Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike, Manuel Antonio

4.4 (25 reviews)
Spot some of Manuel Antonio's diverse wildlife on this gentle guided trek.

Overview

Discover the natural beauty of the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park on a hike with an expert guide. While trekking the 2-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. Perfect for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, this small group activity is the perfect way to see the region's biodiversity up close. 

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
3h
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group, 10 people or less

What you'll do

The day begins with a pick-up at your hotel. From there, you'll 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. Then it's time to lace up your hiking boots and follow your guide on a 2-mile (3.2 km) trail through the rainforest, keeping an eye out for sloths, monkeys, reptiles, butterflies, and various birds along the way.

The walk is easy with mostly flat trails—perfect for families with kids. Your 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 be provided with a pair of binoculars to use throughout the tour, and you'll have the opportunity to use the guides' telescopes for a closer look at the flora and fauna. After your guided hike, stay and explore the park on your own, or catch your transfer back to your accommodations.

Start times

  • Daily
    7:00 am, 12:30 pm
  • Tuesday
    Not available

What's included

  • Round-trip transportation from your hotel
  • Bilingual naturalist guides
  • Park entrance fee
  • Binoculars

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Traveler reviews

25 total ratings, 19 with reviews
4.4
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.8
Transport
4.6
Robert
Robert S.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 31, 2026
This tour was crowded with so many people. So many people on tours with guides, and our guide, unfortunately, did not really seem expert. He followed the other guides and seemed to just view from their perspective. He was very nice and energetic. Read more

This tour was crowded with so many people. So many people on tours with guides, and our guide, unfortunately, did not really seem expert. He followed the other guides and seemed to just view from their perspective. He was very nice and energetic.

Tips for future travelers

I really wanted to stay in the forest and we were led to the beach and given 20 minutes to look around. Not what we desired to do. We live in a beach town, so the forests are where we like to vacation. We didn't get an option.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
M
Michael W.
Sunrise Manor, NV | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2026
The length of the tour as advertised is incorrect. We planned on the tour ending at 10am as advertised. It ended at noon. We had to leave the tour early to meet another tour we scheduled on our own. The park was very crowded. Read more

The length of the tour as advertised is incorrect. We planned on the tour ending at 10am as advertised. It ended at noon. We had to leave the tour early to meet another tour we scheduled on our own. The park was very crowded.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wallace
Wallace H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2026

Beautiful national park, with amazing vegetation, delightful animals, and two lovely beaches (you can hike and swim in the same park!). Our guide, Roberto of Paddle 9, was outstanding. He spotted many animals (e.g., snakes and sloths) we would never have seen without him. And the capuchin monkeys put on a show by walking along side us as we finished our tour. Definitely a place worth visiting, especially with a qualified guide!

S
susan b.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2026
our guide was fabulous, spent extra time with us and offered so much information about the coungtry and the town. pointed out many animals, offered the scope to see better and shared his photos. Read more

our guide was fabulous, spent extra time with us and offered so much information about the coungtry and the town. pointed out many animals, offered the scope to see better and shared his photos.

Tips for future travelers

DO IT! fabulous to see nature

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
M
Mary B.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Dec 21, 2025
Guide was very good and we saw lots of things in the park. Read more

Guide was very good and we saw lots of things in the park.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dana
Dana F.
| Reviewed on Jul 18, 2025
This is an absolute must do! All I can say is wow! The wildlife and everything in between was just wonderful! Read more

This is an absolute must do! All I can say is wow! The wildlife and everything in between was just wonderful!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Joseuy it everything!!!
Transport
C
Chris H.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jul 07, 2025

The Manuel Antonio National Park Nature Hike was really cool. The tour guides were excellent and we saw around twenty-five different animals. The area and beaches are beautiful, definitely a must-do.

Liz
Liz M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025
This was our FAVORITE tour. Ariel had great energy and an even more positive mindset — and we saw a TON of amazing animals on his tour. He pointed out 2 types of monkeys, 2 types of sloths, a rare anteater, tons of lizards/basilisks, crabs, bats, deer, birds, you name it. He was such a fun, funny, and informative guide and we would highly recommend doing a tour with him!! Read more

This was our FAVORITE tour. Ariel had great energy and an even more positive mindset — and we saw a TON of amazing animals on his tour. He pointed out 2 types of monkeys, 2 types of sloths, a rare anteater, tons of lizards/basilisks, crabs, bats, deer, birds, you name it.

He was such a fun, funny, and informative guide and we would highly recommend doing a tour with him!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
B
Brigitte D.
Kanab, UT | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2025
Ariel was a great guide.
Park was happily less crowded then last year.
Had afternoon tour. Overall it is certainly advisable to go as early as possible to have the chance to see more animals. Read more

Ariel was a great guide.
Park was happily less crowded then last year.

Had afternoon tour.

Overall it is certainly advisable to go as early as possible to have the chance to see more animals.

Tips for future travelers

One of the most visited NP in Costa Rica. So expect a lot of tourists there.

Quality of Experience
How intuitively Ariel discovered animals!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
On time, friendly driver
J
James W.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2025

Our guide had a telescope and tripod and we were able to see more animals and birds than with the naked eye. The guides work together to point out different "sitings" of wild life. Excellent tour and we would highly recommend it. The walk is generally flat and easy to navigate.

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