation platform.
- Create a SINAC account. You'll need an email address and must verify it before you can buy anything.
- Select Manuel Antonio, your date, and a timed entry slot. Slots are 40-minute arrival windows starting at 7:00–7:40 AM, with the last at 1:00–2:30 PM. Morning windows sell out first.
- Enter every visitor's full name and passport number. Tickets are name-linked — bring your passport or a clear photo of it to the gate.
- Pay by credit card, quickly. The checkout has a timer; if you dawdle, your reservation releases and you start over.
Honest local tips for the SINAC site: type everything manually (autofill causes silent errors), have all passport numbers ready before you start, and if a page hangs, try a different browser. It's a government platform — functional, not friendly.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
- High season (mid-December–April): 2–4 weeks ahead; holiday weeks even earlier.
- Green season (May–November): a few days to a week is usually enough, but weekends go faster.
- The park has a daily visitor cap with timed entry slots, which is exactly why dates sell out.
Sold Out? You Still Have Options
If SINAC shows no availability for your dates, don't give up. Licensed tour operators hold permit allocations for their guests, so a guided tour is often available even when general entry is gone. This is the single most common way travelers "rescue" a sold-out date.
Our tours include your park permit — guaranteed. No SINAC account, no timed-slot lottery. Your ICT-certified bilingual naturalist guide meets you at the park entrance with your entry handled, HD spotting scope ready. Group tours $65 adults / $45 kids; private tours $85 adults / $65 kids.
Check tour availability →If you'd rather visit self-guided, read our honest comparison of guided vs. self-guided visits first — the permit is included with a tour either way.
What Your Ticket Includes
Your entry covers the full trail network and all beaches inside the park for the day — see the trails and beaches guide. You can enter at your slot time and stay until closing. Re-entry after exiting is not permitted — tickets are strictly one entry. Need to change your date? SINAC accepts date-change requests by email (reservaciones.pnma@sinac.go.cr) up to 15 days before your visit; after that, no changes.
Practical Notes
- Passports: rangers can check that names match tickets. A phone photo of the ID page is accepted in practice, but carry it.
- Parking is separate (~$10/day in private lots near the gate) — see our parking guide including the scams to avoid.
- No food is allowed inside; water and non-alcoholic drinks are fine. Full list in what to pack.
- Best slot: the 7:00 AM window — coolest temperatures and the most active wildlife. More on timing in best time to visit.
FAQ
Can I buy Manuel Antonio tickets at the entrance? No. Tickets are sold only online through SINAC. Anyone selling "tickets" in person near the gate is not legitimate.
How much are Manuel Antonio National Park tickets in 2026? Approximately $18 for adults and $5 for children 2–12, purchased through SINAC. Guided tours include the permit in the tour price.
Is Manuel Antonio open on Tuesdays? No. The park is closed every Tuesday, year-round.
What if tickets are sold out for my date? Book a guided tour with a licensed operator — operators hold permit allocations and can often get you in when general tickets are gone.
Do children need a ticket? Children 2–12 pay a reduced fee; under 2 enter free. All visitors, including children, must be named on the reservation.
Manuel Antonio National Park Tours is an independent, locally owned tour operator in Quepos. Park tickets are issued by SINAC, Costa Rica's national park authority; our tours include your permit. New here? Start with The Complete Guide to Manuel Antonio National Park.