Manuel Antonio sits a long way south of Jaco, which is why pickup starts at 6:30 am, an hour earlier than the departures that leave from inside the park town. Continental breakfast is part of the price, so you eat on the road instead of hunting for coffee in the dark, and you reach the entrance early enough that the monkeys are still working the trees.
Inside the park you cover a two-mile hike with a bilingual guide carrying Pentax and Swarovski telescopes. Sloths, squirrel monkeys, birds, reptiles, and wild deer are all on the list, and the scopes are the difference between hearing about a sloth and photographing one. The trail ends at a beach Forbes has ranked among the most beautiful anywhere, rainforest at your back, with about 20 minutes to swim before the walk out.
Door to door the day runs about eight hours, and the walking itself is rated easy. Park entrance, lunch, and soft drinks are all covered, so the $119 is the whole day rather than a starting point. One scheduling note: the park closes on Tuesdays. Staying in Manuel Antonio or Quepos instead? Take the shorter four-hour departure from Manuel Antonio, which skips the drive entirely.
Bring sun block, a swimsuit and towel, beach sandals, insect repellent, a hat, and a camera. Pickup starts at 6:30 am. The park is closed on Tuesdays.
Before you book, one honest note. Prices, departure times, and what is included move with the season here. Rivers rise and drop, tides reset the schedule, boats come out of the water for maintenance, and operators adjust rates without telling anyone first. The details on this page are what we last confirmed directly with the operator, and we go back and check them, but your booking is with the operator and their confirmation is the final word on price, timing, pickup, and what you get. If a detail matters to your trip, whether that is a dietary need, a mobility question, a birthday, or a tight flight, ask us before you book and we will confirm it with them directly rather than guess.
Traveling with kids, limited mobility, or a tight schedule? Tell us your situation and we will match you to the right day and departure.
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