For us, Manuel Antonio is not just a pretty beach town. There is plenty to explore in and around the area, and one of the most convenient ways to see it all is by signing up for organized guided tours.
Wondering what are the best tours from Manuel Antonio and Quepos?
Over the years, during our many visits to Manuel Antonio, we have had the chance to explore a wide array of activities in and around Manuel Antonio and Quepos.
So, let us help you decide.
From National Park visit to waterfall adventures, from night tour in the rainforest to zip-lining over forest canopy, here are some of our favorite tours from Manuel Antonio.
At a Glance: Our Favorite Tours from Manuel Antonio
| Nature & Wildlife Tours | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour Promo code: PARADISE Discount: 20% | 2.5 to 3 hours. Wildlife and Beaches |
| Guided tour of Rainmaker Park | 3+ hours Hanging bridges, birds, frogs, natural pools |
| Night Tour | 3+ hours Nocturnal wildlife, forest sounds |
| Waterfall Tours | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Full-Day Waterfall Tour from Manuel Antonio Promo code: PARADISE Discount: 20% | 8 to 9 hours 3 Waterfalls, swim, jump, slide, 1 beach |
| Guided Tour of Nauyaca Waterfalls Promo code: PARADISE Discount: 20% | 7+ hours Iconic double falls, deep swimming pool |
| Adventure Tours | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Zip-lining in Manuel Antonio – Canopy Tour with Lunch | 4.5 to 5 hours Thrilling canopy views, adrenaline rush |
| ATV tour | 3+ hours Off-road adventure, villages, jungle |
| Relaxing and Fun Tours Tours | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Mangrove Kayaking | 3 to 4 hours Quiet channels, monkeys, diverse birdlife |
| Cruise Tour on a Wooden Sail Ship | 4+ hours Ocean cruise, snorkeling, sunset, dolphins possibly |
Guided Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
🌳 Highlights:
- Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park with a guide increases chances of spotting wildlife
- Learning about the flora and fauna of the Manuel Antonio forest ecosystem
- Utilizing the powerful telescopes of the guides to watch wildlife up close
⏳ Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Manuel Antonio National Park entrance tickets
- Bilingual certified guide with telescope
- Binocular for all participants
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- Fruits and natural fruit juice
🎟️ How to Book: Book here with Paddle 9 and use our code PARADISE
💰 Promo Code: PARADISE for 20% discount
Manuel Antonio was the first National Park we visited in Costa Rica. Now, after multiple visits over the years, we still find this place as exciting, for its forest trails, the beautiful beaches and most importantly, for the incredible wildlife sighting opportunities.
Walking with a guide in Manuel Antonio National Park is different than a self-guided hike as the professional guides have the knack for finding creatures that we can miss.
Of course, no one can guarantee spotting any wildlife, as a national park is NOT a zoo, but it definitely increases the chances.
On our guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park, our guide helped us spot frogs, snake, interesting insects, colorful crabs, camouflaged bats, birds, baby iguanas, basilisk lizards, and more, some of which we did not even anticipate.
Also, we spotted the bigger animals, like multiple sloths, three-toed and two-toed, capuchin monkeys and howler monkeys, and a deer with a baby.
The trails wind through the forests to pristine beaches, so you can combine the hike with a swim in the ocean.
You can stay back after the guided tour for the beaches and take a public transport, taxi or bus, back to your accommodation.
➡️ Related Reading: Our 3-Day Manuel Antonio Itinerary
Full-Day in the Waterfalls
🌳 Highlights:
- Experiencing three waterfalls in one day
- Swimming in refreshing, natural pools surrounded by rainforest
- Diving into the deeper sections of natural pools (optional)
⏳ Duration: 8 to 9 hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- All entrance tickets
- Certified bilingual guides
- Life jackets
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- Fruits, natural fruit juice
- Costa Rican lunch
- Water
🎟️ How to Book: Book here with Paddle 9 and use our code PARADISE
💰 Promo Code: PARADISE for 20% discount
The Central and South Pacific part of Costa Rica has many waterfalls tucked in the rainforests. Some of those are local favorites and bit hidden.
