Last Updated: September 9, 2026
If you’re visiting Manuel Antonio during your Costa Rica vacation, get ready for fun! Manuel Antonio is best known for its amazing wildlife, especially monkeys and sloths. Other highlights are the verdant coastline and abundant rainforest. When we first moved to Costa Rica more than 10 years ago, this is where we landed. We absolutely love this area and still live close by. In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica so you can enjoy them too.
Note: Most of the activities below require prior reservations. We are glad to help with this. We have been booking tours in Manuel Antonio for 10+ years now and know all the best operators. Booking through us supports our site. We also offer discounts on several of the activities below!
Things to Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio and the adjacent Manuel Antonio National Park are covered in thick jungle. This is the perfect habitat for wildlife like monkeys (three kinds), sloths, anteaters, frogs, toucans, parrots, and more.
You’ll see birds and animals all around town, but to see the most, we recommend visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. A short stroll down the fairly easy trails will let you see, at the very least, monkeys, birds, insects, and lots of cool plants. On our last visit, we were looking at monkeys overhead and a small deer snuck up behind us. It was within a few feet!
While you can see a lot on your own, hiring an experienced nature guide for a tour will help you see the most. They know where to find harder to see wildlife (like sloths) and have powerful scopes to zoom in on animals that are far from the trail. On our last tour, the guide used his scope to show us a camouflaged frog and even some exotic wasps that were making an intricate hive. Their knowledge of how the ecosystem works is inspiring.
For more information about visiting the park, read our post, Manuel Antonio National Park: Hiking, Wildlife, and Beautiful Beaches.
Self-guided Tour
$18 adults | $6 children ages 2-11
Important: Entrance tickets need to be purchased online in advance. Read our full post about the park for more info.
Guided Tour
Cost of Group Tour: $53/adult, $44/child ages 2-11. Rates plus 13% tax.
Cost of Private Tour: $84 per person ages 5+. $5 per person children ages 2-4. Rates plus 13% tax.
Book a Guided Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park:
Mangrove Tour to See Wildlife (Boat or Kayak)
Wetlands are an important habitat for the wildlife around Manuel Antonio. A boat or kayak tour through the nearby Damas Mangroves will give you a different perspective than you’d get on land.
These mangroves, just north of Quepos, are home to white-faced monkeys, iguanas, snakes, and many kinds of wetland birds like kingfishers, herons, and Mangrove Hawks. There is even a special raccoon that lives here called the crab-eating raccoon.
For this tour, you can choose to take a small covered boat or kayak (easy paddle) in a single or double kayak.
Important: There are several tour operators that feed the monkeys to attract them to the boats. Feeding monkeys changes their natural behavior and the bacteria from humans can make them very sick. The operator we use is a biologist who understands the importance of protecting wildlife. You will still be able to see the monkeys close up anyway, so don’t worry.
Cost
Group Boat or Kayak Tour: $57 per person plus 13% tax
Private Boat Tour: Starting at $750 (up to 10 people)
Book an Isla Damas Boat or Kayak Tour:
Night Tours
If you think the jungle is active during the day, you’ll be amazed at what comes out at night. The Manuel Antonio area is one of the best places to do a night tour because of the incredible wildlife density. These tours start around sunset when the creatures that were sleeping during the day suddenly wake up.
There are two great options, a boat ride through the mangroves or a walk through the rainforest.
Mangrove Night Tour by Boat
In our opinion, this is one of the best wildlife experiences in Manuel Antonio. This unique night tour takes you through the Isla Damas mangroves after dark.
On the calm, narrow river, your naturalist guide will use a flashlight to find both nocturnal creatures and daytime animals that are sleeping. When we did the tour, we saw an incredible variety of wildlife like a three-toed sloth, caiman, baby crocodile, cat-eyed snake, basilisk lizard, red-eyed tree frog, and birds like the Boat-billed Heron and Pygmy Kingfisher. It’s also possible to see kinkajous or even anteaters.
The tour includes dinner at a traditional restaurant in Quepos.
Cost
Group Tour: $66 per person + 13% tax. Free for children under 4.
