Manuel Antonio National Park one day tour from San Jose
Description
Manuel Antonio National Park is considered one of the most beautiful parks in Costa Rica. This tour you will have the opportunity to see pristine beaches with coral reefs, bordered by exhuberant vegetation and the natural wonders of the tropical rainforest.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This excursion begins when we pick you up the your Hotel early in the morning and head to the pacific coast. We will make a stop on the way for a delicious typical breakfast that includes gallo pinto, eggs to taste, meat, sausage, ripe banana, cheese, custard, omelette, fruit, coffee and juice . On the way to Manuel Antonio National Park, you will travel along the coastline enjoying scenic views, including African palm plantations. You will also travel past small villages along the Pacific Coast, until you reach the port of Quepos and the ultimately the National Park. Once in the park, you can simply relax and enjoy the beach, sunbathe, or hike through the park’s trails, which will allow you to observe Manuel Antonio’s abundant flora and fauna. Several species of monkeys, iguanas, birds and possibly even the three-toed sloth can be seen.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Our guide will meet you at the lobby of your Hotel at the scheduled time
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- We require to get complete name and passport number from every person going in this tour. This is necessary for registering every person to the park ticket's system, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to enter the park. Please reply to this confirmation with your names plus nationality and passport number. We highly appreciate you to send us this information as soon as possible to avoid eventual troubles like missing the chance to visit the park, as there are limited tickets available everyday
- Please bring your own towel if you are willing to swim inside the national park
- Be aware that you cannot bring inside the park (water in single-use bottles or food)
- The total duration of this excursion is 13 hours, but take into consideration that sometimes you can be back at your Hotel later becuase of the traffic on the way back ( Weekends and holidays)
Reviews(27)
Everything went well, but it was definitely too expensive. The stops for the restroom and meals were such a 'tourist trap' and not very good.
Nous vous remercions d'avoir pris le temps de partager votre avis. Nous sommes ravis de savoir que le déroulement général s'est bien passé, mais nous regrettons sincèrement que la sélection des arrêts pour les repas et les tarifs n'aient pas été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Sachez que nous prenons vos remarques très au sérieux afin de réévaluer nos points d'arrêt et garantir une expérience de meilleure qualité à nos futurs voyageurs. Merci d'avoir choisi nos services.
Excellent experience, a unique place, sensational beaches, you will see squirrel monkeys, cappuccinos and auyadores
Muchas gracias por sus amables palabras. Nos alegra muchísimo que haya disfrutado de la belleza única de nuestras playas y, sobre todo, del avistamiento de las tres especies de monos; es siempre un espectáculo natural inolvidable. Fue un verdadero placer acompañarle en esta experiencia. ¡Esperamos recibirle nuevamente muy pronto!
We took tour with Freddy (day after Christmas) and he was was very engaging and funny. He explained about Costa Rica's economy, focus on conservation, and economy. It took almost 3.5 hours to get to the park and it was the most disappointing part of the trip (should be the main attraction) as we didn't see any animals, other than few white faced monkeys. Freddy tried to show us a sloth and a python perched on very top of some trees and they were barely visible. Tour guides carry their telescopes and they help each other when they see something on trees. Walking trail is okay through the park and it seemed rushed. Spent most of the time on beach - water is very warm and beach sand is relatively white (unlike black volcanic sand in Liberia). It's probably not tour guide's fault for not sighting any animals but be prepared to not see any. Beach is fun for sure but you could stay the night near the park to get most out of it.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We appreciate your kind words about Freddy and his engaging explanations. Wildlife sightings can vary, especially during busy seasons, but we’re glad you enjoyed the beach and overall experience. Your feedback is truly valued.
We had a wonderful time visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. Our guide was Harlem and driver was Carlos. They picked us up at Airbnb which I was really glade. We had breakfast buffet on the way near Crocodile walk and a short stop at Jaco beach outlook. We arrived the park around mid-day. We were amazed of the abundance of the wildlife and the lushness of the forest. Harlem was very knowledgeable, kind and experienced. We had a chance spending time at the beach of the park chilling/swimming. We are so glade we did the tour. We saw sloth, howler monkey, white-faced capuchin monkey, Caoti (raccoon dog) etc. We had a nice lunch at a restaurant located at the top floor of a hotel with spectacular view of Manuel Antonio. We definitely recommend the tour its well worth.
Thank you very much for sharing such a detailed and wonderful review of your experience at Manuel Antonio National Park. We are delighted to know that you enjoyed every part of the tour, from the smooth pickup and scenic stops to the wildlife encounters and relaxing time at the beach. It’s great to hear that Harlem and Carlos provided excellent service and helped make your day memorable with their professionalism and knowledge. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in Costa Rica for more unforgettable experiences. Pura Vida 🌿
The tour operator contacted us right away to confirm pickup location and was very responsive. The breakfast and lunch featured several food choice and were served in good restaurants. Although we went during the rainy season, we were able to see many animals and bird species. The tour guide was knowledgeable and very friendly. We definitely recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're glad you had a great experience, even during the rainy season. Our team works hard to make sure everything runs smoothly, and it's great to hear that you enjoyed the food, wildlife, and the guide’s company. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future!
