Manuel Antonio National Park includes a tropical rainforest, white sandy beaches, and a coral reef! Visitors can expect to find the endangered capuchin monkeys as well as other monkey species, the three-toed sloth, and hundreds of bird species in the park, including toucans and macaws!

General information for the park: it is open from 7AM to 4PM every day except Tuesday. Tickets cost $18.08 USD for adults and $5.65 USD for children.

The park has limited tickets available every day, so tickets MUST be purchased online in advance at https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/acopac/pnma/Pages/default.aspx.

If you book a tour within the park, check to see if your ticket for that tour includes the ticket for the park (some do, some don't). When you arrive at the national park, you will need the document that you used to purchase your tickets (photo ID or passport).

There are plenty of activities to do in and around the park, so we will break it down in categories! Some of the activities have links below them but these are all just suggestions/popular tours to use - please do your own research!

Land / Dry Activities

1. Tour the Manuel Antonio National Park with a tour guide! You can explore the national park on your own (and in this case you will only have to pay the park fee), but you will have a better chance of spotting rare/endangered animals and will learn about the ecosystem with a tour guide.

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-park-naturalist-guided-tour-t584369/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-national-park-guided-tour-ticket-included-t579911/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/manuel-antonio-park-manuel-antonio-park-nature-guided-tour-t298100/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.viator.com/Quepos/d4507-ttd/p-182711P3?pid=P00057689&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=ttd-manuel-antonio

---> https://www.viator.com/tours/Quepos/Manuel-Antonio-National-Park-wildlife-Watching/d4507-109125P7

2. Zipline through the treetops of the rainforest! Manuel Antonio is home to the longest zipline in Central America, at 4,300 feet. Some companies also come with lunch and snacks.

---> a website that compares some of the top ziplining companies: https://costaricatravellife.com/ziplining-tours-in-manuel-antonio-which-one-to-book

---> https://sukiapark.com/

---> https://manuelantonioziplineadventures.com/

---> https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309274-Activities-c61-t245-Manuel_Antonio_Quepos_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

---> https://elsantuariocanopyadventure.com/

---> https://manuelantoniopark.net/tour/canopy-safari

3. Learn all about coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane on a farm tour! The tour includes the history of these delicacies, how they were made years ago and how they are made now, with samples to taste.

---> https://chocolatetourmanuelantonio.com/

--->https://www.viator.com/Quepos/d4507-ttd/p-148454P1?pid=P00057689&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=ad-ttd-Manuel-antonio

---> https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g309274-d17416673-Reviews-Chocolate_Tour_Manuel_Antonio-Manuel_Antonio_Quepos_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

4. Go on a night jungle tour! Different animals will be prowling the rainforest at night versus the day. On this tour you are with a guide to help you discover and learn about the wildlife. Some tours also includes a home cooked traditional Costa Rican dinner! The park closes at 4PM, so the only way to see the park at night is through a guided tour.

---> https://www.viator.com/Quepos/d4507-ttd/p-206226P1?pid=P00057689&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=Manuel-antonio

---> https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g309289-d19198505-Jungle_Night_Tour_Manuel_Antonio-Quepos_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

---> https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g309289-d19783520-Combo_2_Chocolate_Tour_Jungle_Night_Tour-Quepos_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-night-walking-tour-with-a-naturalist-guide-t615328/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

5. Hike the national park! Hiking will give you some amazing vantage points. The Main Trail is good for all ages, and the Punta Catedral and Sendero Miradores are for more experienced hikers.

6. Shop at the Quepos Farmers Market! The market occurs every Friday from 12 pm to 8:30 pm and every Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm (please don't lose track of time and miss our wedding on Friday!- Saturday may be the safer day to amble the market at your leisure) . There you can buy Costa Rican tropical produce or fresh meals, and local crafts!

Water Activities

1. Relax on the beautiful beaches! The beaches inside the national park are Escondido Beach, Manuel Antonio Beach, and Espadilla Sur. Just outside of the park you can access Playa Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Beach.

