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Looking for the very best activities while visiting Manuel Antonio? This national park is an outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise! With so many thrilling activities and classic Costa Rican wildlife, you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.
Okay, maybe you don’t have weeks to spend, so let me help you narrow down some of the top things to do. After trying out all of these activities for ourselves, we can confidently say these are the absolute best experiences in Manuel Antonio National Park.
Explore the mangrove forest, take a thrilling zipline or whitewater rafting tour, and see tons of wildlife – during the day or at night. Simply book your favorite tour and get ready for adventure!
- The Best Things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
- 1. Go Ziplining
- 2. Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
- 3. Relax on a sunset sail
- 4. Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour
- 5. Explore the best waterfalls in Manuel Antonio
- 6. Go whitewater rafting
- 7. Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park)
- 8. Learn about coffee and chocolate on a tour
- 9. Have a fun day on a waterfall repelling and adventure tour
- 10. Parasailing
- 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!
The Best Things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
1. Go Ziplining
Did you know that Manuel Antonio is home to the longest twin zipline in Costa Rica? Well, on this Manuel Antonio Canopy Tour, you’ll get to zoom through the treetops on a tandem zipline over 4,300 feet long (1,300 meters)! You can race with your friends and enjoy the experience together, which is incredible!
The best part is that the zipline is just one of the highlights of this fantastic tour. Other highlights include six hanging bridges, 14 tree platforms, one double belay rappel, and 9 other double-anchored zip lines.
The tour costs $90 USD, which is expensive compared to other zipline tours around Costa Rica, but it includes your lunch, fruit snacks, water, and transport from Manuel Antonio. The tour is also more than just ziplining and lasts for 5 hours. In my opinion, it’s much better than paying $60 USD for a quick 1-hour ziplining tour.
Plus with over 900 positive reviews (check them here!), this is one of those can’t-miss experiences. They also offer free cancellation 24 hours before your tour takes off, so you can reserve your spot now and have the flexibility to change your plans if need be.
Reserve your spot on this highly-rated tour and get FREE cancellation options!
2. Visit Manuel Antonio National Park
Visiting Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist guide is one of the best ways to experience it! We were blown away by all there was to learn about this unique ecosystem, and our guide was an expert at spotting animals we would have missed. And honestly, unless you have a rental car, taking a guided tour to the park is the easiest way to get there.
That’s why this half-day guided tour is our top pick, and with over 2,000 5-star reviews it’s a clear winner! We love that this tour can conveniently fit into your schedule in just 4 hours, which leaves time to cross other top things to do off this list. They provide transport from Quepos and it’s a small group of ten. But the best part is being led by the expert guide!
We spotted so many animals, like sloths, toucans, iguanas, monkeys, insects, and more. Our guide told us all sorts of information about the animals we were spotting, which made this experience all the more valuable.
You will need to purchase your own tickets to enter the national park, in which the guide will take you to the ticket booth or you can purchase them online ahead of time. We highly recommend buying your tickets before you go here, as there are limited slots available.
Otherwise, this tour takes care of everything else for $45 USD. This is the best way to experience Manuel Antonio National Park!
Check out the 2,000+ 5-star reviews and book your spot here!
3. Relax on a sunset sail
One of the best things I did in Manuel Antonio was a sunset sailing tour. After a few days of doing lots of wildlife activities, I was ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy a few drinks out on the water.
We went on this sunset cruise and had the best time! It included unlimited drinks, dinner, snorkeling, swimming, a really fun and knowledgeable guide, and a great crew. We set off at 2 pm and spent the first hour enjoying drinks and looking for whales and dolphins. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any on our tour, but you may be luckier than me.
Afterward, we visited a really cool snorkel spot and jumped in the water to explore. We saw lots of fish and had some fun with the onboard slide. Then, we cruised the coastline around Manuel Antonio and got to see lots of birds, including macaws. As the sunset, we enjoyed our dinner before heading back to port.
Overall this easily made our list of the best catamaran tours in Manuel Antonio and it’s a fantastic way to spend a few hours.