We recommend the Full Day Waterfall Tour for 2 primary reasons:
💦 Explore some of the waterfalls, known and hidden, in a single day with all the logistics taken care of
💦 Jump in waterfall pools and slide down a waterfall under the supervision of certified guides
The stories and knowledge shared by the guides added extra layers to the experience, and after a day of adventures at 3 different waterfalls, we wound up at a beach with caves formations on it.
If you love some wild swimming, and off-the-beaten-path waterfall adventures, this full-day tour checks every box, even if you do not wish to jump into the pools.
➡️ Related Reading: Our experience Paddle 9 Full Day Waterfall Tour experience
Zip-lining in Manuel Antonio
🌳 Highlights:
- A mile-long twin zip-line, longest in Central America, part of the 11 zip-line canopy tour
- 6 hanging bridges and nature trails
- Safe for all experience levels, family-friendly
⏳ Duration: 4.5 to 5 hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- All equipment and guides
- Fruits and Costa Rican Lunch
- Water
🎟️ How to Book: Book the Zip-lining tour with El Santuario here
Zip-lining is another adventurous way of experiencing Manuel Antonio’s rainforests. This activity gives us an adrenaline rush, while giving a different perspective of Costa Rica’s lush green tropical covers.
On the zip-lines in this canopy tour, we soar over the rainforest, few miles from Manuel Antonio. The guides are super attentive and make you feel relaxed before riding the cables.
You finish the tour and relax with a Costa Rican typical lunch. It is the perfect way to unwind, talk about the views and the thrills you experienced.
➡️ Related Reading: Our El Santuario Canopy Experience
Guided Tour of Nauyaca Waterfalls
🌳 Highlights:
- Double-tiered waterfalls with scenic swimming pool
- Hiking in the rainforest, relaxing in natural caves near the waterfalls
- Opportunity for cliff jumping (optional, with guides’ help)
⏳ Duration: 7+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- All entrance tickets
- Certified bilingual guides
- Life jackets, if needed
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- Fruits, natural fruit juice
- Costa Rican lunch
- Water
🎟️ How to Book: Book here with Paddle 9 and use our code PARADISE
💰 Promo Code: PARADISE for 20% discount
According to us, the Nauyaca waterfalls is one of the best we have seen in Costa Rica. The journey to Nauyaca is a scenic drive, passing by villages in the highlands of Costa Rica.
The time to cover the first part of the trail from the entrance to a resting area, is cut short by a truck ride. After a quick rest, and watching couple of sloths and birds, we hiked through dense forest, trying to find more wildlife along the trails.
The falls are spectacular, two colossal tiers and pools for swimming. We relaxed and had some freshly-cut pineapples in the caves near the Upper Falls of Nauyaca.
You can enjoy a small plunge at the Upper Falls. Our guides pointed out where it was safe to try the jump from the rocks.
However, if you are up for some more adventure, the guides set you up for a thrilling high waterfall jump.
They carry and set up the equipment necessary to climb up the rocks and prepare for the jump at the Lower Falls, into a deep part of the pool.
Even if you do not wish to go for the jump, you can swim in the pool at the Lower Falls.
➡️ Related Reading: Our Nauyaca Waterfalls Visit Guide
Guided Tour of Rainmaker Park
🌳 Highlights:
- Walk rainforest trails and cross hanging bridges
- Spot frogs, reptiles, tropical birds
- Swim in secluded pools in the rainforests
⏳ Duration: 3+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Entrance tickets
- Guide
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
🎟️ How to Book: Book the guided tour here
Rainmaker Park is located just 30 minutes from Quepos. It’s a private reserve set in the lush rainforest, and home to wildlife, waterfalls and natural pools.
We found Rainmaker different from the Manuel Antonio National Park for 3 main reasons:
🌁 The hanging bridges over the dense rainforests with the views of the mountains around
🌳 The trails run through dense forests, along a river and some cascades and waterfalls
💦 You can take a dip in the fresh water of the natural pools
Wildlife sighting can be challenging in Rainmaker park versus Manuel Antonio National Park, as the former is a more dense forest.
