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Looking for the ultimate ATV adventure in Manuel Antonio?
We can’t blame you! Zooming through the lush jungle past local farms, viewpoints, and waterfalls is an epic experience.
Manuel Antonio is one of our favorite parts of Costa Rica, and we always jump at the chance to visit since we moved here. After taking our fair share of ATV tours in Manuel Antonio, we’ve rounded up the best of the bunch. So grab your helmet and let’s take a look at the top 3 ATV tours in Manuel Antonio.
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!

The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
This off-road ATV adventure tour in Manuel Antonio is epic! We traveled through the rainforest on some awesome trails and even went to a secret waterfall where we could swim! It’s also perfect for beginners or experienced riders.
- Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
- 1. Off-Road Rainforest and Waterfalls ATV Tour
- 2. Half-Day ATV Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park
- 3. Small Group ATV Tour through Plantations, Rainforests, and Waterfalls
- Other Must-Do Activities While You're in Manuel Antonio
- Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
- Pura Vida!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Getting Around Costa Rica
- Don't Forget Travel Insurance!
1. Off-Road Rainforest and Waterfalls ATV Tour


- Price: $80 USD (double ATV) or $125 USD (single ATV)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 7:30 am, 10 am, or 2 pm
- Highlights: Jungle and mountain scenery, lots of wildlife, epic viewpoints, swimming in waterfalls
- Inclusions: All equipment, lunch, hotel pickup and drop-off, local guide
- Pickup from: Quepos and Manuel Antonio
- Rating: 5 Stars (check 700+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We had the best time ever on this ATV tour of Manuel Antonio! It’s so much fun and definitely our top choice.
We’ve done tons of quad tours so we felt comfortable from the get-go, but this tour is also perfect for beginners. We noticed that our guide, Joseph, gave tons of instruction to the beginners and really made them feel comfortable. I remember being very nervous the first time I ever rode an ATV, so this is a big advantage of booking this tour!
Joseph led us through the gorgeous rainforest and we saw tons of wildlife. We drove through local villages, too, which we never would have found on our own, and even got to go swimming at a gorgeous secret waterfall. It was a true jungle adventure!
We also visited an amazing viewpoint with epic views of the famous Arenal Volcano, and we loved zooming up and down all of the hills.
I think that this tour is suitable for anyone. Solo travelers can get an ATV all to themselves, and it’s great for families as kids as young as 4 are welcome to ride alongside their parents or guardians. Meanwhile, budget travelers can also save money by sharing an ATV with another person.
So what are you waiting for? This tour is really popular (check out the HUNDREDS of glowing reviews) so book your spot today!
Reserve this epic ATV tour here and don’t pay a cent until just before you go!
2. Half-Day ATV Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park


- Price: $125 USD (single ATV) or $158 USD (double ATV)
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 7 am, 10 am, or 1 pm
- Highlights: Riding through the rainforest and local plantations, swimming in natural pools, short guided hike to a waterfall, local villages, spotting wildlife
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, safety equipment, local guide
- Pickup from: Quepos, Manuel Antonio
- Rating: 5 stars (check 100+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This half-day tour is ideal for those short on time, and looking to explore Manuel Antonio National Park to the fullest.
It offers fascinating insight into local life as you fly through papaya, teakwood, and rice plantations and see how the different crops grow. Our guide, Alex, also taught us a ton about local agriculture and sustainability, which are essential to Costa Rica’s famous pura vida lifestyle.
About halfway through the tour, we also got to park our ATVs and stretch our legs on a short but scenic hike to a beautiful waterfall. And yes, we got to go swimming in the pool below! The water was so refreshing, and it was just what we needed to wash the dust and dirt off.
And of course, I have to mention all of the amazing wildlife that we saw on this tour. I’m talking about colorful toucans, cute squirrel monkeys, and plenty of sloths. Alex was great at spotting wildlife and made sure we got to see as much as possible. So if you’re a wildlife lover like me, you should definitely reserve your place on this tour ASAP.
This tour is a blast so it’s no surprise to me that it has nothing but 5-star reviews! It’s the perfect way to make the most of your time in Manuel Antonio.
Book your spot on this tour here to get FREE cancellation!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
3. Small Group ATV Tour through Plantations, Rainforests, and Waterfalls


