The honest answer to what there is to do in Manuel Antonio is a lot, and most of it is within a short ride of the beach. This guide to things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, starts at the resort and works outward, so you can see what needs a plan and what simply needs a free afternoon. Everything below is arranged through the concierge at Miamar Quiet Lux Beach Resort, which is open 24 hours.

Things to do in Manuel Antonio, starting at the resort

On the property

Miamar has 14 suites and sits directly on the sand of Playa Espadilla. That makes the first activity the simplest one: walk through the gardens and the small mangrove to the beach before breakfast, when it is nearly empty. Playa Espadilla is an open Pacific beach with rip currents and lifeguards only in high season, so swim where you can stand and ask the concierge about the day's conditions. We say more about the beach in our guide to staying on Playa Espadilla.

When the surf is heavy, the pool is open daily from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with drinks served at the water and on the beach. Yoga runs on the oceanfront terrace in the morning and at sunset. Breakfast at Yemaya is included with every stay and served from 7:00 to 10:30 AM. Later in the day, Oshun Bar on the oceanfront is the place to be around sunset, with a handcrafted cocktail and nothing scheduled after it.

Lunch is light and coastal at Yemaya, with ceviches among the dishes, served from 12:00 to 5:00 PM, and dinner runs from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Room service is available during those hours, which helps on the days you would rather not leave the terrace. From the terraces themselves you may see scarlet macaws and monkeys, so keep a pair of binoculars handy.

Next door at Parador

Parador Nature Resort & Spa is Miamar's sister property, and guests can use its nature trails, pools, gym, restaurants and bars. A complimentary shuttle runs between the two, so you do not need a car. If you want a full spa day, Pacífica Spa is at Parador as well. For something simpler, the concierge can arrange a massage in your suite.

Manuel Antonio National Park

The park is minutes from the resort, and Miamar runs a complimentary shuttle to the entrance. It is one of the smallest national parks in Costa Rica, about 1,200 hectares, and wildlife is easy to find in so little space. White-faced capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys, both three-toed and two-toed sloths, and birds from toucans to herons all live there.

A guided tour is the better way to see it. Guides know where the sloths sleep and can point out animals that most walkers pass without noticing. The concierge arranges private guides through Quepos Verde Aventura, Miamar's tour partner.

Two practical notes. Tickets are sold online only, through SINAC, the national conservation system, and not at the entrance. And the park closes one day a week, so check the official SINAC site for current days, hours and online tickets before you fix your dates. Go in the morning, then come back to the beach for the afternoon.

On the water

The Pacific is the other half of the area. Most of the time on it is spent aboard Vuelto Loco, the sportfishing and private charter boat Miamar guests book through the concierge, based at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos:

• Sunset cruise. A few hours along the coast as the light changes. It suits an evening with no other plans.
• Private charter. A boat for your party alone, with the route and pace set by you.
• Snorkeling. Ask the concierge which conditions suit it.
• Sportfishing. Departures are from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, a working marina on the town's main road.

Pick one, not all four. A half day on the water is enough to feel you have been somewhere different.

Inland: waterfalls and wildlife

Away from the coast, the pace changes. The concierge can arrange waterfall excursions and jungle trails with a guide, through Miamar's partners at Quepos Verde Aventura. Monkeys, sloths and tropical birds are not limited to the park; they turn up along these routes too, and also from the terraces at Miamar, where scarlet macaws and monkeys pass through the trees.

These trips take most of a morning or afternoon, so plan them for a day without the park or the boat. Ask the concierge what to bring, since it depends on the route and the season.

Quepos

The town of Quepos is the working center of the area, and it is worth a short visit. Marina Pez Vela is there, on the main road, so it pairs well with a morning of sportfishing or a charter. Ask the concierge how best to get in and out.

Putting a few days together

Most guests overbook the first day. The better approach is to choose one anchor activity for each day, a morning or an afternoon, and leave the rest open. Manuel Antonio rewards slowness: the animals are easier to see when you are not hurrying, and the beach is better when you are not checking the clock. The concierge can adjust the plan as you go, including on the day itself, which is one reason a small resort with a 24-hour desk works well here.

You do not need to fill every hour. A stay of three or four nights covers it:

• Day one: arrive after 3:00 PM, walk the beach, have dinner at Yemaya.
• Day two: the national park with a guide in the morning, pool and Oshun Bar after.
• Day three: a sunset cruise or a morning on the water.
• Day four: a waterfall excursion, or a slow day with the spa at Parador.

If you are traveling for an occasion, our notes on a Manuel Antonio honeymoon suggest how to pace it. If you are still comparing places to stay, see Manuel Antonio hotels on the beach. And if you came looking for Manuel Antonio tours in particular, tell the concierge what you like and they will build the days around it.

Miamar is adults-only (guests must be 18 or older) and not all-inclusive. A la carte breakfast is included, and the concierge can tell you how each excursion is arranged. To see open dates, you can check availability for Miamar here.