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Explore Manuel Antonio National Park with a private naturalist guide, spotting sloths, monkeys, and toucans along the way. Tour options range from a 3-hour guided walk to a full 8-hour day trip with hotel pickup from Jaco.
Free Cancellation Private 3-hour guided park walk with a naturalist, spotting scope, beach swim stop, and hotel pickup in Quepos/Manuel Antonio.
Free Cancellation Private 8-hour day tour from Jaco hotels to Manuel Antonio with guide, park tickets, lunch and beach time.
Free Cancellation 3-hour private tour of Manuel Antonio with hotel pickup, entrance fee, Swarovski optics, and photos included.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Manuel Antonio National Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
A private guide meets you at your hotel, handles the park paperwork, and walks you into one of Central America's most wildlife-dense forests at whatever pace suits your group. Over roughly three hours you'll cover the flat, paved main trails with a certified naturalist carrying a spotting scope, so the sloths you'd walk straight past become close-ups. Most tours finish with swim time at Playa Manuel Antonio, a white-sand crescent with calm, sheltered water.
Sendero El Perezoso runs about 1.1 km through cecropia trees where both two-toed and three-toed sloths feed. Guides with scopes find them within minutes — look for a lump that doesn't match the branch. The trail is flat, paved, and the park's wheelchair route.
White-faced capuchins, mantled howlers, and the endangered Central American squirrel monkey all live here — the tití is found only here and in Corcovado. Howler roars carry from the canopy before you see them. Keep bags zipped; capuchins unzip backpacks in seconds.
Playa Manuel Antonio is an 800 m crescent of white sand with turquoise water and lifeguards on duty. The Deluxe tour builds in 45 minutes of swimming after the walk. Snorkeling works along the rocky sides where coral and reef fish gather.
Your guide carries professional optics — one operator lists Swarovski equipment — and sets the scope on toucans, fiery-billed aracaris, tree frogs, and sleeping sloths. Most travelers line up phone cameras behind the eyepiece for frame-worthy shots. Guides also send you photos from the walk.
This 1.4 km loop climbs a former island now joined to the mainland by a sand spit, passing five viewpoints over Pacific seabird rookeries. At low tide you can see La Trampa, pre-Columbian Quepoa stonework once used to trap turtles. The full-day Jaco tour allows time for it; short tours often skip it.
About 352 bird species are recorded in the park, and the 7:00–9:00 a.m. window is the best one. Kingfishers, tanagers, and pelicans turn up on most walks. Move quietly and the guide's ear does half the work — many birds are located by call first.
All tours on this page are private — one guide, your group only — but they differ in length, base town, and whether the park ticket is included. Entry is capped at 1,120 visitors per day, so timing and paperwork matter more here than at most parks.
Two formats dominate: a 3-hour park walk (roughly 2 hours on trails plus beach time) or an 8-hour full day from Jaco that adds the one-hour drive each way, lunch, and more beach time. Travelers staying in Quepos or Manuel Antonio rarely need the full day. From Jaco, the full-day option is the practical one.
The Constitutional Court cut daily entry to 1,120 visitors in May 2023, and the park does not add capacity. Book 1–2 weeks ahead in dry season, months ahead for Christmas and Easter week. If you book last-minute, the operator may cancel your tour when park tickets run out.
Park entry costs $18.08 per foreign adult and $5.65 per child 2–12, and it's sometimes bundled into the tour price and sometimes charged on top. The Jaco full-day tour includes the ticket; the $95 Deluxe tour bills it separately; the $112 walk covers it. Check before comparing prices.
Operators must register every participant's full name and nationality in the park ticket system before the visit. The $95 Deluxe tour warns that bookings without this information may be cancelled if tickets sell out. Bring the physical passport matching your booking — a phone photo doesn't work at the gate.
The 3-hour tours pick up only at hotels in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area. The 8-hour tour picks up at Jaco hotels and Airbnbs in an air-conditioned minivan. If you're staying elsewhere, arrange your own transport to a pickup point or hire the Jaco operator.
All three tours are listed as wheelchair accessible, matching the park itself: Sendero El Perezoso is flat and paved, with universal-access rest areas and overlooks. Strollers work on the same route. Sand and the Punta Catedral loop are the exceptions — expect to skip those sections.
Every tour on this page allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. The park is closed Tuesdays, so double-check your date before booking — a Tuesday booking is the most common planning mistake in the region.
Guides work in English and Spanish across all three tours; the $112 walk also lists German. One operator names its lead guide, Robert Umaña, an ICT-certified naturalist. Guides at the entrance can also be hired directly (7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.) for roughly $40–70 per person.
