Four days at Manuel Antonio balances the national park's wildlife and beaches with the wider area's mangroves and optional adventure activities. Day 1 is for arrival and an easy introduction. Settle into your accommodation, then spend the afternoon at one of the public beaches near town to adjust to the pace before the more structured park visit the following day. Day 2 is the day to prioritize: Manuel Antonio National Park itself, with as early an arrival as the park's opening allows. Daily visitor numbers are capped, so tickets booked ahead matter here more than at most destinations. The trail network winds through genuine rainforest before opening onto beaches, with consistently good odds of spotting squirrel monkeys, sloths, and white-faced capuchins along the way — a knowledgeable guide significantly improves these odds further, spotting wildlife in the canopy that's easy to miss without trained eyes. Day 3 moves to the water with a guided mangrove kayak tour through the nearby Damas Island estuary. Paddling quietly through the mangroves reveals birds, crabs, and occasionally crocodiles from a vantage point the national park's trails don't offer. Day 4, if you have it, is a flexible day — a second, slower visit to the national park focused specifically on wildlife photography, or an optional adventure activity like zip-lining or white-water rafting through a local operator for those wanting more adrenaline before departure. A few practical notes: book park entry tickets ahead specifically, since the daily visitor cap means tickets can genuinely sell out, particularly in dry season (December through April). Never feed the monkeys — it's prohibited and disrupts their natural behaviour, and capuchins specifically are notorious for snatching unsecured bags, so keep food zipped away. And pack for rain regardless of which season you visit, since even the dry season in this rainforest climate can bring brief, unpredictable showers.