Private Tour: $170 per person + 13% tax. Free for children under 4.
Book a Mangrove Night Tour
Night Walk at Rainmaker Park
If you’d rather explore the rainforest on foot, this night tour at Rainmaker Park is another great option.
Rainmaker is a lesser-known reserve about a half-hour from Manuel Antonio. In its pristine rainforest, it’s fairly common to see frogs, snakes, spiders like tarantulas, and sometimes elusive animals like kinkajous. You could even see some sleeping birds or lizards. When we did the tour, we saw lots of different types of frogs, but the most memorable sighting was a blunt-headed tree snake (non-venomous) that our guide spotted hunting near the river.
The tour ends with a delicious traditional meal at the onsite restaurant.
Cost
Group Night Tour: $57 per person plus 13% tax
Private Night Tour: $134 per person plus 13% tax
Book a Night Tour at Rainmaker Park:
Ziplining
There are at least a half-dozen zipline companies in the Manuel Antonio area. Our favorite (we’ve done the tour twice now) takes you deep into the rainforest-covered mountains and gives a glimpse of country life. From there, you will gear up, have a safety talk, and do a short hike through the jungle to the starting point. You’ll get to do 11 exciting zipline cables, including a Superman line, all while enjoying amazing canopy views.
This zipline tour was one of the first activities we ever did in Manuel Antonio and we loved it! The guides were really fun and safe, and the experience is much more personalized than through some other companies.
Cost
$90 per person plus 13% tax
Minimum Age
3 years old
Book a Zip-line Tour:
Adventure Combo Tour
If you can fit only one adventure tour during your visit, this is a great option. This 10-in-1 combo includes ziplining, waterfall rappelling/canyoning, a Tarzan swing, and free fall into a river so you get to try a little bit of everything. Best of all, it takes place in a section of remote rainforest that’s so wild, you’ll feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.
Cost
$140 per person plus 13% tax
Minimum Age
8 years old
Book an Adventure Combo:
Whitewater Rafting
For rafting, the nearby Savegre River offers an exciting whitewater experience on Class II-III rapids (good for beginners but still fun and bumpy). The scenery is also stunning as you float through sections of dense rainforest and visit a sparkling waterfall for a snack break. These tours are about a half day and include a traditional meal.
Class II-III Whitewater Rafting: $115 per person plus 13% tax
Minimum Age: 6
Book a Whitewater Rafting Tour
Catamaran Cruise or Sailing with Snorkeling
Manuel Antonio is beautiful from land, but the view of the lush green coastline from the water is spectacular. Several boats leave from the marina in Quepos. Each offers a slightly different experience.
A grand 100-foot catamaran has a party feel with music, plenty of booze, and zippy waterslides. A smaller 50-foot trimaran gives a more personal, low-key experience but still has some cocktails, great food, and music onboard. A wooden pirate-ship-like sailboat offers an intimate, high-end experience.
All three boats cruise down the coast and explore the area around Manuel Antonio National Park. On the way back north, they’ll search for sea life like dolphins, turtles, and even whales (seasonal). They then anchor in a calm cove for snorkeling. While Costa Rica isn’t a famous snorkel destination, it’s still fun to swim off the boat and see some colorful fish.
Book a Catamaran Cruise on the Ocean King (100′ boat with waterslides, includes a meal and 4 drinks per person):
Cost: $85/adult, $65/child ages 6-11. Rates plus 13% tax.
Our post, Manuel Antonio Catamaran Cruise – Ocean King, has more information about this experience.
Book a Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Sails (smaller boat with a slide, unlimited drinks and meal, and a family-friendly atmosphere):
Cost: $85 per person plus 13% tax. Free for children under 4.
Book a Sailing Tour on Brisa Elegante’s Pirate Ship (includes 1 alcoholic drink and meal):
Cost: $127/adult, $63.50/child ages 6-12. Rates plus 13% tax.
Our post, Brisa Elegante: An Upscale Sailing Tour in Manuel Antonio, has more information about this experience.