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| Deluxe Private Park Tour (Quepos/Manuel Antonio base) | Private Full-Day Tour from Jaco | Private Park Walk with Robert Umaña | Independent visit with entrance-guide hire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 hours | 8 hours | 3 hours | 2-3 hours guided |
| Price from | $95 per adult | $180 per adult | $112 per adult | $18.08 entry + $40-70 guide |
| Best for | Couples and families staying locally who want the top-rated guide with scope time | Travelers based in Jaco who want transport, lunch, and beach time handled in one booking | Photographers and German speakers — Swarovski optics and guide-taken photos included | Budget travelers and solo visitors flexible on guide choice |
| Park ticket | Not included — pay $18.08 adult / $5.65 child separately | Included (listed at $19 per person) | Included in the price | You buy it yourself at serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr |
| Includes | Spotting scope, snacks, air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup in Quepos/Manuel Antonio | Hotel pickup and drop-off, guide, bottled water, lunch, beach time, minivan transport | Entrance fee, fruit, Swarovski optics, photos from the walk, local shuttle, ICT-certified English or German guide | ICT-certified guides from the Association of Certified Tour Guides of Quepos at the entrance, 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. |
| Rating | 4.97 (574 reviews) | 4.29 (156 reviews) | 4.78 (9 reviews) | No aggregate rating |
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Wednesday to Monday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The park closes every Tuesday for trail maintenance — year-round, including holidays. This is the single most common trip-planning mistake in the area.
Entry runs on 15-minute arrival slots tied to your ticket, so the time on your booking is when you enter, not a suggestion. Concession services run slightly longer than the gate: the cafeteria and artisan shop are open 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., locker rental 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., and certified guides at the entrance 7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
From November to April, special afternoon tours run at 3:30 p.m. Saturday–Monday and night tours at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday–Friday.
Take the 7:00 a.m. slot if you can. Wildlife is most active in the first two hours, the trails are empty, and by 10 a.m. the main beach fills up.
The park sits 7 km southeast of Quepos, 157 km from San José. There is no official park parking; private lots near the entrance charge ₡3,000–5,000 (about $6–10) per day.
Private tours pick up at hotels in Quepos and Manuel Antonio; the full-day option picks up in Jaco.
December to April is the dry season — sunny, low-to-mid 30s °C, minimal rain, and the busiest months of the year. Book tours 1–2 weeks ahead then; Christmas and Easter week sell out months in advance.
November and May are the shoulder picks: greener forest, thinner crowds, decent weather. Humpback whales pass close to shore August–November, which makes the green season worth it for catamaran day-trips.
September and October are the wettest months — muddy trails, afternoon downpours, and the lowest visitation of the year. On the plus side, the park's seasonal waterfall only flows in this period. SINAC recommends early starts and rain gear if you go then.
Whenever you visit, the 7:00–9:00 a.m. window is best for wildlife and the only time the trails feel quiet in dry season.
The trail network is explicitly adapted for wheelchair users, with universal-access facilities, rest areas, and overlooks. Sendero El Perezoso (the Sloth Trail) is flat, paved, and works for both wheelchairs and strollers — it's also where you'll see the sloths, so nobody in the group misses the headline act.
All three private tours on this page are listed as wheelchair accessible, including transport. Beach boardwalks are accessible; sand and the 1.4 km Punta Catedral loop are not, as the loop has incline.
For older visitors, most trails are flat with benches along the way. SINAC recommends closed walking shoes over sandals and going early to avoid midday heat on exposed stretches.
Families: infants ride in strollers or on laps, infant seats are available on the Jaco tour, and there are restrooms and changing rooms by the beaches. Swim at Playa Manuel Antonio rather than Espadilla Sur, which has stronger surf and occasional rip currents.
Inside the park you'll find a concession cafeteria and artisan shop (7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.), locker rental (7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), and certified guide service at the entrance (7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.). The cafeteria sells drinks at premium prices, so carry your own bottle.
Potable-water refill fountains sit on the Sloth Trail and near Playas Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur. Bring a 1.5 L reusable bottle — single-use plastic is confiscated at bag check.
By the beaches there are restrooms, changing rooms, and showers. Soap and shampoo are banned in the showers. Lifeguards patrol the swimming beaches, though rip currents still occur.
Food is not allowed on trails or beaches, so plan meals around the cafeteria or eat before entry. Keep any bags with you at all times — capuchin monkeys and raccoons unzip unattended backpacks in seconds.
Tickets: online only at serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr, using passport details; there is no booth at the gate. Max 6 tickets per transaction. Bring the physical passport matching the booking. People dressed as rangers sell fake tickets near the entrance — rangers wear SINAC logos and work only inside the park.
Banned at bag check: food and packaged snacks, single-use plastic bottles, pets, alcohol, smoking materials, umbrellas, balls, tents, hammocks, drones without a SINAC permit, and Bluetooth speakers. Reusable water bottles pass. Drinks in disposable packaging do not.
Prohibited on the trails: leaving marked areas, feeding wildlife (fined), and collecting shells, plants, rocks, or sand. Commercial filming and drone flying need separate SINAC authorization.
Health warnings: learn to recognize the manzanillo trees lining the beaches — their sap and apple-like fruit are toxic, and rain dripping from them can blister skin. Never sit in their shade.
