Quepos: ATV Rainforest Tour & Waterfall Swimming

Ride ATVs through Costa Rican palm plantations to a hidden waterfall

You ride a semi-automatic ATV for 15 miles through rainforest plantations and village roads, hike into primary forest, swim in a waterfall pool, and return for a traditional Costa Rican lunch: all with a bilingual guide, helmet, water, and hotel transport included. No separate arrangements needed.

Step-by-step itinerary

ATV tour and rainforest hike

• Meet at Manuel Antonio headquarters
• Receive trip overview and safety instructions
• Drive ATVs through plantations and villages
• Learn about local culture and sustainability
• Hike through primary rainforest
• Swim at waterfall natural pool
• Return to ATVs and drive back
• Enjoy traditional Costa Rican meal
• Relax and shuttle back to hotel

The experience

You've just landed in Quepos or checked into your Manuel Antonio hotel, and you've got the afternoon or next morning free. The ATV tour starts with a short drive from your accommodation to the headquarters in the North area, where your bilingual guide runs through vehicle operation and safety. It takes maybe twenty minutes, and then you're on the seat of a semi-automatic ATV, ready to move. The route is 15 miles of dirt roads that wind through the real working landscape of the region: rice paddies, teakwood plantations, African palm orchards stretching across what used to be a 135,000-acre farm. You're not on a theme-park trail. You're on the roads locals use, passing through the villages of La Parcela and San Rafael, and your guide talks about how the land has changed, what sustainability looks like here, why the economy shifted.

Halfway through the ride, you leave the ATVs and hike into primary rainforest for maybe thirty minutes. The canopy is thick enough that the light changes. If you're lucky (and the guide will tell you the odds), you might see toucans, sloths, squirrel monkeys, the birds that live nowhere else. The hike ends at a waterfall with a natural pool, and the water is cold and clear. You swim if you want to, or just stand in it. After that, you hike back to the ATVs and ride out the way you came, back through the plantations to the adventure center.

Lunch is waiting: a traditional Costa Rican meal, not a tourist plate. There are lockers to stash things you didn't want to bring on the ride, and towels if you want to rinse off after the waterfall. The shuttle back to your hotel in Manuel Antonio leaves after you've had time to sit down and eat, so you're not rushed. The whole day is maybe five to six hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Manuel Antonio, a semi-automatic ATV for the 15-mile off-road route, a bilingual guide, safety helmet, a light rainforest hike to the waterfall, swimming time in the natural pool, fresh fruit and bottled water along the way, and a traditional Costa Rican lunch at the adventure center afterward. Towels and lockers are available if you need them.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish07:00, 10:00 and 13:00

Guide in English or Spanish07:00, 10:00 and 13:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Fourtrax Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to drive themselves through real Costa Rican landscape (plantations, villages, rainforest) without arranging transport, a guide, or a meal separately. The bilingual guide and fixed itinerary mean you don't navigate or time the stops yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the minimum age to drive an ATV on this tour?

18 years old. Drivers aged 16–17 can operate an ATV only with a parent or guardian's written liability agreement and a valid driver's license that permits them to drive that vehicle type.

How long is the tour from hotel pickup to drop-off?

Approximately five to six hours, including the ATV ride, rainforest hike, waterfall swim, and lunch.

What's included in the price?

Semi-automatic ATV, bilingual guide, safety helmet, traditional Costa Rican lunch, fresh fruit snack, bottled water, and hotel transportation.

Can I swim at the waterfall?

Yes. The waterfall has a natural pool with refreshing water. Towels are available at the adventure center if you want to dry off before lunch.

What animals might I see on the rainforest hike?

Toucans, sloths, squirrel monkeys, and various tropical bird species are common, though sightings depend on the time of day and season.

Is this tour difficult?

The ATV driving is straightforward. The vehicles are semi-automatic and designed for riders of all ages. The rainforest hike is light and takes about 30 minutes at an easy pace.

Do I need a driver's license to ride an ATV?

Yes, you must have a valid driver's license. Passengers do not need one.

What should I bring?

Wear closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen, and consider a change of clothes if you plan to swim. Lockers are available for items you don't want to carry on the ATV.