The cruise is available both in the morning and afternoon for $95 USD and leaves from Quepos. But of course, choose the afternoon option if you want to catch the sunset!
Book this tour in advance here with FREE cancellation 24 hours before you go.
4. Damas Island Mangrove Boat Tour
The mangroves in Costa Rica are one of the most important ecosystems for wildlife. I myself have done countless mangrove tours around the country, and I love getting amongst this unique environment filled with some very interesting species.
The Damas Island Mangroves are located only 20 minutes from Manuel Antonio, and going on this half-day boat tour is one of the best ways to experience the area! It’s a small boat, so we could weave through the narrow waterways of the mangrove forest.
One of the biggest perks of this tour is all the wildlife we spotted! Monkeys, sloths, anteaters, and a wide variety of birds – it was amazing to see them in their natural environment. Of course, spotting these animals was much easier with our guide, who also gave us all the information about the animals in the forest.
Overall this is a relaxing way to see more of Costa Rica’s biodiversity and one of the best activities in Manuel Antonio! It includes transportation from Quepos, lunch, entrance fees, and your local guide for $70 USD.
With over 600 5-star reviews, free cancellation, and flexible payment options, this is one of the best tours of the mangrove forest!
Read the hundreds of positive reviews and book your spot here!
5. Explore the best waterfalls in Manuel Antonio
Dive into Manuel Antonio’s natural beauty on this full-day waterfall tour. And when I say dive, I mean literally! You’ll get the chance to jump from the tops of waterfalls, swim in the cool waters, and even slide down natural rock slides.
This tour starts with transportation from Quepos or Manuel Antonio and is capped at 20 people. You’ll visit three waterfalls throughout the day, some off the beaten path so fewer people are around. Spend hours swimming in the cool waters and enjoy the incredible forest scenery – what better way to experience Manuel Antonio National Park’s beauty?!
After you’ve chased some waterfalls, you’ll head to the beach to relax! Go for a swim in the ocean, relax in the sand, or even explore some caves nearby, the time is yours.
One thing that makes this tour truly stand out is how safety is a high priority. The crew definitely wants you to have fun, but keep safe as you’re jumping from extreme heights and sliding down rocks – which we can appreciate!
This full-day tour provides lunch, snacks, water, and any gear needed such as dry bags. I highly recommend wearing water shoes, as the rocks by the waterfalls can be very slippery! You can book this top-rated tour for $150 USD per person.
Book this tour with over 1,200 5-star reviews here, before it sells out.
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.
6. Go whitewater rafting
Manuel Antonio is an ideal place to go whitewater rafting in Costa Rica. Not only is the scenery some of the most beautiful but there are plenty of rivers to choose from.
One of the best experiences tackling class II and III rapids on the Savegre River. This half-day whitewater tour is a thrilling rafting trip and also a great chance to spot wildlife and about the natural history and ecosystem of the park. This route will also take you to a secluded waterfall, so it’s like a little secret gem to experience!
We’ve been whitewater rafting all over Costa Rica, it’s one of the best ways to experience the outdoor beauty! Class II and III rapids are a lot of fun without getting too crazy, so this is a good family-friendly rafting tour. Kids as young as 6 can join, and from my past experience, they are usually the bravest!
This top-rated rafting tour includes round-trip transportation from your hotel, lunch, and all gear necessary, such as a helmet and your raft! It is $130 USD per person and well worth the cost if you ask me.
Check out the 500 glowing reviews and reserve this tour with FREE cancellation options here.
7. Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park)
You already know how many amazing animals there are to see in Manuel Antonio during the day, and there’s even more at night! Taking a night walk through the jungle was one of our favorite things we’ve ever done in the national park – it’s an easy addition to this list.
If you can take this three-hour night jungle tour with Roy, you’re in for a real adventure! He’s a master at finding every frog or snake in the jungle, so you’re basically guaranteed to see something exciting on your walk.
