Parking
This is an internal park path, not a drive-up trailhead. Enter Manuel Antonio National Park and follow Sendero El Manglar through the mangroves to its junction with this trail; there is no separate parking at the trail itself.
Overview
About Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur
Why go
- An easy sandy connector with access to Playa Espadilla Sur.
- Coastal shade and a beach view make a short walk feel worthwhile.
Heads up
- Short as a stand-alone hike; its main value is as a link or beach approach.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Manuel Antonio map
Full mapElevation12–28 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Manuel Antonio alert
- ClosurePunta Catedral Trail Temporarily ClosedPunta Catedral trail is temporarily closed; do not plan to use it. Check the current Manuel Antonio National Park status before traveling.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Manuel Antonio Tour Guide
Your drive to Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Manuel Antonio National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Playa Manuel Antonio and Punta Catedral0:00 / 0:37
“You're approaching the park entrance, the way in to Playa Manuel Antonio and Punta Catedral. The beaches are farther inside, reached on foot.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Manuel Antonio Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Little Pools in the Canopy
- Playa Espadilla Norte
- The Iguana’s Sunny Perch
- The Garden Beneath the Ant Trail
- 18 audio storiesacross Manuel Antonio’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Howler Monkey, White-faced Capuchin Monkey, Three-toed Sloth, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 10 trails, 13 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur
A short coastal connectionSendero Playa Espadilla Sur is a 0.
Sendero Playa Espadilla Sur is a 0.56-mile, one-way path from the end of Sendero El Manglar to the start of Sendero Punta Catedral. It follows the wooded edge of Playa Espadilla Sur rather than the full shoreline. Take it to reach the south beach or connect two park trails; on its own, it is a quick, easy walk, not a big hike. Allow about 20 minutes one way. Walking back to the same start doubles the route to about 1.1 miles.
Find the right Manglar branchAt the Manglar junction, take the branch through the mangroves to reach this trail.
At the Manglar junction, take the branch through the mangroves to reach this trail. The other branch goes toward Sendero Perezoso and the park road. The Espadilla Sur tread is sandy, with gentle rises and no sustained climb or scrambling; the elevation profile shows a modest rise toward the southern end.
Use the marked beach openingsThe path runs behind the beach, with marked openings down to the sand.
The path runs behind the beach, with marked openings down to the sand. Ropes block other exits, so stick to the designated access rather than cutting through the vegetation. The beach is a nice place to pause, but it is separate from the trail route; strong currents can make swimming hazardous. Pets aren't allowed inside the park.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Manuel Antonio
411 sightingsHowler MonkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
1,193 sightingsWhite-faced Capuchin MonkeyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
803 sightingsThree-toed SlothMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
271 sightingsTwo-toed SlothMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
110 sightingsRed-eyed Tree FrogMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
170 sightingsCoatiMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Manuel Antonio. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
