Manuel Antonio and its national park
Manuel Antonio is a destination on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast, beside Quepos, where the national park gives a visit its focus. Very wet tropical forest, mangroves, beaches and marine habitats belong to the protected landscape. Plan time for both the forest and the coast rather than treating the park as a quick photograph stop. A walk with a naturalist and a separate outing on the water offer different ways to experience the area.
Start by deciding whether to walk independently or take a guided park tour. Both forms of visit are provided for in the official tourism guide. Admission and guiding are separate services unless a package explicitly combines them. Our ticket guide explains the online reservation, personal details and arrival slot, so the practical arrangements support the day you actually want.
Our take
Forest walks include optical equipment; choose the catamaran for a meal at sea or rafting for a river outing. Check which park-walk option includes admission.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Savegre rafting and waterfall stop
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
- Use of helmet
The outing includes a driver, guide or instructor.
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Coastal cruise with a meal
- Round trip transportation
- Lunch or dinner
A naturalist joins the cruise, with time for swimming and snorkeling.
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Zipline and hanging bridges
- Professional bilingual guides
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned transportation
Equipment is provided; the photography package costs extra.
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Guided Damas mangrove kayaking
- Local guide
- Fruits
- Bottled water
Paddle through the mangroves with a local guide.
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Naturalist walk with a spotting scope
- Naturalist guide
- High-definition spotting scope
Park admission is included only if you select the ticket option; otherwise buy it beforehand.
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Guided park walk with option choices
- Guided tour
- Optical gear
Budget option 3 excludes park admission; the other listed options include it.
Check availability →Forest, coast and river experiences
Choose a park walk for wildlife interpretation, a catamaran for time at sea, or an active outing through mangroves, canopy or river scenery. Park admission depends on the walking-tour option.
Things to do in Manuel Antonio
A nature walk puts the forest at the centre of the visit. The park's wildlife includes sloths, monkeys and birds, while a spotting scope can help with observation from the trail. The budget naturalist walk and the walk with a high-definition scope both require attention to the admission option: their guiding service is not a blanket promise of an included park ticket. Beach time features in the guided sightseeing package, making the forest and shore parts of the same visit.
For a change of setting, the catamaran excursion leaves through Marina Pez Vela in Quepos and includes return transportation, a naturalist guide, fruit and juices, and lunch or dinner. Its programme has time for swimming and snorkelling. Conditions at sea govern the experience; choose the trip for the coastal outing rather than a promise of dolphins, whales or clear underwater views. Compare other vessels on the boat tours page.
Active alternatives take you into the wider excursion area. The canopy outing combines ziplines and hanging bridges with equipment, bilingual guides, lunch and air-conditioned transportation. Mangrove kayaking starts at the Damas access jetty and includes a local guide, fruit and bottled water. The Savegre rafting and waterfall outing includes a driver, guide or instructor, helmet, snacks, lunch and hotel pickup and return. These are separate excursions, not activities supplied by a national park admission ticket.
Beaches, wildlife and respectful observation
Playa Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur belong to the park's visitor zones. Espadilla Norte needs its own coastal planning, rather than an assumption that every beach has the park's admission arrangements. Before swimming, follow flags, weather information and instructions from staff. Keep your beach plans flexible enough to spend time on the shore when water conditions are unsuitable. Our beach guide separates access questions from swimming decisions.
White-faced capuchins, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, sloths, raccoons, coatis and toucans are among the animal groups described by the official tourism guide. Their presence makes observation worthwhile without turning an outing into a checklist of guaranteed encounters. Do not feed or touch animals. Stay on designated paths and follow staff instructions. The park regulations, amended in 2020 and published in the 2023 document, also prohibit animal selfies, flash photography and playback calls.
Foundation and protection history
The park was founded on 15 November 1972 under Law 5100. Its original name referred to the beaches of Manuel Antonio. The official historical account describes local pressure against restrictions on beach access imposed by earlier foreign owners. That background connects the protected coast with the neighbouring community: the beach landscape is part of the park's history as well as a reason to visit today. Forest, mangroves and marine habitats broaden the story beyond the sand.
Build your visit around the right questions
Use the specialist guides to settle one decision at a time. Reserve the park day around its admission slot, choose an excursion for a different landscape, and match your accommodation area to your transport plans. Quepos, the hilly road towards Manuel Antonio and the Espadilla area give different starting points. Leave space between arrival and a timed activity instead of making the first outing depend on a perfect connection.
Excursions compared
Park walks, coast, mangroves and waterfall outings.
Park tickets
Online admission, dates and arrival slots.
Guided park walks
Wildlife observation and spotting scopes.
Boat tours
Coastal cruises and snorkelling options.
Canopy excursions
Ziplines and hanging bridges outside the park.
Rafting
Compare Savegre and Naranjo outings.
Kayaking
Choose mangroves or coastal paddling.
Beaches
Park beaches, coastal access and swimming precautions.
Private nature tours
Compare guiding, meeting points and admission.
Getting there
Plan the journey from San José and the airport.
Where to stay
Quepos, the hills or the beach area.
When to visit
Weather context and seasonal planning.
Questions about Manuel Antonio
Is this the official SINAC website?
This is an independent guide to Manuel Antonio. It is not the official SINAC website and does not issue official park reservations. Use SINAC's own booking service for direct admission.
Is a guide compulsory for every visit?
The official tourism guide describes guided and self-guided visits. Choose a naturalist for interpretation and optical equipment, and follow the park's instructions for the paths available during your visit.
Can I combine forest and beach?
The park includes Playa Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur. Plan the walk and beach time around your reservation and the instructions on site; swimming depends on current conditions.