By road, Tortuguero and Manuel Antonio are about 142 miles (229 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 3 min of driving.
Full advisory: Costa Rica. Advisory issued: Costa Rica April 02, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Costa Rica: “Try not to drive outside of urban areas at night.”
| Distance | 142 mi (229 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 3 min |
| Provinces on the route | Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio drive plays out
It runs through 4 provinces: Limón, San José, Heredia, Puntarenas. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–78 | 78 | Limón, San José, Heredia |
| connecting roads | 78–86 | 8 | San José |
| local roads | 86–142 | 56 | San José, Puntarenas |
- Mile 52 of this route: Limón → San José (province line)
- Mile 70 of this route: San José → Heredia (province line)
- Mile 77 of this route: Heredia → San José (province line)
- Mile 117 of this route: San José → Puntarenas (province line)
Where to stop on the way to Manuel Antonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 57), Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 78), Museo de Numismática (mile 79)
- Nature and outdoors: Tortuguero National Park (mile 7), Turrialba Volcano National Park (mile 40), Braulio Carrillo National Park (mile 57), Irazú Volcano National Park (mile 69), La Cangreja National Park (mile 114)
- Museums and history: Museo de Numismática (mile 79)
- With kids: Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (mile 78)
Tortuguero National Park
Tortuguero National Park lies in Costa Rica's Limón Province, within the Tortuguero Conservation Area in the northeast of the country.
Turrialba Volcano National Park
Turrialba Volcano National Park covers the area around Turrialba Volcano in Cartago Province, within Costa Rica's Central Conservation Area. Major eruptions took place between 1864 and 1868.
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.
Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar
Located in downtown San José, Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar is an urban park of about 35 acres that serves as Costa Rica's oldest botanical garden and zoo.
Museo de Numismática
Run by the Banco Central de Costa Rica, the Museo de Numismática Jaime Solera Bennett in San José preserves and displays objects tied to the country's monetary history in an underground building beneath the Plaza de la Cultura.
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.
In Manuel Antonio itself
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
- Parismina to Manuel Antonio
- Limón to Manuel Antonio
- Bribri to Manuel Antonio
From Tortuguero to other places in Costa Rica
- Tortuguero to Santa Elena
- Tortuguero to Uvita
- Tortuguero to Finca Sonador
- Tortuguero to Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
- Tortuguero to Parismina
- Tortuguero to Playas del Coco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio?
About 6 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 142 miles.
How far is Manuel Antonio from Tortuguero by car?
About 142 miles (229 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 Tortuguero to Manuel Antonio drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Tortuguero and Manuel Antonio?
Closest to the road: Braulio Carrillo National Park (national park, mile 57, 0.5 mi from the route); Parque Zoológico Nacional Simón Bolívar (zoo, mile 78, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo de Numismática (museum, mile 79, 0.1 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.