Welcome to the ultimate guide on things to do in Manuel Antonio, Quepos! Nestled on the stunning Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio and its neighboring town of Quepos offer a perfect blend of natural beauty, adventure, and cultural experiences. From exploring the breathtaking Manuel Antonio National Park to enjoying adrenaline-pumping adventures and serene beach escapes, this region promises unforgettable memories for every type of traveler.
In this article, we will take you through a curated list of the most exciting and unique tours and activities you can experience in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Whether you're a nature enthusiast eager to discover exotic wildlife, an adrenaline junkie seeking thrilling outdoor adventures, or someone looking to soak in the local culture and culinary delights, you'll find a wealth of options to explore. Let’s dive into the best things to do in Manuel Antonio and start planning your next great adventure!
What kind of activities, tours, things to do in Manuel Antonio, Quepos are you looking for?
Art, Food & Culture activities in Manuel Antonio and Quepos
Chocolate Tour Manuel Antonio
Firstly, the chocolate tour starts with the cultural and biological background of cacao in the world and here in Costa Rica. It further introduces you to the collecting, fermenting, grinding, and finally the making of chocolate, the drink of the gods.
Secondly, we talk about coffee and its importance for Costa Rica’s economic and cultural development. We have a showroom with important coffee-picking instruments and real producing plants to better explain the process of coffee production. We will show you how to make Café-Chorreado, the real Costa Rican practice of preparing coffee.
Finally, we will look at one of the most important aspects of Costarican culture and tradition, the trapiche (mechanic sugarcane mill). Here we grind sugar cane to extract the juice and make delicious cocktails.
Also, explore our MEDICINAL PLANTS GARDEN
What's Included?
Transportation
Tour Guide
Water & Coffee
Chocolate & sugarcane-juice tasting
Medicinal Plants Garden
Tour Info:
Tour Price (adult): $60 + tax.
Tour Price (child 5-12): $45 + tax.
Duration: 2 hours.
Hours: 8am ; 11am ; 12am.
Native foods Cooking Class
Explore the culinary culture of Costa Rica during our cooking class in Manuel Antonio. We show you some of the lesser-known dishes this country has to offer and teach you how to cook them yourselves in a few easy steps. We will sample specialty coffees, sugarcane juice and learn about medicinal plants.
What's Included?
Hotel transportation.
Cooking instruction.
Food.
Drinks.
Tour Info:
Tour Price (adult): $85 + tax.
Duration: 3 hours.
Hour: 9am.
Spice Plantation Tour
Spice up your trip and excite your senses by learning about the history and origins of spices found in Costa Rica. See how vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, and cocoa are harvested, and enjoy a leisurely walk through a certified organic and biodynamic spice farm. With specializations in medicinal plants, essential oils, and exotic spices, this tour is perfect for all foodies and nature enthusiasts. Not only will you hear about the traditional uses of spices, but you can touch, taste, and smell for yourself. Your journey ends with a gorgeous view as well as an assortment of spice-infused treats freshly prepared by a gourmet pastry chef.
What's Included?
Hotel transportation
Tour
Tour info:
Tour Price (adult): $60 + tax
Tour Price (child 5-12): $30 + tax
Duration: 2 hours
Hours: 9am ; 1pm
Nature & Adventure activities in Manuel Antonio and Quepos
Jungle Night Walk
Take a walk through the unique, nocturnal world of the jungle in a wildlife refuge with a guide specializing in the study of Costa Rica’s exceptional wildlife and nature. Exploring the jungle at night allows you to see several species of frogs, snakes, spiders, insects, caimans, and crocodiles that you might miss during the day. After learning about the sounds and sights of nightlife in Manuel Antonio, you will walk away inspired and in awe of the jungle’s beauty
What's Included?
• Transportation (round trip)
• Certified tour guide
• Flashlights
• Entrance fee
Tour info:
Tour Price (adult): $50 + tax
Tour Price (child 4-10): $30 + tax
Duration: 2 hours
Hour: 5:30pm
Mangrove or Kayak tour
It is a journey through the calm waters of the mangroves of Damas Island, either by boat or kayak. Our expert guide will take you through the lush Mangrove where you can observe the flora and fauna of the place.
Informative tour. It takes place in the channels of Damas Island (20 minutes from our office).
Duration: 4 hours approx.(From the time it is picked up until it is going to be dropped off).Hours: depending on the ocean tides
What's Included?
Transport.
Bilingual and certified naturalist guides.