Entry is regulated by Decree No. 22482-MIRENEM as modified by Executive Decree 42496-MINAE, with the 1,120-visitor daily cap enforced since May 2023.
It depends on the tour. The $112 private walk includes the entrance fee, and the 8-hour Jaco tour bundles it at $19 per person. The $95 Deluxe tour charges it separately — $18.08 per foreign adult and $5.65 per child 2–12. Compare total prices, not sticker prices.
Every visitor must be registered by name in SINAC's park ticket system, and entry is capped at 1,120 people per day. The Deluxe tour explicitly warns that bookings without full names and nationality can be cancelled if tickets sell out. Bring the physical passport on the day — a phone photo isn't accepted at the gate.
Only the 8-hour full-day tour covers Jaco, picking up at hotels and Airbnbs in an air-conditioned minivan for the roughly one-hour drive. The 3-hour tours pick up exclusively at hotels in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. If you're in Jaco and short on time, you'd need to arrange your own transfer.
Possibly, but you'll walk past most of them. Sloths look like a lump that doesn't match the branch, and untrained eyes miss them entirely. Every private tour includes a guide with a professional spotting scope — one operator carries Swarovski optics — which turns a distant fur ball into a close-up, often with a baby on board.
Yes on most. The Deluxe tour schedules 45 minutes at a swimming beach inside the park after the two-hour walk, and the Jaco full-day tour lists beach time with lunch. The calm bay at Playa Manuel Antonio is the swim spot; Espadilla Sur has stronger surf. Bring swimwear under quick-dry clothes — there are changing rooms by the beaches.
Book 1–2 weeks ahead in dry season (December–April) and months ahead for Christmas and Easter week, because the park's 1,120-visitor daily cap doesn't stretch. All three tours on this page require 24 hours' notice for a full refund. Also check that your date isn't a Tuesday — the park closes every week on Tuesdays.
Yes. All three tours are listed as wheelchair accessible, and the park's main trail, Sendero El Perezoso, is flat and paved — strollers work too. Infants can ride in prams or on laps, and the Jaco tour has infant seats. Skip the Punta Catedral loop, which has incline, and note that bags are checked, so no packaged snacks for the kids.
A 1.5 L reusable water bottle (single-use plastic is confiscated), your physical passport, closed walking shoes, biodegradable sunscreen, insect repellent, and swimwear under quick-dry clothes. No food, drones, umbrellas, or Bluetooth speakers — bags are scanned at entry. Keep the bag zipped and on your body; capuchin monkeys are expert thieves.
English and Spanish on all three tours. The $112 private walk with ICT-certified naturalist Robert Umaña also offers German. Tours run at your group's pace since there are no strangers to accommodate.
Tours run in rain — this is a rainforest, and May–November afternoons regularly dump water. The 24-hour cancellation window applies for a full refund if you'd rather bail. September and October are the wettest months with muddy trails, but that's also when the park's seasonal waterfall actually flows.
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Three hours, just your group, with a naturalist guide in English or Spanish. The walk through the park runs about two hours, then you get 45 minutes at a swimming beach inside the park before a snack at the exit and the drive back. The guide carries a professional spotting scope, and you can line up your phone or camera against the eyepiece to photograph whatever it's trained on — usually sloths, monkeys, or toucans. Snacks, air-conditioned transport, and the scope are included. Gratuities and the park entrance ticket (paid separately) are not. Pickup covers hotels and houses in Quepos and Manuel Antonio only; give the operator your lodging name when booking so they can set your pickup time. Bring a reusable water bottle — plastic commercial bottles aren't allowed in the park. Pack a swimsuit if you want that beach stop. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English, Spanish
A private guide picks you up at your Jaco hotel or Airbnb in an air-conditioned minivan and drives you to Manuel Antonio for a full 8-hour day — just your group, no strangers. The roughly one-hour ride doubles as an intro: the guide walks you through what you're passing on the way. Park entry tickets ($19 per person) are bought in advance and included, so you skip the ticket line and walk straight in. Inside, the guide leads you through the tropical dry forest on the peninsula, between Espadilla Sur and the other white-sand beach — keep an eye on your camera, since the monkeys roam free and sloths are a regular sighting. Beach time is built into the schedule, so bring a suit. Lunch, bottled water, hotel pickup and drop-off, and an English- or Spanish-speaking professional guide are all in the price. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English, Spanish
Robert Umaña or another ICT-certified naturalist guide leads this 3-hour private walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, pointing out sloths, monkeys, toucans, hummingbirds, and frogs along the way. Because the group is private, the pace and stops adjust to you. Every guide carries optical equipment — Swarovski optics for clear wildlife viewing — and takes photos of the animals during the walk, which you get afterward. Your entrance fee to the park, fresh fruit, and private shuttle service within the Manuel Antonio area are all included. Pickup is at your hotel reception, with the exact time confirmed once you've booked. Guides work in English, Spanish, and German. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, English, Spanish