Tours and Activities in Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio Park:
Manuel Antonio National Park is the country’s smallest national park at just over 683 hectares, but it is also one of its most amazing. Home to one of the last sizable populations of the endangered Squirrel monkeys in the region, White Faced and Howler monkeys are also common in the park. Cathedral Point, with its forest-topped cliffs, is connected to the mainland by a thin land bridge that separates the park’s two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. Explore Costa Rica’s smallest and most beautiful national park with one of our experienced bilingual guides. As you hike through the park, you will learn about the history as well as the amazing diversity of both plant and animal life in the area.
Boat Sailing and Dolphin Watching:
Pure fun and romance on the Sunset Sailing and snorkeling cruise. Observe marine life and search for dolphins while enjoying sailing
Captain Steve at the helm of the Spanish Dancer. We offer your choice of a morning sail into the Manuel Antonio Marine Preserve or a sunset sail. Dolphins play in the wake as we sail silently through the blue pacific waters. The rushing of wind and waves are frequently interrupted by the splash of dolphins and whales coming near for a closer look. Tour subject to change according to season and boating conditions.
The tour
Canopy:
A true jungle adventure. Travel to the inland mountains for a 1/2 day of canopy zip line fun. Harness up and swing between the elevated platforms. Pure fun and excitement. Tour begins with an amazing drive through the rainforest out to our canopy site. During the ride, there are many stops where everyone can 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.
Naranjo River Rafting Class III and IV
The Naranjo River drops steeply from the coastal mountain range above Quepos through a beautiful jungle gorge and takes you on a wild ride to sea level, passing nearby farmlands and palm plantations. The river banks are overgrown with jungle, and the canyon walls meet the water at 90-degree angles. The whitewater, jungle, canyon, and sky make for an unforgettable day. For the advanced rafter, this is an exciting and refreshing ride through the Naranjo Canyon. Also, if you are a first-time paddler who welcomes a challenge and is looking for the excitement of big waves, hydraulics, and stunning scenery, then this whitewater rafting trip is for you! (Amigos del Rio)
Kayaking:
Ocean Kayaking:
Paddle near islands to see the nesting grounds of sea birds. Paddling a kayak on the open ocean can be an exciting way to experience Costa Rica’s marine and coastal wonders. Sea kayaking is much easier than river kayaking, and most trips can be done by people who have never tried the sport before. A sea kayaking tour is an opportunity to get a close look at the myriad of life below and above the ocean’s surface, from flying fish and sea turtles to frigate birds and pelicans. Explore some hard-to-reach offshore islands and coastal estuaries. (Amigos del Rio)
Mangrove Kayaking:
Immerse yourself in indescribable beauty, where nature reveals its flawlessness. In the mangrove, everything flows harmoniously: the blend of fresh and salt water, the diversity of the most extraordinary plants, and the wildlife in all of its splendor. This tour will show you nature’s unparalleled wonders, just 10 minutes from Manuel Antonio. The canals lead you on a ride through nature and time… let the current carry your kayak through this miraculous experience! Paddle-protected inland waterways are a perfect place to learn this magical way of exploring coastal mangrove areas and seeing wildlife. None of this trip is in the open ocean, and the pace of this trip will depend on your abilities.(Amigos del Rio)
Horseback Riding Beach and mountains:
Explore the mystic rainforest on horseback, learning about different plants and fruits before arriving at the spectacular waterfalls, ride on one of the longest lonely beaches on the Pacific coast, or combine beach and rainforest at once. Take a refreshing dip in natural ponds before heading back for a relaxing lunch in the countryside. No experience is necessary.½ day (only going to the natural pools) Recommendations: Bring long pants and a bathing suit under your clothes and a towel.
Mangrove Sanctuary:
A convenient day trip out of this region is to Damas Island, just a 30-minute boat ride from Quepos. The island has mangrove swamps filled with crocodiles and other colorful animals. Spottings include white-face monkeys, caymans, boas, and sometimes even a glimpse of the rare silky anteater. Both migrant and resident birds are very abundant. Our experienced bilingual guide will share the beauty and natural history of the canals from the comfort of our boat, equipped with all the gear needed to explore this unique journey.
ATV Quad Runners:
Experience the most unforgettable ATV tour in the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area, located just minutes north of the Manuel Antonio National Park biological corridor. After hearing our safety and security instructions, drive your own fully-equipped Honda ATV into the rugged mountains, where your professional bilingual guides lead you through rustic tropical settings, unpaved roads, giant African Palm Plantations, real working cattle farms, and typical Costa Rican towns like Naranjito, Londres, Villa Nueva, and Esquipulas.
