Photo by Courtney Hall on Unsplash

Jacó Manuel Antonio

Jacó to Manuel Antonio

A flat, easy hour south on the Costanera through palm plantations.

Road info checked October 2026
Real drive time1h – 1h 20m
Google says1h 25m
Distance71 km / 44 mi
Road surfacePaved all the way
Car neededAny car
Difficulty 1/5
On this page (7 sections)
  1. Overview & which car
  2. Step-by-step directions
  3. Tolls, fuel & road facts
  4. Hazards to know
  5. Stops worth making
  6. Local tips
  7. FAQ
CAR

Which car? Any car

Fully paved. An economy car or sedan is fine. Main roads: Route 34 (Costanera Sur) → Quepos.

A quick and easy coastal hop: about 1 hour on the flat Costanera, past Playa Hermosa, Esterillos and Parrita, then up the hill from Quepos to Manuel Antonio.

Step-by-step directions

  1. 1

    South on Route 34

    Follow the Costanera past Hermosa and Parrita.

  2. 2

    Quepos and Manuel Antonio

    Turn into Quepos and take the hill road to Manuel Antonio.

Tolls, fuel & road facts

Main roadsRoute 34 (Costanera Sur) → Quepos
TollsNo tolls on this route.
FuelStations in Jacó, Parrita and Quepos.
River crossingsNone — all rivers are bridged.
Real vs. Google1h – 1h 20m in practice vs. 1h 25m on Google Maps, without stops.

Hazards to know before you go

  • Speed cameras on Route 34.
  • Narrow, busy Manuel Antonio hill road.

Stops worth making

  • Playa Hermosa

    Surf beach just south of Jacó.

  • Esterillos

    Quiet beach stop.

Local tips

  • Manuel Antonio NP is closed on Tuesdays.

FAQ: Jacó to Manuel Antonio

How far is Manuel Antonio from Jacó?

About 70 km, roughly 1 hour.