Plan on about 5 h 57 min of driving for the 188-mile (302 km) trip from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica 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: “Roads can have unclear lane markings, narrow shoulders, and large potholes.”
| Distance by road | 188 mi (302 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 57 min |
| Provinces on the route | Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio drive plays out
It runs through 3 provinces: Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–188 | 188 | Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela |
- Mile 86 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
- Mile 117 of this route: Puntarenas → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 126 of this route: Alajuela → Puntarenas (province line)
Places worth a stop between Las Catalinas, Costa Rica and Manuel Antonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Sabanero (mile 32), Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37), Carara National Park (mile 134)
- Nature and outdoors: Africa Safari Adventure Park (mile 37), Palo Verde National Park (mile 51), Carara National Park (mile 134)
- Museums and history: Museo de Sabanero (mile 32)
Museo de Sabanero
Founded in 1990 in Liberia, the Museo de Sabanero focuses on the cowboy culture of northwest Costa Rica, a region where Liberia was long known for raising livestock.
Africa Safari Adventure Park
South of Liberia in El Salto, Africa Safari Adventure Park is a private wildlife park of about 247 acres with zebras, warthogs, and giraffes in safari-style enclosures.
Palo Verde National Park
Palo Verde National Park covers 18,400 hectares of the Tempisque River valley in Guanacaste, about 30 km west of Cañas, as part of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area.
Carara National Park
Near Costa Rica's Pacific coast, Carara National Park belongs to the Central Pacific Conservation Area; it began as a biological reserve in 1978 and became a national park in 1998.
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
- Pochote to Manuel Antonio
- Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio
- Parismina to Manuel Antonio
- Limón to Manuel Antonio
- Bribri to Manuel Antonio
From Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to other places in Costa Rica
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Santa Elena
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Finca Sonador
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Parismina
- Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio?
About 5 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 188 miles.
How far is Manuel Antonio from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica by car?
About 188 miles (302 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.
Is it safe to drive from Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio?
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 Las Catalinas, Costa Rica to Manuel Antonio?
Closest to the road: Museo de Sabanero (museum, mile 32, 0.4 mi from the route); Africa Safari Adventure Park (park, mile 37, 0.6 mi from the route); Carara National Park (national park, mile 134, 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.