Lunch or dinner
Water bottle
Tour info:
Tour Price (day tour): $70 + tax
Tour Price (night tour): $80 + tax
Duration: 3 hours
Hours: 7:30am ; 1:30pm ; 6pm
Manuel Antonio National Park
Travelers come from all over the world to visit Manuel Antonio National Park and for good reason. Forbes just ranked it number 11 on its list of “The World’s Most Beautiful National Parks” (source: Forbes.com). Our tour guides have years of experience and a plethora of knowledge about the local wildlife, flora, and fauna.
Be prepared to see iguanas, squirrel monkeys, sloths, a variety of birds, and much more! Not only will you have the opportunity to see Costa Rica’s most famous national park, but one of its most beautiful, secluded beaches. This tour is truly a nature enthusiast’s dream
What's Included?
*Round-trip transportation
Naturalist tour guide
Park entrance fee
High-tech spotting equipment
The option of a tour in English or Spanish
*Staying in the park after the tour is optional. Any participants who choose to stay in the national park after the tour will forfeit their return transportation.
Tour info:
Tour Price (adult): $55 + tax
Tour Price (child 2-12): $35 + tax
Duration: 3 hours
Hours: 7:45am ; 11am
No tour on Tuesdays : the Manuel Antonio National Park is closed
Nauyaca Waterfall Tour
Nauyaca Waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Costa Rica and should be a stop on anyone’s list when visiting Costa Rica’s central pacific coast. Our Nauyaca tour includes a nice hike to the top tier of this epic 150 ft waterfall which will then be rewarded with a refreshing swim in the pool beneath the lower falls. We’ll also hop on a tractor ride up to our lunch spot to recharge after enjoying the falls.
What's Included?
Transportation
Lunch
Natural fruit drink
Fruits
Water
Tractor ride
Certified guides
Park entrances
Tour info:
Tour Price : $130 + tax
Duration: 6 hours
Hour: 8:30am
Horseback Riding Tour
We invite you to experience this unique horseback ride through the rainforest, ending in an swim under spectacular waterfalls. Feel the fresh air of the jungle. Take pictures of the wildlife. After picking you up at your hotel, your bilingual guide will take you to the Brisas del Nara Ranch, located in Londres de Quepos, where your horses will be waiting for you.
It´s a good opportunity to take pictures of the beautiful wildlife: Primary and secondary rain forests, toucans, butterflies, and many other animals.
What's Included?
Hotel transportation
Lunch or dinner
Fruits and drinks
Bilingual guides
Swimming in a secret river in the rainforest
Strong, healthy, Paso fino horses
Tour info:
Tour Price : $75 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Hour: 7:45am
Sport activities in Manuel Antonio and Quepos
ADR 10 in 1 Adventure Park
Experience more than 10 exciting adventures in 1 mind-blowing tour!
Immerse yourself in this magnificent property located in the heart of Costa Rica’s protected rainforest. ADR Adventure Park will give you not only one of the most complete adventures during your vacation but also an unforgettable journey through lush, pristine vegetation that is surrounded by amazing waterfalls and wildlife. On this tour, you will get the chance to hike through the jungle while your guide points out interesting flora and fauna along the way. The exciting part of being in a natural setting is you never know what you might see!
This isn’t your typical zip line tour, on our ADR Adventure Park you will zip line through the canopy, above waterfalls, free fall into waterfall pools, rappel down canyons and waterfalls, and swing like Tarzan. Experience for yourself, the beauty of the ADR Adventure Park, located just 40 minutes from Manuel Antonio up in the mountains of San Antonio de Damas. Our tours are unique experiences.
What's Included
Hotel transportation
Lunch
Highly experienced bilingual guides
Snacks and refreshments
Tour info:
Tour Price : $130 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Hours: 7:45am ; 8:45am ; 10:30am
ATV Tour Manuel Antonio
The true road in the middle of the mountain, where you will enjoy an unforgettable experience, all this on private property.
Cross the river and see a beautiful valley
Visit the roca caliza
Visit the caverns
Take a refreshing splash in our waterfall
Walk in the suspension bridge of 75m long
What's Included?
Transport.
Bilingual guides.
Lunch (arroz con pollo, plátano maduro, ensalada y tortilla) in our private restaurant.
Automatic transmission machines.
No driver’s license or permit is required.
Anyone can drive ATVs as long as they can prove (on the test ride) that they are capable of doing so.
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (single): $110 + tax
Total Tour Price (double): $140 + tax
Duration: 3 hours
Hours: 7:30am ; 10:30am ; 1:30pm
Minimum age: 4 years old, must travel with an adult on a double ATV.Weight limit: 300 pounds
Inshore Sport Fishing Manuel Antonio
Offshore sport fishing in Costa Rica you will fish for sailfish, marlin, and swordfish. There are several fantastic sites to hunt for these big fish. There are also a few spots where there are reefs where you can also find snappers and roosterfish. And in all the waters of the coast of Manuel Antonio Quepos, there are also tons of Mahi-Mahi. The price listed is for up to four guests.
