Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike, Manuel Antonio

Explore the lush rainforest and stunning beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park on a guided hike

Overview

Discover the natural beauty of the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park on a hike with an expert guide. While trekking the two-mile (3.2-km) trail, keep your eyes open for monkeys, sloths, birds, reptiles, and butterflies in the wild. The path through the lush rainforest leads you to the sandy beaches and bright blue waters of one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. 

Highlights

  • Hike through the pristine rainforest of Manuel Antonio National Park 
  • Spot monkeys, sloths, birds, and reptiles in their natural habitat
  • Splash around the crystalline waters on one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches

Know before you go

Duration
4 hours
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
A snack is included

What you'll do

The day begins with a pick-up at your hotel. Make the short transfer to the hike's starting point in Manuel Antonio National Park, where you'll meet your guide and hear an overview of the national park's wildlife and natural highlights.

Follow your guide on a two-mile (3.2-km) trail through the rainforest, spotting sloths, monkeys, reptiles, butterflies, and various birds along the way. The walk is easy with mostly flat trails—perfect for families with kids. A naturalist guide will point out the more than 300 species of mammals and birds that call this reserve home, including three-toed sloths, hawks, iguanas, and several different species of monkeys.  You'll have the opportunity to use the guides' Pentax and Swarovski telescopes if you like.

You'll end up at one of the country's most famous beaches. Take 20 minutes to relax, swim, take photos, and appreciate the scenery before being transferred back to your hotel.

Start times

  • Daily
    7:30 am, 12:30 pm
  • Tuesday
    Not available

What's included

  • Transportation to and from your hotel
  • Bilingual guides
  • Park entrance fee
  • Snacks

Traveler reviews

50 total ratings, 39 with reviews
4.6 out of 5
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Food
4.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.8
Charles
Charles B.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Oct 18, 2023
Tips for future travelers Look, I’ve had one of the best times of my life in the country lovely people beautiful sceneries there’s nothing I would have changed. This is the truth. Read more
Tips for future travelers

Look, I’ve had one of the best times of my life in the country lovely people beautiful sceneries there’s nothing I would have changed. This is the truth.

Quality of Experience
My guide, Maria was very knowledgeable, happy, smiling, and very good with the group. We saw lots of things.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paul
Paul C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2023
Really busy compared to all other sites we were on. The guide we had was great and despite the numbers of groups managed to evade much of the tripod wars going on for best sightings. Saw a number of new species, enjoyed lovely views and had a quick cool off in the sea half way around. Certainly a huge amount of people here compared to else where made this feel a little over crowded having enjoyed much quieter tours in the Caribbean area. Read more

Really busy compared to all other sites we were on. The guide we had was great and despite the numbers of groups managed to evade much of the tripod wars going on for best sightings. Saw a number of new species, enjoyed lovely views and had a quick cool off in the sea half way around. Certainly a huge amount of people here compared to else where made this feel a little over crowded having enjoyed much quieter tours in the Caribbean area.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you have your own refillable water bottle. Our 3 week old supermarket much refilled bottles were not allowed in as seen as 1 use plastic. Great in practise but meant huge amounts of water bottles were taken off people at the gate so not sure how plastic efficient it is in reality. BUT get the bottle before the gate as a rather cheap refillable water bottle costs around $10 in the lead into the park.

Quality of Experience
Good guide who acknowledged busy nature of area and tried to move out of this when we could.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
great knowledge and ability to spot even the smallest of creatures where others walked past.
Transport
Clean, safe and punctual.
T
tyson h.
Cornelius, NC | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2023
Monkeys sloths, and beaches what is not to love Read more

Monkeys sloths, and beaches what is not to love

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
K
Kristin H.
Erlanger, KY | Reviewed on Jul 04, 2023
Our guide was amazing and very passionate about the wildlife in the park. We got to see sloths, monkeys, lizards, butterflies, spiders, dragon flies, hummingbirds, crabs, grasshoppers………
The beautiful beach at the end of the guided tour was wonderful and the icing on the cake.
Read more

Our guide was amazing and very passionate about the wildlife in the park. We got to see sloths, monkeys, lizards, butterflies, spiders, dragon flies, hummingbirds, crabs, grasshoppers………
The beautiful beach at the end of the guided tour was wonderful and the icing on the cake.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cindy
Cindy S.
Riverside, CA | Reviewed on Jun 30, 2023
Andres from Endemic Bird Expert was my favorite tour guide to have met. His knowledge of the animals and the jungle is incredible. His personality was just the most amazing. I felt like he was spotting so many animals that others weren't catching. I strongly recommend this tour with this particular guide. Read more

Andres from Endemic Bird Expert was my favorite tour guide to have met. His knowledge of the animals and the jungle is incredible. His personality was just the most amazing. I felt like he was spotting so many animals that others weren't catching. I strongly recommend this tour with this particular guide.