During this tour, expect to see all sorts of nocturnal critters. Our group was lucky enough to spot baby hummingbirds in a nest, lots of frogs and snakes, leaf-cutter ants, and a few very big spiders that I didn’t get too close to! Also, with no light pollution, the stars were AMAZING. Plus, there weren’t many mosquitos – our guide said the bats get them all!
After our hike through the jungle, we were treated to a typical Costa Rican meal for dinner including chicken, rice, beans, veggies, and pineapple. It was made by local cooks and it was so good. We did a lot of walking on this tour, so it was nice to enjoy a meal together before heading back to our hotel for the night.
This tour is easily one of the top-rated tours in Manuel Antonio with HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews you can check here. We aren’t the only ones who loved it! Tickets cost $59 USD per person.
Check availability and reserve your spot on this five-star night jungle tour!
8. Learn about coffee and chocolate on a 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. The best part is you get to sample the cacao and chocolate along the way. The way they make the chocolate is a traditional method, and it’s a lot of hard work!
Next, you’ll dive into the coffee! This is a fantastic experience because they explain the entire process as well as make it at Café-Chorreado – a traditional way of making coffee in Costa Rica. Finally, you’ll explore the sugarcane plantation to learn about this other important resource. We thought adding this to the tour made the whole experience just a bit sweeter!
If you haven’t done a chocolate or coffee tour in Costa Rica, this is one of the best things to do in Manuel Antonio! It’s focused slightly more on chocolate than coffee and sugarcane, but there’s a good emphasis on all. Plus, samples all around – yes, please! This tour is $60 USD per person.
Check out the hundreds of 5-star reviews and book this tour before you go here.
9. Have a fun day on a waterfall repelling and adventure tour
One of the best ways to escape the heat in Manuel Antonio is to join a combination tour at one of the nearby adventure parks. There are almost too many adventure activities to check out while in Manuel Antonio, so we think that hitting a few in one day is the best option – especially if you’re on a time crunch.
ADR Adventure Park is one of the best and home to tons of adventure activities, including waterfall repelling, ziplines, gorgeous swimming areas, and even a Tarzan swing. It’s the ultimate day out!
This is called a 10-in-1 tour because you’ll get to experience nearly 10 different activities right at the adventure park. The perks of taking a tour is that they will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the adventure park. Upon arrival, you’ll hop on a 4×4 to reach the base camp and begin to adventure!
This tour is 6 hours, which is a lot of time to enjoy these numerous activities. They provide lunch and snacks so you can stay fueled for all the fun. You can book this tour for $158 USD, and they offer free cancellation 24 hours before you go when you book in advance.
Secure your spot on this thrilling combo tour here to access FREE cancellation!
10. Parasailing
Parasailing in Manuel Antonio is arguably the best way to take in the fantastic views of this gorgeous coastline. Can you imagine seeing the lush forest and expansive ocean below you? I’ve parasailed in a few different places around the world, and it is truly a memorable experience!
This parasailing tour is one of the best options in Manuel Antonio. It takes off from the southern end of North Espadilla Beach, right across from Buru Restaurant. You can choose whether to fly by yourself or with 2 or 3 people and can go for 15 or 30 minutes. If you’ve never had this experience before, I can’t think of a better location to try it out.
This company comes highly rated, with over 300 5-star reviews. They keep safety as a high priority and give lots of instruction, which keeps the experience as fun and epic as it should be! Prices start at $158 USD for 2 people and go up depending on how long you want to fly.
Book this tour in advance with flexible cancellation and payment options here.
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!
With the list above, it’s no wonder Manuel Antonio is one of my favorite places to visit in Costa Rica. From the national park to the awesome tours, Manuel Antonio really has it all, as cliche as it sounds!
Thanks so much for reading! I hope this blog has helped plan your upcoming trip to Manuel Antonio by showing you all the best things to see, eat, and do. If it has, then browse around some more, we have so many blogs to help plan your Costa Rica adventure, such as:
ULTIMATE Costa Rica Bucket List