Plan on about 6 h 18 min of driving for the 202-mile (325 km) trip from Pochote 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 by road | 202 mi (325 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 18 min |
| Provinces on the route | Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Alajuela |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
What the drive from Pochote to Manuel Antonio is like
It runs through 3 provinces: Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Alajuela. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Pochote to Manuel Antonio, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–136 | 136 | Puntarenas, Guanacaste, Alajuela |
| connecting roads | 136–137 | 1 | Alajuela |
| local roads | 137–202 | 65 | Alajuela, Puntarenas |
- Mile 42 of this route: Puntarenas → Guanacaste (province line)
- Mile 100 of this route: Guanacaste → Puntarenas (province line)
- Mile 130 of this route: Puntarenas → Alajuela (province line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Alajuela → Puntarenas (province line)
What to see on the way from Pochote to Manuel Antonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Carara National Park (mile 148)
- Nature and outdoors: Barra Honda National Park (mile 62), Palo Verde National Park (mile 71), Carara National Park (mile 148)
Barra Honda National Park
Created in 1974 to protect its cave systems beneath Barra Honda Peak, Barra Honda National Park sits about 12 km from the Tempisque River in western Costa Rica.
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.
Arriving in 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
- Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio
- Parismina to Manuel Antonio
- Limón to Manuel Antonio
- Bribri to Manuel Antonio
From Pochote to other places in Costa Rica
- Pochote to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Pochote to Uvita
- Pochote to Tortuguero
- Pochote to Parismina
- Pochote to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- Pochote to Bribri
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pochote to Manuel Antonio?
About 6 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 202 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pochote to Manuel Antonio?
About 202 miles (325 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 Pochote 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 Pochote to Manuel Antonio?
Closest to the road: Barra Honda National Park (national park, mile 62, 2 mi from the route); Palo Verde National Park (national park, mile 71, 12 mi from the route); Carara National Park (national park, mile 148, 0.3 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.