What's Included?
Bait
Equipment
Beer
Soda
Water
Chips
Fruit
A complete lunch (on full-day trips)
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (cash price): $650 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Sky Diving Manuel Antonio
The best Skydive experience in Costa Rica. Jump from 9.000 feet high! After a short briefing, you and your instructor will take off to the skies starting with a 20 minute scenic flight tour over Manuel Antonio, followed by a 30 second free fall and 5 to 8 minute parachute ride. After you open the parachute, the instructor offers guidance as you fly the parachute together and you choose between a peaceful or a wild ride. The ocean, the mountains and the rivers will be underneath you. A tandem jump is a great way to experience the maximum thrill and it offers the opportunity to do it as safe as possible while under close supervision of an experienced instructor.
What's Included?
1 jump from 9,000ft
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (single): $389 + tax
Duration: 30 min
Ziplining
Our tour begins with an amazing drive through the rainforest out to our canopy site just outside Quepos. During the ride, there are many stops for everyone to learn about the flora and fauna of the area. Our local bilingual guides have a vast knowledge of the area and love to share the many secrets that the rainforest holds with our clients. The canopy site is located approximately forty-five minutes from Manuel Antonio Park, in an area called Paso Real. Here we have a brand new ranch house with full facilities, located next to a pristine river, this is where we serve a full breakfast or lunch (depending on tour time). A spectacular river is a backdrop for these platforms carefully built in the canopy of the rainforest in Costa Rica. Clients are able to traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, as they sail through the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy, and over the trails far below.
What's Included?
Transportation
Lunch
Natural Fruit Drink
Snacks
Water
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $85 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Canopy course consists of :
18 platforms
10 “zip lines”
2 rappel lines
1 suspension bridge
1 " Tarzan Swing"
A butterfly farm and serpentarium
Ziplining with Sukia Park
Experience this thrilling zip line adventure above Sukia's natural rainforest reserve in the heart of Manuel Antonio.
What's Included?
Transportation
Water
Certified guides
Education on flora and fauna
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $75 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Canopy course consists of :
10 lines
16 platforms
2 Elevated anchored, river platform
Suspended platform
2 nature jungle trails
4 suspension bridges
100 foot waterfall rappel (optional)
Landing Platform (Right at Manuel Antonio main road)
Water activities in Manuel Antonio and Quepos
Full Day Waterfall Adventure
See it all and see it like a local. You will enjoy the ocean, jungle, beach, waterfalls, and swimming holes in this full day of adventure. The theme of this tour is "Off the Beaten Path". You will not experience another tour like this in Costa Rica. We pick you up and head South to some of our favorite waterfalls in the country. We will visit multiple waterfalls, each waterfall has a swimming hole, places to explore, and areas to jump from and 1 waterfall even has a 20ft natural water slide. We will also visit our favorite beach in the area which is outlined in caves and palm trees. We will finish the day with an authentic Costa Rican meal.
What's Included?
Transportation
Lunch
Natural Fruit Drink
Snacks
Water
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $130 + tax
Duration: 6 hours
Hours: 7:30am ; 10:30am ; 1:30pm
Ocean Kayaking
Our pedal kayak expedition starts at the scenic coastline of the local bay of Maracas from where we will set off to explore the breathtakingly beautiful coastline of Manuel Antonio, witness wild and marine life roam in their natural habitat and exotic sea birds flying over us while we pedal.
We will pass by 4 to 5 secluded beaches you would not be able to witness otherwise during your stay in Manuel Antonio. We’ll break up our trip by hopping on shore at one of the beaches to enjoy some delicious, tropical fruits before heading back.
What's Included?
Fruits
Water
Bilingual guides
Transportation
Dry bags
Equipment
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (adult): $75 + tax
Total Tour Price (child 5-11): $45 + tax
Duration: 3 hours
Hours: 8:45am ; 2:45pm
Jet Ski Coastal Tour
This is a guided jet ski tour in Manuel Antonio Park and surrounding beaches. The tour leaves from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. What you might see on the tour:Tropical fish, turtles, dolphins, and whales when in season. Occasionally, even monkeys in the park beaches.
What's Included?
Professional Guide
Jet Ski
Life Jacket
Tropical Fruit Snack
Beverages
Transportation from Quepos/Manuel Antonio hotel or private home to Marina and return transport.
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (single): $130 + tax
Total Tour Price (Double): $160 + tax
Duration: 2 hours
Hours: 7:30am ; 10:30am ; 1:30pm ; 3:30pm
Paddle Boarding
Combine the thrill of surfing, the control of kayaking, and the best view of the ocean all into one! You can stand, kneel, sit or lay down on your paddleboard while exploring fish and other marine life. Paddleboarding is perfect for avid adventurers or even first-timers looking for a relaxing day at sea. It is important to know that you will not disturb the local wildlife during your excursion.
