Manuel Antonio Park: Guided Wildlife Tour & Beach with Naturalist

Walk into the rainforest with someone who knows where the sloths are hiding

You walk forest trails with a certified naturalist who uses a high-definition spotting scope to reveal sloths, monkeys, toucans, and frogs you'd otherwise miss. The guide photographs the wildlife and moments as they happen. After the trek, you finish on Manuel Antonio Beach with time to swim or rest. Park entry tickets must be purchased separately in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided trek and beach visit

• Meet guide at Chalo Parking lot
• Hike forest trails spotting wildlife
• Use spotting scope for close views
• Guide takes photos during trek
• Relax or swim at Manuel Antonio Beach

The experience

There's a moment when you're standing in the jungle and you realize you have no idea what you're looking at. A shape in the canopy. A sound from the undergrowth. That's exactly when a certified naturalist guide becomes the difference between a walk and an actual encounter. You meet at Chalo Parking lot, just before the Manuel Antonio National Park entrance in Quepos, and from there the forest opens up, not as a backdrop, but as a living thing full of things you'd walk straight past alone.

The guide moves through the trails with the kind of attention that comes from years of reading the rainforest. Sloths hanging motionless in the trees. Monkeys moving through the canopy. Iguanas that blend so completely into the brush you'd miss them without someone pointing. Toucans with their impossible beaks. The high-definition spotting scope pulls details close: the texture of bark, the exact color of a frog you'd otherwise see as a blur. Your guide photographs the moments as they happen, so you're not fumbling with your phone while trying to spot the next thing.

After the forest work, the trail opens onto Manuel Antonio Beach. White sand, water that shifts from turquoise to deeper blue depending on the light, and the kind of quiet that only happens when you've spent hours listening to the jungle. You can swim, wade, sit, or just stand there and let your eyes adjust back to open space. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through a checklist.

One thing to know upfront: park entrance tickets are not included and must be purchased in advance on the official website. If tickets aren't available when you want to go, the tour can't happen. That's a constraint, but it's also what keeps the group size manageable and the experience from feeling like a cattle run through the canopy.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walking tour through Manuel Antonio National Park with a certified naturalist guide, use of a high-definition spotting scope for wildlife viewing, professional photographs taken by your guide, and time on Manuel Antonio Beach. Park entrance tickets must be purchased separately in advance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guided TourGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00

Guided tour, ticket includedGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00Ticket included: includes a certified guide, top-tier equipment and direct purchase of your official national park entrance ticket. Transportation can be arranged for an additional cost per person.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday to SundayDepartures at 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (5 to 84 years) · Child (under 5)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 18

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Nature Tribe Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to actually see the wildlife in Manuel Antonio instead of just walking past it: the spotting scope and the guide's experience are what turn a rainforest walk into something you remember.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 5).

Do I need to buy the park entrance ticket separately?

Yes. Park entry is not included in this tour and must be purchased in advance on the official Manuel Antonio National Park website. If tickets aren't available for your date, the tour cannot be booked.

Where do I meet the guide?

You meet at Chalo Parking lot, next to the Joseth supermarket, just before the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos.

What wildlife will I see?

The guide looks for sloths, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, and frogs. Wildlife sightings depend on the day and time, but the guide uses a high-definition spotting scope to help spot and observe animals in detail.

Will I get photos from the tour?

Yes. Your guide takes professional photos during the trek, which you receive as part of the tour.

Can I swim at the beach?

Yes. The tour ends at Manuel Antonio Beach, where you have time to swim, wade, or rest before returning.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed. Public transportation options are available nearby.