- Price: $93 USD (double ATV) or $130 USD (double ATV)
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Time: 7:30 am, 10:30 am, or 2:30 pm
- Highlights: Rainforest and mountain trails, plantations, villages, waterfall swimming
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, guide, safety equipment, lunch, bottled water
- Pickup from: Quepos and Manuel Antonio area
- Rating: 4.5 stars (check reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
Ready for a thrill? Well, this 3.5-hour ATV tour certainly delivers on that front!
It’s also for over 16s only, so you can be sure it’s designed for those looking for an exhilarating ride through Manuel Antonio’s stunning landscapes. I recommend this one for those who want to go fast and get a real adrenaline rush.
I loved riding through the palm plantation, as well as the short hike to a waterfall where the whole group swam together. It was so much fun and our guide was just hilarious – he made us laugh the entire way. Even though I had visited Manuel Antonio before, I got to see so much new scenery on this tour and plenty of wildlife, of course!
The meal at the end of the tour was also really yummy and we got loads of snacks along the way, including cheese, crackers, and fresh pineapple. I think that this tour is perfect for groups of friends looking for a crazy adventure.
There is the option to share an ATV but for true thrill-seekers, I highly recommend booking a solo ride. On the day, we were split into two groups – solo riders and pairs, and the solo riders got to go so much further and see a lot more! If you’re after a real adventure, why not take it to the max?
Easily book this adrenaline-pumping experience in advance here!
Other Must-Do Activities While You’re in Manuel Antonio


Once you arrive in Manuel Antonio, there’s so much to see and do! You can check out our full guide on Manuel Antonio or browse our favorite activities below!
- Visit the National Park – Of course, you’ll want to see Manuel Antonio National Park! It’s easy to hike through on your own, but we find it’s nice to have a guide – especially to help you spot wildlife. This specific tour is only $30 USD and includes a 2-hour guided walk through the park. After the tour, you’re free to enjoy the beaches and relax.
- Coffee and chocolate tour – Coffee and chocolate are two of my favorite things. So, it should come as no surprise I just had to join this top-rated coffee and chocolate tour in Manuel Antonio! The tour teaches you about the historical importance of cacao as well as the entire process of making chocolate. It’s a fantastic experience!
- Ziplining – Did you know that Manuel Antonio is home to the longest twin zipline in Costa Rica? Well, on this super popular ziplining tour, you’ll get to zoom through the treetops on a huge tandem zipline! You can race with your friends and enjoy the experience together!
- Sunset Sail – The sunset or daytime sail in Manuel Antonio was my favorite tour I have done in town. It’s a fun and relaxing tour with spectacular views, lots of drinks, snorkeling, and food.
Where to Stay in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

There are tons of different hotels to choose from when deciding where to stay in Manuel Antonio. Here are a few of our favorites for all budgets:
Parador Resort and Spa – $$$
Those who enjoy staying in a beautiful hotel and don’t mind paying for it, have to check out Parador Resort and Spa. This place does tick a lot of boxes! It’s only a short walk to the beach, has fantastic panoramic views thanks to its elevated location, and has two infinity pools.
The hotel is surrounded by rainforest, so there’s tons of wildlife around too. It’s more around the $350 USD+ per night mark, but is great for a luxury getaway! You can check availability and book online here.
Hotel Villas Lirio – $$
For the medium-budget traveler, my top choice is Hotel Villas Lirio (pictured above). This gorgeous hotel is reasonably priced but has some very luxurious features such as an outdoor pool, tropical manicured gardens, an included breakfast, and a restaurant.
The hotel is also located in the heart of Manuel Antonio and is only meters from the main road where the bus down to the beach and national park goes (it’s a 1-minute drive or a short walk). Be sure to book it in advance as it is often fully booked. You can book Hotel Villas Lirio here.
Selina – $
One of the best budget-friendly places to stay in Manuel Antonio is Selina. Selina has hostels all over Costa Rica and the world. They always offer an ideal place to stay with clean rooms, a great bar, and a social atmosphere. In Manuel Antonio, Selina is no different, and the hostel comes with a huge pool, restaurant and bar, private rooms, and dorm rooms.
Rates begin at $57 USD per night. You can book Selina here on Hostelworld or here on Booking.com.
Getting Around Costa Rica

How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.

Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!

Riding an ATV in Manuel Antonio is one of our favorite adventures! The three tours we’ve picked out are all different and fun. I think you’ll have a blast no matter which one you book.
If you found this post helpful, check out our other Costa Rica blogs. After living and traveling through this beautiful country, we have tons of resources to help you plan your own dream trip. Here are a few related posts!
5 Best Manuel Antonio National Park Tours