Spice Farm Tour
A unique activity in the Manuel Antonio area is the Villa Vanilla spice farm tour. Villa Vanilla grows an array of spices like cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla. But this isn’t a traditional farm. The spices are grown alongside other tropical plants and trees on their lush rainforest property.
The tour starts with a walk through the jungle to see what’s growing and ends with a tasting of various spices in delicious homemade drinks and desserts. The tasting is in a beautiful open-air building so you get to enjoy nice jungle views.
For more information about the experience, read our Spice Farm post.
Cost
$57/adult, $37/child ages 3-12. Rates plus 13% tax.
Book a Villa Vanilla spice farm tour:
Hiking and Hanging Bridges at Rainmaker Conservation Park
For an off-the-beaten-path hike, we love Rainmaker Conservation Park.
This is a huge private reserve in the countryside about a half-hour from Manuel Antonio. The main draw is the lack of crowds and grand rainforest. The property is primary rainforest, meaning it is original and has never been cut down. As you hike along the trail, it literally feels like you’re in the middle of the jungle.
Although the property is rustic, the trail is well-maintained. It takes you along a scenic river, over some rickety hanging bridges, and to a few waterfalls that are fun for swimming.
The hike is easy to moderate in difficulty and good for most people. For more information, read our full Rainmaker post.
You can go on your own (admission is 12,000 colones/$26) or with a guide if you’d like to see more wildlife. Guided tours include admission and transportation from Manuel Antonio.
Cost of Guided Tour
Group Tour: $60 per person plus 13% tax
Private Tour: $153 per person plus 13% tax
Book a Guided Tour of Rainmaker Conservation Park:
Kids Saving the Rainforest Wildlife Center
If you haven’t seen enough wildlife around town or want a closer look, head to Kids Saving the Rainforest.
This non-profit rescue and rehabilitation center does a lot to protect local wildlife. You’ll see their monkey ropes draped over roadways as you pass through town. These bridges are essential to keeping many animals from getting hurt by passing cars.
Kids Saving the Rainforest is also the go-to rescue and rehabilitation center in the area for animals that are injured, confiscated, or in need of a permanent home.
The organization offers tours to teach the public about wildlife, let them see animals up close, and help in the conservation effort. They usually have monkeys, sloths, wild cats, parrots, and much more. This is a great one if you’re traveling with kids or are an animal lover.
For those looking for a more in-depth experience, Kids Saving the Rainforest also offers a full-day volunteering tour. Book a tour directly through their website.
Cost
Regular Tour: $65 adults; $45 children ages 3-12
Volunteering Tour: $100 per person. Minimum age: 6
Conclusion
Manuel Antonio is definitely an amazing destination for wildlife viewing, but it has a lot of other fun things to do as well. We hope this list of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio has helped you plan your visit and got you excited about your trip!
Looking for more adventures for your Costa Rica trip? Our Things to Do category has over 150 options, from coffee tours to best beaches and everything in between!
Pin It for Later
Have a question about things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica? Ask us below.
Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Off-the-Beaten Path Things to Do Near Manuel Antonio: These activities take you to a bee farm, rural tourism organization, and other lesser known places.
Manuel Antonio Hotel Guide: The choices for accommodations in Manuel Antonio is almost overwhelming. Check out this curated list.
Manuel Antonio Restaurant Guide: Get tips on our favorite places to eat!
Activity Guides: Get recommendations for the best things to do in other popular destinations in Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio Tours: View all the tours we recommend in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area.
We had the BEST time at Manuel Antonio with the help of your guide. We booked the Rainmaker night tour, Ziplining with Canopy Safari, and the catamaran tour with Sunset Sails. They were all EXCEPTIONAL! We stayed at La Posada Jungle Hotel and did Manuel Park on our own. Both were wonderful. It worked out great to enter the park first thing in the morning while the animals were still active. We saw a TON of wildlife around the hotel grounds too, being so close to the park. The dining was great right there, so we didn’t go anywhere once parked in the private lot across from the hotel, except for our guided tours. Of course the beaches were amazing inside and outside the park. Three days and nights of adventure and getting to know the wonderful people of Costa Rica. Pura vida!
