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Manuel Antonio is a bit of an adventure hub, and a perfect base for whitewater rafting! It’s close to both the Savegre and Naranjo Rivers, so whether you’re after a gentle adventure for the whole family or something a bit more extreme, you’re covered.
We’ve lived in Costa Rica and come back all the time, so we’ve been whitewater rafting in Manuel Antonio a fair few times now. We’ve tried out a bunch of different tours, and now we’ve rounded up our favorites to help you decide on the best option for your trip. So grab your paddle and let’s get into it!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE tour is this rafting tour along the Savegre River. It has enough rapids to be exciting, but still good for families or beginners and it also includes lunch and a stop at a hidden waterfall!
Check out the HUNDREDS of 5-star reviews from other travelers and book this tour here!
Tip: This is a popular tour, so reserve it early to guarantee your spot with free cancellation!
- Quick Pick: Our Favorite Tour
- 1. Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class II and III Rapids with Waterfall Stop and Lunch
- 2. Small Group Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class III Rapids
- 3. Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class III-IV Rapids with Lunch
- 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. Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class II and III Rapids with Waterfall Stop and Lunch
- Price: $130 USD
- Duration: 6 hours
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, guide, all equipment, snacks, lunch, stop at a hidden local waterfall
- Best suited for: Travelers of all ages, families with kids ages 6 and up
- Rating: 5 Stars (Check 500+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
We had such a blast on this whitewater rafting tour along the Savegre River – hence why this is our top choice! The rapids were class II and III, so they’re not too dangerous or extreme but trust me, the rafting was still very exciting. Plus, we got to see wildlife as we navigated the twists and turns of the river.
We actually think that this tour is an amazing choice for families, too, as children aged 6 and over are welcome to join in the fun. There were travelers of all ages there on the day that we went!
This tour is super well organized. Pickup was right on time, and our guide, Jesus, was just the best. He was so funny and had us laughing the entire time. Plus, we loved the stop at the hidden waterfall. We have been to this part of Costa Rica many times, but we never would have found this spot on our own.
We also appreciated the fact that lunch was included, as well as the fresh fruit snacks – especially the pineapple, yum! All in all, this was a fantastic day out that left us with big smiles on our faces. In fact, it’s one of the best things that we have done in Manuel Antonio!
Book our FAVORITE rafting tour easily here!
2. Small Group Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class III Rapids
- Price: $105 USD
- Duration: 4 hours
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop off, snacks, guide, safety equipment
- Best suited for: Budget travelers
- Rating: 5 stars (Check 110+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This rafting tour is the most budget-friendly of our selection, and it’s perfect for those looking for a little more of an extreme adventure. While class III rapids aren’t super crazy and no experience is required, we definitely found that rafting on the Naranjo River was a bit more demanding than the tour above.
But don’t get us wrong, it was a blast! We loved the scenery here, as we paddled past dramatic canyons and rock formations in the middle of the river, which was pretty cool. And between the bursts of rapids, we got to float through quieter sections of the river and enjoy the untouched forest and wildlife. There was also quite a bit of shade throughout, so we got a nice break from the heat.
Our guides were also so much fun and full of energy. There were a few people in our group who had never been rafting before and they gave them a ton of encouragement, and no one had any trouble navigating the drops or bigger rapids.
So if you’re on a budget in Costa Rica, I would highly recommend booking this tour before it sells out! There’s a minimum age of 10, but I also think that families with thrill-seeking teens would enjoy it, too.
Book this affordable rafting experience here and you can pay later!
Related Read: Another adventure you won’t want to miss is ziplining! Check out our picks for the top ziplining tours in Manuel Antonio to find the best one for you.
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. Half-Day Whitewater Rafting Tour on Class III-IV Rapids with Lunch
- Price: $107 USD
- Duration: 4.5 hours
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, all equipment, guide, lunch
- Best suited for: Adventurous travelers, experienced rafters
- Rating: 5 Stars (Check 150+ reviews here!)
- Free cancellation: Yes
This rafting tour is our top pick for those who have been whitewater rafting before and are looking for a real adventure in Manuel Antonio! Since this tour involves more extreme Class IV rapids, it’s advisable to have some experience before booking this one. We’ve been rafting many times, so we absolutely loved it.
We got to paddle down the river, and the route was pretty steep downhill, so we got a fair bit of speed at points. We had so much fun navigating the drops and the Naranjo Canyon. Our guides were great and made us feel super safe so we could just let loose and enjoy the adventure.
We also got lunch included with the price of our tour, so we thought it was good value for money. And of course, there were local snack items and fruit along the way so that we didn’t get too hungry. All of that paddling does work up quite an appetite!
All in all, this tour is the perfect choice for those who have been whitewater rafting before and are looking for an exciting experience. The guides take safety very seriously and are super professional. It was clear to us that they really knew their stuff. For thrill-seekers, we can’t recommend this tour enough!
Book this adventurous tour here to guarantee your spot!
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!
- ATVing – This ATV tour is so much fun and takes you into the jungle to explore at high speed and then refresh in a natural waterfall. You’ll get wet and dirty, but have a fantastic time! A traditional Costa Rica lunch is also included.
- 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!
Whitewater rafting in Manuel Antonio is one of the best adventures you can plan for your trip! Whichever of the three tours you choose, I know you’ll have a blast. We can’t wait to grab our paddles and head out again!
For more travel advice and inspiration, have a look through all our blogs about traveling in Costa Rica here. If you’re staying around Manuel Antonio for a bit, I picked out a few blogs below that might be especially helpful!
15 BEST Tours in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
21 Things you NEED to know before visiting Manuel Antonio National Park