El Avión

Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around

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Constructed around a 1954 Fairchild C-123 plane (allegedly purchased by the US government in the ’80s for the Nicaraguan Contras but never used), this striking bar-restaurant is a great spot for a beer, cocktail or wine and stellar sunset-watching. The Tico and international menu is overpriced, and the service could be improved, but you can't beat the setting.

In 2000 the enterprising owners of El Avión purchased the plane for the surprisingly reasonable sum of US$3000 (it never made it out of its hangar in San José because of the Iran–Contra scandal that embroiled Oliver North and his cohorts), and proceeded to cart it piece by piece to Manuel Antonio. It now sits on the side of the main road, where it looks as if it crash-landed into the side of the hill.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Iguana in Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica

    Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

    1.05 MILES

    Featuring lush jungle, picture-perfect beaches and craggy headlands, this tiny park (1680 acres/680 hectares) absolutely brims with wildlife (and often…

  • A drone shot of the National park Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica 1479366724 blue water, cove, wallpaper, green, tourist attraction, wildlife, bay, beautiful, drone shot, landscape, outdoor, shore, sunny day, tropical plants, adventure travel, animal park, bio reserve, cathedral point, coast line, conservation area, double sided beach, dream vacations, flora and fauna, manuel antonio beach, most famous, paradise beach, parque nacional manuel antonio, playa manuel antonio, punta catedral, rich coast, tropical vegetation, white sand beach, wildlife sanctuary, zoological garden

    Punta Catedral

    1.53 MILES

    Geography fun fact: this isthmus, which is the centerpiece of the park, is called a tombolo and was formed by the accumulation of sand between the…

  • Iguana sitting on a trunk in Hacienda Baru, Costa Rica.

    Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge

    20.6 MILES

    Consisting of pristine beaches, riverbanks, mangrove estuaries, wetlands, primary and secondary forests, tree plantations and pastures, this 330-hectare…

  • Playa Espadilla Sur & Punta Catedral in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

    Playa Espadilla Sur

    1.28 MILES

    A half-hour hike from the park entrance, the exposed Playa Espadilla Sur is to the north of Punta Catedral and gorgeous with pinch-me scenes of white sand…

  • Cataratas Nauyaca

    Cataratas Nauyaca

    24.47 MILES

    Owned and operated by a Costa Rican family, this center is home to the coast's most impressive waterfalls. Two falls cascade through a protected reserve…

  • Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary

    Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary

    25.77 MILES

    Around 1.5km east and uphill from Dominical, this wildlife sanctuary takes in injured and orphaned animals as well as illegal pets. Its mission is to…

  • An askew shade tree on the south end of Playa Manuel Antonio in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica.

    Playa Manuel Antonio

    1.54 MILES

    With its turquoise waters, this lovely forest-backed beach fronts a deep bay, sheltered by the Punta Catedral on the west side and a promontory on the…

  • Queso Pacheco

    Queso Pacheco

    24.3 MILES

    Queso is not Costa Rica’s strong suit, but this little cheese operation, run by a former president’s son, is one example to the contrary. Abel Pacheco has…

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Nearby Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio & Around attractions

1. Greentique Wildlife Refuge

0.18 MILES

Biologist Jimmy Mata leads magical one- and two-hour sojourns through the Butterfly Atrium, Reptile & Amphibian Water Gardens and Crocodile Lagoon, as…

2. Playa Espadilla

0.57 MILES

This wide stretch of white sand is found just outside the park entrance, in front of Manuel Antonio village. It's a popular place for families and beach…

3. La Playita

0.83 MILES

At the far western end of Playa Espadilla, beyond a rocky headland (wear sandals), this former nude beach remains one of Costa Rica's most famous gay…

4. Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio

1.05 MILES

Featuring lush jungle, picture-perfect beaches and craggy headlands, this tiny park (1680 acres/680 hectares) absolutely brims with wildlife (and often…

5. Playa Espadilla Sur

1.28 MILES

A half-hour hike from the park entrance, the exposed Playa Espadilla Sur is to the north of Punta Catedral and gorgeous with pinch-me scenes of white sand…

6. Punta Catedral

1.53 MILES

Geography fun fact: this isthmus, which is the centerpiece of the park, is called a tombolo and was formed by the accumulation of sand between the…

7. Playa Manuel Antonio

1.54 MILES

With its turquoise waters, this lovely forest-backed beach fronts a deep bay, sheltered by the Punta Catedral on the west side and a promontory on the…

8. Turtle Trap

1.62 MILES

At the western end of Playa Manuel Antonio you can see a semicircle of rocks at low tide. Archaeologists believe that these were arranged by pre-Columbian…