You also have the choice of adding a banana boat ride and snorkel adventure to your day. Snorkeling off your paddle board allows you to discover a variety of different areas and fish.
What's Included?
Hotel transportation
Bilingual guides
All necessary equipment
Snorkeling equipment
Snacks and refreshments
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $165 + tax
Duration: 2 hours
Hours: 8am ; 11am ; 2pm
Scuba Diving in Manuel Antonio
Oceans Unlimited Scuba Diving offers everything from beginner courses to experienced deep dives. Their mission is to provide quality, safe, PADI dive courses, training packages, online dive training, professional courses, and dive trips. They are ECO operators and have received Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Awards for the last 4 years for their environmental work in Costa Rica.
What's Included?
Licensed diver dive of Manuel Antonio coast
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $115 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Sunset Sail in Manuel Antonio Coast
The tour starts with picking you up at your hotel in Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Our team will be ready at the Marina Pez Vela, waiting for your arrival, and will join you throughout the trip.
Getting on-board, our well trained crew will receive you with a warm and friendly welcome and share information about the trip itself, and the on-board safe practices. While sailing the vessel along the Manuel Antonio coast, our crew will make sure you’ll have a pleasant journey, providing you with info about marine life and answering all of your questions.
Natural drinks, sodas, water, cokctails and light snacks will be offered during the tour. We’ll have the opportunity to see dolphins, stingrays, sea turtles, and seasonal migrating whales. We ́ll also see the most important islands of the area, like Olocuita and Isla Verde, once used by the Quepo Indians as a burial location and Mogote home of the Quepos Shaman.
You won't miss punta Quepos and Punta Catedral which enclose Manuel Antonio Beach – one of Costa Rica’s finest – while calm winds will sail the boat to Playa Puerto Escondido, in the Manuel Antonio National Park.
On our way back, we continue sailing along the coast until Biesanz Beach, nestled between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. This is the right place to snorkel and it's where you’ll have the chance to spot more than 35 different species of tropical fish. During this extra leisure time, about 30 minutes, we’ll have our hot, cook-on-board gourmet meal. Finally, after this beautiful experience, it’s time to sail back to the Marina Pez Vela.
What's Included?
Dolphin, Whale, and Turtle watching
Snorkeling
Hotel transportation
All necessary equipment
Snacks and refreshments
Alcoholic beverages
Fresh-grilled fish for lunch or dinner
Tour info:
Total Tour Price : $95 + tax
Duration: 5 hours
Hours: 8:20am ; 1:30pm
Surf Lessons in Manuel Antonio
This all-inclusive surf lesson package includes direct transportation to Manuel Antonio Beach where you will be given a full two-hour surf lesson, a chair, and an umbrella, along with snacks and fresh juices. This package includes a full-day surf rental and a surf instructor dedicated to getting you up on a board as soon as possible.
What's Included?
Transportation
2-hour lesson
Surfboard for 3 hours
Water / fresh fruit
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (cash only): $65 + tax
Duration: 2 hours
Hours: 7:45am ; 11:30am ; 2:30pm
White Water Rafting (Savegre River)
Travel deep into the rainforest for a full-day adventure on one of the cleanest rivers in Central America. This Savegre river trip includes a short hike to one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area. In the rainy season (May thru December), you will encounter big-water Class III rapids with roller coaster-type waves. In the dry season, (May thru December) you can raft with a guide, or challenge the rapids one on one in your own inflatable kayak (ducky). Expert guides will be there to help you navigate the rapids.
What's Included?
Hotel transportation
All necessary equipment
Bilingual guides
Snacks and refreshments
Lunch (depending on the trip)
Tour info:
Total Tour Price (cash only): $108 per person + tax
Duration: 6 hours
Wellness activity in Manuel Antonio and Quepos
Contrast Therapy at Villas Jacquelina : Pura Vida Plunge
Contrast therapy, also known as temperature therapy, involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures to promote various health benefits. This therapy session will start in our sauna. The hot temperature dilates blood vessels, promoting relaxation, increasing circulation, and reducing muscle tension. The therapy session will continue in our two-person cold plunge. The cold temperature constricts blood vessels, reducing inflammation and numbing pain. Alternating between the two temperatures can enhance recovery, improve muscle function, and promote overall well-being.
How long will the contrast therapy session last?
A contrast therapy session gives participants access to our amenities for 30 minutes. Participants can go back and forth between hot and cold but most will do 15-20 minutes in the hot sauna followed by 3-10 minutes in the cold plunge.
How much does it cost?
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