Plan on about 7 h 22 min of driving for the 199-mile (320 km) trip from Bribri to Manuel Antonio, before any stops.
Full advisory: Costa Rica. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Costa Rica: “Do not drive through water if you can't see its depth.”
| Distance | 199 mi (320 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 22 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Bribri to Manuel Antonio: the shape of the trip
It runs through 4 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Bribri to Manuel Antonio: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–134 | 134 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 134–143 | 9 | San José |
| local roads | 143–151 | 8 | San José |
| connecting roads | 151–152 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 152–199 | 47 | San José, Puntarenas |
- Mile 108 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 126 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 173 of this route: San José → Puntarenas (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Bribri and Manuel Antonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cahuita National Park (mile 11), Las Mercedes (mile 83), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 113), National Theatre of Costa Rica (mile 135), Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (mile 135)
- Nature and outdoors: Cahuita National Park (mile 11), Barbilla National Park (mile 61), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 113), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 126), La Cangreja National Park (mile 170)
- Museums and history: Las Mercedes (mile 83), National Theatre of Costa Rica (mile 135), Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (mile 135)
Cahuita National Park
On Costa Rica's southern Caribbean coast next to the town of Cahuita, Cahuita National Park protects beaches, lowlands and coral reefs. Visitors can snorkel in the marine area, and sea turtles nest here.
Barbilla National Park
On the eastern slopes of the Cordillera de Talamanca, Barbilla National Park belongs to the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area; it became a biological preserve in 1982 and a national park in 1998.
Las Mercedes
On Costa Rica's Caribbean slope, between the foothills of Turrialba Volcano and the alluvial plain, Las Mercedes is an archaeological site with platforms, plazas, terraces, ramps, funerary areas and paved roads.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park spreads across parts of Heredia, Cartago, Limón and San José provinces in central Costa Rica and forms part of the Central Conservation Area.
Irazú Volcano National Park
Established in 1955 in Cartago Province, Irazú Volcano National Park (Parque Nacional Volcán Irazú) encompasses Irazú Volcano and the Prusia Forest Reserve.
National Theatre of Costa Rica
Costa Rica's national theater sits in the central part of San José. It opened to the public on October 21, 1897, with a performance of Goethe's Faust.
Pre-Columbian Gold Museum
Set in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San José, the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum is owned and curated by Costa Rica's central bank.
La Cangreja National Park
A protected zone until 2002, La Cangreja National Park lies in Puriscal Canton, San José Province, and belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area near Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Once you reach Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio National Park
Just south of Quepos on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio National Park was established in 1972 after the local community pushed to protect the area from development.
More drives to Manuel Antonio
- Heredia to Manuel Antonio
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio
- Pochote to Manuel Antonio
- Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio
- Parismina to Manuel Antonio
- Limón to Manuel Antonio
From Bribri to other places in Costa Rica
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bribri to Manuel Antonio?
About 7 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 199 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bribri to Manuel Antonio?
About 199 miles (320 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Bribri to Manuel Antonio drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Bribri to Manuel Antonio?
Closest to the road: Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 113, 0.4 mi from the route); National Theatre of Costa Rica (opera house, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Pre-Columbian Gold Museum (museum, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.