However, a guide can help spot wildlife and tell you interesting facts about the flora and fauna of the place.
Night Tour
🌳 Highlights:
- Guided rainforest walk after dark
- Finding nocturnal wildlife like frogs, insects, bats, snakes
- Hearing the sounds of the forest after dark
⏳ Duration: 3+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- Naturalist Guide
- Dinner
🎟️ How to Book: Book the Night tour here
Another way to explore the natural treasures of the Rainmaker Park is to look for them after dusk.
The night tour is a change of pace from daytime forest visit. Within minutes, you will realize the forest comes alive with sounds and movement.
As dusk settles, the naturalist guide, with flashlights, helps find the nocturnal animals, insects and amphibians. You can find different types of frogs, scorpions, insects and chances to find snakes.
Exploring the rainforest in the dark, listening to the sounds of the forest at night and looking for nocturnal creatures, while having transportation and dinner sorted are reasons why you can book this night tour.
Mangrove Kayaking Tour
🌳 Highlights:
- Kayak or boat ride through Isla Damas mangrove forests
- Peaceful waters, perfect for all levels
- High chances to see monkeys, birds, crocodiles
⏳ Duration: 3+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Transportation to and from accommodation in Manuel Antonio or Quepos
- All equipment and guides
- Fruits and Costa Rican Lunch
- Water
🎟️ How to Book: Book the mangrove kayaking tour here
If you are craving calm in Manuel Antonio nature, kayaking or a boat tour is a good option. We tried the mangrove kayaking further south in the Sierpe river, and the Isla Damas provide a similar experience closer to Manuel Antonio.
Slowly flowing through narrow canals surrounded by twisted trees, there are opportunities to watch monkeys leap from branch to branch or spot aquatic birds.
Remember: Wildlife spotting is NOT guaranteed and the canals in Costa Rica are public, so there can be other boats.
Cruising on a 100-Foot Wooden Sail Ship
🌳 Highlights:
- Exploring the Pacific on the elegant Brisa Elegante, a real wooden sailing ship
- Opportunities to spot dolphins, turtles, other marine life and aquatic birds
- Swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking from the ship
⏳ Duration: 4+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Professional crew
- Snorkeling equipment, SUP, Kayaking, Water Mattress
- One main meal, lunch or dinner based on the time you choose
- Soda, Fruit Juices, Coffee and Tea
🎟️ How to Book: Book the Cruising tour here
The cruise with Brisa Elegante is different than your regular Catamaran Sailing. The stunning wooden ship cruise offers a fun yet quieter version of a sailing tour in Manuel Antonio.
If you are up for some activities, jump off the ship’s plank for a swim or grab a kayak. We also recommend giving snorkeling a try.
Otherwise chill and relax on the spacious deck with food and drinks. The cruise is family-friendly, with no loud music or party-atmosphere, and seem perfect for all ages.
Personally, we prefer this kind of a sailing tour over a big catamaran party.
ATV Tour
🌳 Highlights:
- Exciting off-road ATV adventure through rainforest, palm tree plantations and creeks
- Guided hike to the Rainmaker park with swimming opportunities
⏳ Duration: 3+ hours
✅ Tour Inclusions:
- Professional guide
- ATV equipment
- Lunch
🎟️ How to Book: Book the ATV tour here
This ATV adventure is a thrill. Expect winding roads and muddy tracks through lush rainforest and palm groves.
The ATV tour from Manuel Antonio caters to both seasoned riders and absolute beginners. You can wet and muddy, but that is part of the ATV fun.
After plenty of time on the ATVs, about 2 hours, you park and go on a guided hike through Rainmaker Park’s forest trails.
Along the way, you get to visit the waterfalls and a river. You will also get opportunities to swim in the swimming holes, so pack a swimsuit.
The included lunch at Rainmaker is a welcome break before the end of the tour.
Plan your Manuel Antonio Trip
Manuel Antonio is one of the most popular destinations of Costa Rica and you can plan your activities and itinerary in Manuel Antonio with our guides.
Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance:
- Heymondo (get 5% off)
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- eSIMs:
- Transfers: Bookaway. Code PARADISE5 for 5% off
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