Reward yourself by indulging in different natural swimming pools along the gentle river banks of the Gallega River, where you can swim in refreshing, crystalline waters. End your exotic journey with a delicious Tico-style meal at our private Finca Anita while viewing stunning mountain vistas and Costa Rica´s unique tropical ecosystem – all beautiful at any time of year.
Jet Sky:
Enjoy a unique 2-hour excursion on Yamaha wave runners to see the sights around Manuel Antonio National Park. All of our Jet Skis are low emission because our company is always trying to preserve our precious environment.
Our dingy will bring you from the Quepos pier to our platforms where we have the jet skis. Here your guide will give you a safety briefing and show you how to use the machines. On the platforms, we have lockers where you may store your personal items. Each Jet Ski has a small dry compartment where you can store small necessary items such as cameras.
3 daily
Canyoning:
Have no fear. There is no free climbing here. You will have 2 ropes secured to properly maintained and licensed cables at the top. You will be supplied with gloves, helmets, and harnesses that are attached to the ropes with a couple of climbing devices that will allow you to ascend the waterfall in a safe and steady manner.
This allows you to concentrate on where you are placing your feet while enjoying the view. Then you start to climb the 90-foot waterfall, and the adventure begins…
…finally, you find yourself at the top and get to turn back and look down on the canopy and take in your climb. A little time to catch your breath, and you’re ready to rappel /abseil all the way back down, keeping a strong, wide stance with the look of a professional. After your adrenaline climb, we go down to a lower waterfall that will massage your back as you enjoy the beautiful pool and take a swim whilst refueling on fruit, juice, coffee, and cookies. We often encounter Jesus Christ, Lizards, Monkeys, and maybe even the Morpho Butterflies. Duration 3 ½ hours.
Villa Vainilla Spicy tour:
The plantation is a tropical laboratory for sustainable agriculture and is comprised of 27 acres of agricultural production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest. Cash crops include our major spice – vanilla – as well as cocoa, Ceylon cinnamon, black and white pepper, allspice, cardamom plus exotic fruits, and essential oil plants. Come learn about the secrets of the ancient 3500-year-old relationship between two of your favorite flavors: vanilla and cocoa. Breathtaking viewpoint for snacks, tasting of an assortment of gourmet spice treats and drinks prepared by our in-house pastry chef.
Sport Fishing: Catch and Release!
Did you know that Costa Rica has some of the best sports fishing in the world? The Pacific side has incredible fishing for Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Snapper, and more. Also, Costa Rica holds the world record for marlin and sailfish catches in international tournament history. It has also posted more “grand slam” records (all three species of marling and/or more sailfish caught on the same day) than anywhere else in the world. The country’s strict catch and release policy ensures the continued health of the game fishing population for years to come. The big draw here is the blue marlin – the “bull of the ocean.” Although they are present year-round, the prime months are May, June, and July. This is also when tuna begin to school close to shore, and Dorado fishing is at its best. Book fishing charters in Quepos here https://www.costaricafishingexperts.com/charters/quepos-fishing-charters/
Caribbean:
The canals and rivers of the northern Caribbean coast boast some of the best snook and tarpon fishing in the world, and they are lined with lush rainforest, which adds to the natural experience. The tarpon averages about 80 pounds in the Caribbean canals, and though the snook is much smaller, they are good little fighters that taste great. About half a dozen fishing lodges are located in Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero, and Parismina, all on the canals, and the houseboat Rain Goddess offers a roving adventure that lets anglers fish the canals, several rivers, and hidden lakes.
Tarpon: They’re always around, with the traditional high season from December through May, but that was a number of years ago when all of the lodges were fishing with 16-foot boats and couldn’t get outside the river mouths as they do today with lager boats designed for that purpose.
Snook: Big snook generally peaks from March through May and again from September through the end of November.
Fat Snook: (Calba) Peak from mid-November through late January but often makes an appearance much earlier.
Billfish: When you get outside to the blue water, you will find Atlantic blue marlin at most times of the year. Most are caught from February through September.
Wahoo: Plentiful on the outside from early February through mid-June.
Dorado: Caught just outside the river mouths throughout the year. Best fishing is when the runoff carries out the debris that forms inshore trash lines.
Tripletail: January through June.
Kingfish, Spanish and Cero Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Barracuda: Abundant close to shore any time the ocean is flat.