Top 3 Things To Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

After deciding that we were going to spend our week in Costa Rica in the Manuel Antonio National Park area, there was something else we needed to do: book some activities to help us explore the best of what Manuel Antonio could offer! With four full days in which we did not have to travel, we decided to book three things to do in Manuel Antonio. And we saved one day for relaxing on the beach.

I love booking activities through the platform Viator, so we searched there to find some of the best and highest-rated experiences in Manuel Antonio. (Plus, when you book with Viator, they reward you with credit for future experiences!)

On Monday, we spent the morning and afternoon trekking through the jungle, ziplining with a small group. Tuesday, we explored a chocolate and coffee farm just a bit out of town. And Thursday, we finally went into Manuel Antonio National Park with a private guide who helped us see all kinds of wildlife.

We had an amazing time and I highly, highly recommend all three of these experiences! So if you’re looking for the best things to do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, here are my recommendations.

1. Zip Lining, Rappelling, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls and More

Our most adventure-filled excursion of the week started bright and early on Monday morning. The tour provider, Amigos del Rio, picked us up from our lodging in Manuel Antonio around 8 a.m. After making two more quick stops to pick up two other groups in the area, we stopped along the main road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio at the Amigos del Rio office to sign our waivers and use the restroom for the last time before starting the trip.

We rode for about 40 minutes in a vehicle that kind of looked like a converted freezer truck. The driver and a couple of the guides rode in the front cab, while our main guide, Enoch, rode in the back with us, where there were a few rows of seats like a bus. Thankfully, the bus was air conditioned! Part of the drive was getting out to the jungle, and the other part was driving up and down bumpy mountain paths as we made our way to the start of the ziplining course.

Once we got there, we were all fitted for our harnesses, helmets, and other safety equipment as the guides explained some basics for the day. Enoch’s English was excellent, and the other guides also could speak English, which really helps when you’re learning safety information! After we had all of our equipment on, they recommended that we leave everything in the bus — everything! No cameras, no water, and no phones. That’s because we were going to get wet.

It was a little bit unfortunate that we couldn’t take phones or cameras, because the scenery of the area was breathtakingly beautiful! However, one of the guides who spent the day with us was a designated photographer, and he took a few hundred photos for us as we went through the ziplining course. Which was awesome to look back on and see the memories from the day!

I’d never really ziplined before, but the guides were professional and made us feel safe and comfortable. As we trekked through the jungle, they would point out plants, animals, and insects that were unique to Costa Rica. They were friendly and funny, and I felt like we were in good hands as we not only ziplined, but also rappelled and swung off a cliff edge on a Tarzan swing.

The most exciting part of the course was the part where we ziplined into a waterfall! And not only that — after we went through the waterfall, we unhooked ourselves from the zipline and dropped into a natural pool of cool, clean water below. It was so much fun! And felt great after hiking in the heat. So if you decide to do this tour, wear your swimsuit and water shoes if you have them, or other clothes you don’t care about getting wet.

After we finished the ziplining course, they led us to a picnic area where they offered us fresh fruit and pineapple as we relaxed before heading back to Manuel Antonio. And when we arrived back at the Amigos del Rio office, they provided us with a full Costa Rican lunch as we looked through the photos they’d taken that day.

When everyone was finished eating, we loaded up the truck again for them to drop us all back at our hotels, around 2:15 p.m. We had such a great time, and I would 100% recommend this ziplining excursion for anyone who is looking for a super fun thing to do in Manuel Antonio!

2. Chocolate & Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio

The next day, we were doing something less active but equally exciting if you love chocolate and coffee like me! I didn’t really know what to expect, but knowing that Costa Rica is a major chocolate and coffee producer, we couldn’t miss the chance to tour a farm that produces both. So around 11 a.m., a large passenger van picked us up at our Airbnb to head out to the plantation.

About 20 minutes later, we arrived in what truly seemed like the middle of the jungle. After joining up with the rest of the group who would be sharing the tour with us, we met our tour guide, Juan, who is also the owner of the chocolate and coffee farm. We took our seats under a gazebo with benches surrounding the perimeter and were invited to fill our water bottles and paper cups with the cold water that they provided. (Such a nice, and needed touch.)

Then, Juan spent some time explaining to us all — in English and Spanish — about the Costa Rican chocolate and coffee industries. After that, he led us along a path through the farm and talked about the different plants, animals, insects, and how the ecosystem works together to produce the cacao and coffee.

Next, we went to another covered area where we got to taste cacao and mix it with different fruits and spices to make different flavors. We also got to try cacao nibs, coffee beans, and even some Mexican hot chocolate like the Aztecs used to make. Finally, we got to try a drink called “agua de sapo” (frog water) that was made from sugar cane also grown on the farm.

Also, I’m not sure why this listing is in German, but the tour was offered in Spanish and English. 🤣

Book here: Chocolate & Coffee Tour Manuel Antonio

3. Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour

For our last activity in Manuel Antonio… of course, we had to take a tour of Manuel Antonio National Park! And it’s absolutely something you should not miss. We booked this guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park with a private guide for the three of us. But you can’t miss the number one thing to do in Manuel Antonio — going to the National Park.

It’s up to you whether you want a private tour or if you’re okay being in a group. We chose a private tour for two reasons — first, we wanted to be able to ask all the questions we wanted and make the tour more personal for us. And second, the private tour was the only one that offered personal pick-up at our place.

When you book, you can also select what time you want to visit the park. While I am very much not a morning person, I sucked it up and booked the 7:45 a.m. tour rather than the 12:10 p.m. tour. Not only is it easier to see more animals in the morning, but it’s also less crowded — and cooler outside! (Have I adequately expressed how hot Costa Rica can be, yet?)

Since we booked the private tour, our guide, Eduardo, arrived outside our place on his motorcycle. Along with him was a red taxi that would drive us to the park entrance. The cost of the taxi was included in the higher price we paid for our private tour. After we all marveled at a sloth that was just a few steps outside our door, we set off for the park.

Once we got to the Manuel Antonio National Park entrance, we had to wait about 10-15 minutes in line to actually make it into the park. Though our guide told us that just a couple of weeks before, during peak spring break weeks, the line stretched for blocks down the road as people waited hours to get in.

Note: Don’t forget that, even if you have booked a tour of the national park, you still need to buy your park entry tickets separately. Check out my post about Manuel Antonio for more details.

As we made our way through the park, Eduardo carried a spotting scope we could use to look at the insects and animals he found. It was actually insane the things he noticed with the naked eye, that we would have never been able to see on our own. We did see several more sloths, including two mother-baby pairs! Eduardo was really knowledgeable about the biology and ecology of the area. He also had great English, so he was easy to talk to.

After about two hours, at the conclusion of the tour, we found ourselves near Manuel Antonio beach. Since it’s part of the national park, you normally have to pay to get in. Already having paid our entrance fees, it was a no-brainer to stay, and we’d planned ahead so we had our swimsuits. We said good-bye to Eduardo, and we spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the beach.

I think hiring a guide is definitely the best way to explore Manuel Antonio National Park — there’s no way we would have seen anything without Eduardo there to guide us. So I really recommend this experience!

 

Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica? What do you think of these things to do in Manuel Antonio, and what questions do you have about these experiences? Leave me a comment — I’d love to hear from you!

-Cathy

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Originally Published on July 23, 2023.