SeasonMapWhat's on in Manuel Antonio (Quepos), Costa Rica through the year
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica has 5 curated events through the year — 1 natural spectacle, 2 holidays, 1 season and 1 local rule. The ones to plan around: Dry season (January) and Humpbacks off the headland (July). January to March are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Best time to visit Manuel Antonio (Quepos): weather, crowds and notes →
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online, Dry season | Peak crowds |
| February | — | Peak crowds |
| March | Semana Santa | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Busy |
| May | — | Shoulder season |
| June | — | Shoulder season |
| July | Humpbacks off the headland | Quiet |
| August | — | Shoulder season |
| September | — | Quiet |
| October | — | Quiet |
| November | — | Shoulder season |
| December | Christmas and New Year | Busy |
January in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in January →Peak crowds — Dry season, Christmas and New Year
- Rule
Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresBook earlyManuel Antonio shuts one day a week and sells entry only through the SINAC site, in numbered time slots. Turning up at the gate with cash does not work, and the early slots go first in the high season. Source ↗
- Season
Dry season
1 Jan – 31 Mar · usuallyCrowdedThe only stretch of the year when the afternoons hold: the park trails are firm, the boats out of Quepos run for sailfish and marlin, and the beach below the headland is usable all day. Everything here is relative.
Still on: Christmas and New Year (18 Dec – 3 Jan)
February in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in February →Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Dry season
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (1 Jan – 31 Mar (usually))
March in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in March →Peak crowds — Dry season, Semana Santa
- Holiday
Semana Santa
29 Mar – 5 AprEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook earlyCosta Rican families take the whole week on this coast and the road down from Quepos is solid with parked cars. The park hits its slot cap by mid-morning and Playa Espadilla is shoulder to shoulder. Source ↗
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry season (1 Jan – 31 Mar (usually))
April in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in April →Busy — Semana Santa
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Semana Santa (29 Mar – 5 Apr)
May in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in May →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in May.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
June in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in June →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in June.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
July in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in July →Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
- Nature
Humpbacks off the headland
15 Jul – 31 Oct · usuallyWhale seasonHumpbacks that summer off Antarctica calve along this coast through the second half of the year — the longer and more reliable of the two runs. A shorter northern-hemisphere season turns up around December.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
August in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in August →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpbacks off the headland (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))
September in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in September →Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpbacks off the headland (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))
October in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in October →Quiet — one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in October.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Humpbacks off the headland (15 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))
November in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in November →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in November.
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
December in Manuel Antonio (Quepos)
Manuel Antonio (Quepos) weather in December →Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
18 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyThe dearest fortnight of the year on this stretch of coast, with the hotels along the ridge on minimum stays and Quepos full of Costa Rican and North American families at once. Source ↗
Still on: Park closed Tuesdays, tickets online (1 Jan – 31 Dec)