Tips for future travelers

Take bathing suites and your own towels with you. There is no food allowed so don't go hungry.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Andres from Endemic Bird had such an amazing personality!
Transport
Touraj
Touraj K.
Houston, TX | Reviewed on May 23, 2023
Felt little rushed by using a guided tour. Would have loved to enjoy more time specially at the beach. Read more

Felt little rushed by using a guided tour. Would have loved to enjoy more time specially at the beach.

Tips for future travelers

Leave your guide at the beach and don't walk back with them from beach side. Ask them if they can give you a explanation about the mangrove at the beach instead and then take your time to enjoy the beach at your own speed instead.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Linda
Linda S.
Ventura, CA | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
This is a beautiful national park as is everything in Costa Rica. The guide was great. However, the tour felt a little long (maybe because it was so hot and humid) and we found that we saw more monkeys and sloths outside of the parks. Read more

This is a beautiful national park as is everything in Costa Rica. The guide was great. However, the tour felt a little long (maybe because it was so hot and humid) and we found that we saw more monkeys and sloths outside of the parks.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
K
Kara M.
New Brighton, MN | Reviewed on May 02, 2023
Tips for future travelers Tennis shoes and shorts are appropriate for the easy and slow main hike… it’s a well traveled path and there are lots of stops to observe animals. Bring your swim suit to swim at the beaches! You cannot bring plastic disposable water bottles into the park… they sell reusable water bottles outside the park, but they are not top quality and cost more than they should. Read more
Tips for future travelers

Tennis shoes and shorts are appropriate for the easy and slow main hike… it’s a well traveled path and there are lots of stops to observe animals. Bring your swim suit to swim at the beaches! You cannot bring plastic disposable water bottles into the park… they sell reusable water bottles outside the park, but they are not top quality and cost more than they should.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
A
Aaron B.
West Albany, NY | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2023
Our guide made this trip! It was absolutely outstanding and beyond my expectations. Read more

Our guide made this trip! It was absolutely outstanding and beyond my expectations.

Tips for future travelers

Don't go to the park without a guide. They make the experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
S
Susan D.
Lakewood, CO | Reviewed on Apr 12, 2023
What a beautiful park. There is a lot to see, the guide was knowledgeable and friendly! The beach is beautiful and there is time for a quick swim if you want. There are a lot of people in the park and lot of groups. Read more

What a beautiful park. There is a lot to see, the guide was knowledgeable and friendly! The beach is beautiful and there is time for a quick swim if you want. There are a lot of people in the park and lot of groups.

Tips for future travelers

We might have chosen to go somewhere else because of the crowds.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

Itineraries with Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Nature Hike

Costa Rica Highlights: Self-Drive Adventure - 11 Days

This self-guided road trip is ideal for those who love adventure. Visit Costa Rica's highlights, from the famous Arenal Volcano to the misty cloud forests of Monteverde and powdery beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park. Along the way, you'll fly over the treetops on a zip line tour, swim in waterfall lagoons, and spot wildlife on nature walks and snorkeling excursions.

Costa Rica Hiking Adventure - 10 Days

Checking off three key regions in Costa Rica, this 10-day itinerary is perfect for adventurous travelers. The trip starts with a visit to Costa Rica's famous Arenal Volcano for hiking and natural hot springs before continuing to the Pacific Ocean for some beach time at Manuel Antonio National Park. Finish off in one of the country's most remote areas—Osa Peninsula—for undeveloped rainforests, rare wildlife, and near-empty coastline.

Arenal, Monteverde, and Manuel Antonio Self-Drive - 11 Days

This itinerary combines mountain excursions with a bit of a beach holiday and some aquatic adventure. You'll arrive in Liberia, the hub of Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province. From there, drive to Arenal Volcano National Park, where you'll hike to a waterfall, relax in natural hot springs, and raft world-class whitewater. Then it's west to the Monteverde to see the cloud forest canopy via suspension bridges and a zip-line tour. A drive south will take you to Manuel Antonio, a unique destination with a combination of the beach, jungle and national park. After a couple days enjoying the beach and wildlife in Manuel Antonio, you'll return to San Jose for your journey home.

Costa Rica Cultural Tour - 8 Days

On this 8-day adventure, experience every facet of Costa Rica's culture, from food to national museums, native people, and even wildlife. Starting and ending in San José, the itinerary includes a visit to a coffee plantation, immersing with one of the country's last indigenous tribes, and opportunities to explore by land and sea.

Discover Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio, Monteverde, and Tamarindo - 12 Days

Costa Rica prioritizes the protection of its abundant (and delicate) biodiversity, and national parks and reserves make up nearly a quarter of the country's land. This makes it a fabulous spot for travelers keen on experiencing outdoor activities and spotting wildlife. This immersive 12-day trip includes a guided nature hike in coastal Manuel Antonio National Park, birdwatching and zip-lining in the Monteverde Could Forest Reserve, and aquatic fun in the estuaries of Tamarindo.