There are different ways to travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. From public buses to shared shuttle van to private transfers or even Uber.
Monteverde and Manuel Antonio are two popular travel destinations in Costa Rica, making it really easy to travel between these places.
Depending on your budget and time, there are many ways to get from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio.
The cheapest one is to travel by bus; however, it also takes longer than the other means of transportation. I recommend a shared shuttle or a private transfer if you are traveling with a group.
You could theoretically also take a flight to Quepos; however, it will take way longer as you will first have to travel to San Jose or La Fortuna Airport.
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How far is Monteverde from Manuel Antonio?
The distance from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio is about 185 kilometers or 115 miles by car.
Universal Traveller recommends the following websites to plan & book your trip to Costa Rica
- Book your car rental through RentalCars
- Check & book all available transportation options on GuateGo
- Search hotels on booking.com and on hostelword
- Don’t forget about a travel insurance for your trip to Costa Rica!
Getting to Manuel Antonio from Monteverde

1. Bus from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Duration: Around six hours
The cheapest way to travel from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio is by bus; however, it is also the longest trip as you can imagine.
The bus actually doesn’t depart from Monteverde itself but from its neighboring town Santa Elena.
From Santa Elena, you will first have to take a bus to Puntarenas, where you have to take another bus to Quepos. From Quepos, a third bus will take you in around 20 minutes to Manuel Antonio.
GuateGo
On GuateGo, you can check all available transportation options from San Jose to Santa Teresa. It is a reliable and easy-to-use platform to compare prices & schedules and make a booking online.
Duration: Around five hours
There are daily shared shuttles from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio.
The drive-in air-conditioned minivan takes around five hours and costs 44 Euros per person.

3. Private Transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio
Duration: Around four and a half hours
If you want to be more flexible regarding the departure time or traveling with a big group or your family, a private transfer from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio might be the better option for you.
A private transfer for a group of up to six people costs 193 Euros. If you are traveling with at least five persons, you will actually save money if you book a private transfer.
4. Monteverde to Manuel Antonio Flight
There are no flights from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio. However, you could travel from Monteverde to San Jose and take a flight from there to Quepos.
Flights from San Jose to Quepos start at 40 USD, and the flight time is only seventeen minutes. Seventeen minutes with breathtaking views of Costa Rica’s amazing landscape!
Another option is to travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna and to take a flight from there.
5. Driving with Rental Car

Duration: Around four hours
If you have your own car or consider renting one, you can also drive to Manuel Antonio on your own. The journey takes around four hours, depending on the traffic.
Please note: The first few kilometers after leaving Monteverde town are not paved. Depending on the road conditions, you might need a four-wheel drive.
6. Uber or taxi
Duration: Around four hours
I recommend taking an Uber instead of a taxi. It is cheaper, and the cars are normally also way better, and your trip is GPS tracked. So it’s safer, and your driver has no chance to rip you off.