Hi Jennifer, We’re so glad you enjoyed everything. Thanks for letting us know!
My husband and I are visiting Manuel Antonio and arenal the last week of October. We are renting a car flying from San Jose then drive to MA first for 3 nights and then drive to Arenal for 3 nights then to San Jose. Looking at weather.com it looks like it might be rain free generally from 7am till noon then rain till 5 then rain free till 9 pm any word on that? Will Andean be fine for travel? Should we bother trying to go scuba diving? I saw a tour that goes from quepos to Cano island but is the visibility it bad it won’t be worth it. Is the rain hard like a storm or normal like we could still do things? Right now I want to go to national park one day, 4×4 another and then maybe catamaran or diving unless that will be bad weather? To make it not worth it? In Arenal I want to go zip lining, la fortuna water fall and mystico hanging bridges plus tobacon for soak anything else I should do would poas be worth it on our way back to San Jose? Should we stop at crocodile bridge on our way to MA? Any where else we should stop on our way between places?
Hi Danielle, The weather apps are notoriously inaccurate for Costa Rica so don’t go on that. But it will be peak rainy season when you’re here so there could be rain in Manuel Antonio. Arenal has different weather and is usually pretty nice in October so your activities there should be fine. We’d recommend reaching out to the dive shop in Manuel Antonio directly to find out about typical conditions. I know that in Guanacaste, diving is really good during rainy season. For your other activities, just plan them for the morning when it’s less likely to rain. Typically we have sunny mornings and rain in the afernoon or evening. Some days it rains less, some more, it just depends. Here’s a link to our post, Costa Rica Rainy Season: How Wet Is It? Yes, the crocodile bridge is a fun stop. It doesn’t take long. Be sure to read our post (we just gave the link) for info on keeping your stuff secure while you’re on the bridge.
We are planning a trip for June: San Jose – La Fortuna- Monteverde-Manuel Antonio- San Jose and would like to rent a car. Will we have trouble getting in and out of Monteverde by car? Thank you.
Hi Michele, you shouldn’t have any problems driving. The road between La Fortuna and Monteverde is still not paved but usually kept in good condition. You may want to opt for a 4×4 or at least a 4×2 with higher clearance since the road can be bumpy and possibly have some mud that time of year. It might be helpful to read our post about driving to Monteverde as well. Have a great trip!
We are interested in more of a float trip for 4 people. We did a half afternoon trip from Manuel Antonio 3 years ago. I would not have thought it was more than ClassII RAPIDS. It did include a lovely snack and waterfall. Do you know/ can you book this? We are staying in Bejuco this week and would drive down.
Thank you.
Hi Ellen, The lowest class rapids in the Manuel Antonio area are class II-III on the Savegre. This does include the waterfall stop so sounds like what you did before. Maybe river levels were low during the time of year you visited.
Otherwise, you could do a boat or kayak tour at Isla Damas.
Let us know if you’d still like help booking this and we can email you with more information.
Thank you very much. We have decided we don’t have time this trip. Your site is very helpful. This is our third trio to CR and hope to be back and get your help with that activities then.
Hi. Hoping to come to CR end June 2022 for 2.5wks – family with 3 girls (12-16). Would like to see ots of wildlife. Calm beaches (girls won’t go in water if too many waves!). Reasonable hikes.
Trying to work out itinerary that takes in Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio. Probably flying to and out San Jose from Ireland.
Is it good to hire a car? We don’t want to zoom from place to place.
Hi Emma, That’s a good itinerary for hiking and seeing wildlife and would be fine for end of June. The beaches in Manuel Antonio don’t have crazy big waves. The main beach can have rip currents, but you can still wade in the shallows. There are also other beaches with calmer water in town – the beach in the national park is nice and calm, as is Playa Biesanz.
Renting a car is probably your best option with 3 kids. Usually the price works out to be about the same as if you take shuttles and you have the car for the whole time, which is nice for getting to restaurants and things. Be sure to check out our rental car discount if you decide to get a car. Hope that helps!