2. Take a surf lesson! Right here in the heart of Manuel Antonio was where Caroline had her first lesson, and Costa Rica as a whole is where Marco grew up surfing the waves- so beware you may find a new favorite hobby!

---> https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g309274-d17618466-Surf_Lessons_in_Manuel_Antonio-Manuel_Antonio_Quepos_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

3. Go whitewater rafting! There are a few different rivers and companies to choose between.

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/costa-rica-l168995/manuel-antonio-the-adrenaline-of-the-savegre-rapids-t884258/?ranking_uuid=662993cf-26ac-46c8-986c-933262e8a704

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-whitewater-rafting-on-naranjo-river-t827901/?ranking_uuid=662993cf-26ac-46c8-986c-933262e8a704

4. Chase waterfalls! There are multiple waterfalls in Manuel Antonio. Some you can get to without a tour guide, but there are tours available to see multiple waterfalls in one day. One of the most popular waterfalls is Nauyaca Waterfalls, which you can hike to (all fitness levels/age appropriate) or you can go via horseback, or if you drive there is a shuttle option from their information center to the waterfall for about $30. El Salto Waterfall is also popular, to reach it though includes a moderate hike that seems to take about 20 minutes. The third popular waterfall in the area is Savegre River Waterfall, the walk to this waterfall is easy and good for all ages/fitness levels. Once at the waterfalls, you can swim in the waters, or jump from rocks into the water.

---> https://manuelantoniopark.net/tour-category/waterfalls/

- --> a company with a lot of great reviews for waterfalls tours is paddle9! their website is https://www.paddle9sup.com/tour/full-day-waterfall-tour-manuel-antonio

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-nauyaca-waterfallsall-inclusive-full-day-t482258/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/horseback-riding-to-the-shaman-waterfalls-t67309/?ranking_uuid=539e5305-b21b-42d6-b6ae-db55c5aed622

5. Ride ATVs (safely please) to explore towns and waterfalls!

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/atv-tour-manuel-antonio-off-road-rainforest-waterfalls-t457269/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.viator.com/Quepos/d4507-ttd/p-115677P2?pid=P00063753&mcid=42383&medium=link&campaign=costa-rica-manuel-antonio-atv-tour

6. Rappel waterfalls! Only available through an adventure park with a guide, you can do multiple activities listed above in one tour including rappelling, ziplining, and swimming at the base of waterfalls. With all this included, though pricey it may actually be the most cost efficient option if you plan on using tour guides anyways. No hikes are necessary to get to any waterfalls, as the tour includes a shuttle 4x4 to get everywhere. There are multiple adventure parks around, but a popular one is the ADR Adventure Park.

---> https://amigosdelrio.net/tours/adr-adventure-park/

Mix of water and land activities

1. Sail the ocean and coral reefs on a catamaran boat! Most of the catamaran companies include drinks and food in their price. Snorkeling around the coral reef is a highlight of this activity, and while sailing your captain may spot dolphins for you to see!

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-national-park-l118955/all-inclusive-catamaran-eco-adventure-with-lunch-t318202/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/manuel-antonio-catamaran-cruise-with-a-meal-t881318/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

2. Ride through the Mangroves at Damas Island! There are options to go explore one of the most important ecosystems in Costa Rica via pontoon boat or kayaking. Either way, during your tour you will see lots of wildlife and learn about this ecosystem.

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/manuel-antonio-mangrove-boat-tour-to-see-animals-t625210/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/quepos-l32284/quepos-kayak-tour-in-the-mangroves-near-manuel-antonio-park-t681600/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

---> https://www.getyourguide.com/manuel-antonio-l142888/manuel-antonio-damas-island-mangrove-boat-lunch-included-t332896/?ranking_uuid=3354e3a4-b4db-4ec3-9f6b-f5c6e1439266

3. Parasail at the beach! While parasailing you can take in the beautiful coast from high above! They offer travelers to go solo or up to groups of three.