We had an amazing time on this tour! The day was well-organized and although it was long, it was absolutely worth it. We spotted sloths, crabs, and even deer along the way. The meals were authentic Costa Rican dishes served in clean, welcoming restaurants. The bus was comfortable and air-conditioned, which made a big difference. Our guide and driver were both incredibly friendly and helpful, making the experience even better. I’d definitely recommend this trip to anyone visiting Costa Rica! A few tips: wear sneakers, but also pack sandals and a change of clothes in a backpack. Note that plastic water bottles aren’t allowed in the park, so bring a reusable bottle. If you forget anything, don’t worry—you'll visit a souvenir shop before going to the park that has just about everything you might need for your adventure.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing time on the tour and that the wildlife, meals, and comfort of the journey all exceeded your expectations. We truly appreciate the helpful tips you've included for future visitors those kinds of insights make a big difference. Our team, especially the guide and driver, will be happy to know that their efforts made your day even more memorable. We hope you carry great memories of Costa Rica, and we'd love to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!
A great trip from san jose, the Harlem guide and the driver Christian are great! We saw lazy ones, araras, monkeys, we went to the beach and lunch was in an amazing place!
Que ótimo saber que você teve uma experiência tão positiva! Vamos repassar os elogios ao guia Harlem e ao motorista Christian. Ver tantos animais e aproveitar a praia deve ter sido realmente especial. Esperamos que volte em breve para mais aventuras!
Amazing, amazing AMAZING day! Our driver/guide Marco was incredibly kind and informative! He picked us up from our hotel and from there we stopped at the included breakfast area, from there he told us facts about things we would see on the road and even stopped for us to get a picture by the Jaco sign with a pretty view since we were not visiting there just passing through to get to the national park. From there Marcos took us to the Manuel Antonio National Park where he was very clear what we could/couldn’t bring in for our safety & the park (no plastic of any kind), he then accompanied us walking through the trail of our choice, helping point out some monkeys, iguanas and a sloth! From there he left us to enjoy both beaches for a couple hours until we met back up for a beautiful lunch and drive back to our hotel! 100% recommend this tour and would do again!
thank you very much for your comments, We´re glad to know it was a great day ..
It is a unique experience! From the pick up our driver Joshua and our guide Marco were very attentive and friendly, it is a very complete tour in which we managed to observe a lot of flora and fauna typical of the region during the walk, and then continue with a swim on the beach! We always had wonderful views along the way in the minivan and always very comfortable. Breakfast and lunch were excellent, very good portions and above all delicious, it is certainly an unmissable experience that I recommend doing completely. Don’t forget to wear comfortable and fresh clothes and a good swimsuit!
¡Muchísimas gracias por compartir tu experiencia tan detallada y positiva! Nos alegra mucho saber que Josué y Marco hicieron que tu tour fuera cómodo, ameno y lleno de momentos inolvidables. También nos encanta que hayas disfrutado de la flora, fauna, las vistas y, por supuesto, de la deliciosa comida. Gracias por la recomendación de llevar ropa cómoda y traje de baño, seguro ayudará a futuros viajeros. ¡Esperamos poder acompañarte de nuevo en otra aventura pronto!
This was a really wonderful tour. In one day, I saw so many beautiful things. First the drive, while long, is full of stunning views, and you get a real sense of the country. We were a very small group, so I was in the front of a beautiful big saloon car, and could enjoy all the views to the max. We stopped in a beautiful restaurant for a delicious, simple breakfast, and then had an incredible view of crocodiles just under the nearby bridge. Then the National Park itself - what a joy - a combination of jungle, full of Sloths, monkeys and other wildlife, and gorgeous beaches and sparkling water you could swim in. Lunch afterwards was very pleasant. Our guide was fantastic - very, very knowledgeable and happy to answer all our questions. I would have loved to have a little more time in the park itself - it's big, and if you stop to really look for wildlife, want to follow all the paths, AND have time for a good swim - it's quite a squeeze... but overall, it was a very comfortable, well designed tour and an amazing experience.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the full day — from the scenic drive and wildlife spotting to relaxing on the beautiful beaches of the national park. We agree, Manuel Antonio is a special place where jungle and ocean meet in the most magical way. Your comment about needing more time in the park is totally valid — it’s such a rich area that one day never feels like enough! We’ll keep that in mind for future improvements. We're also glad your guide helped make the day even more enjoyable. Hope to see you again soon in Costa Rica!
