Manuel Antonio National Park Private Guided Walk: Wildlife Tour

Set your own pace through the park with a guide who finds the wildlife

A private guided walk through Manuel Antonio National Park with a naturalist guide who carries a telescope for close-up wildlife viewing. You'll walk the trails looking for monkeys, sloths, birds and other mammals, then choose whether to swim at one of the park's beaches or exit with fresh fruit and water. The pace and duration are entirely yours to decide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided walk and beach time

• Shuttle pickup to park entrance
• Meet naturalist guide
• Guided wildlife walk in park
• Swim at beach inside park
• Option to stay or exit park
• Fresh fruit and water served

The experience

Manuel Antonio National Park sits on the Central Pacific coast near Quepos, and this tour picks you up from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and delivers you to the park entrance where your guide is waiting. The walk itself is built around wildlife spotting. The guide knows where to look and carries a telescope so you can get a close view of animals high in the trees or far down the trail. It's common to see three species of monkeys, two species of sloth, birds, lizards, coatis, agoutis and bats all in one morning or afternoon.

Because this is a private tour, the guide adjusts the route and the stops to what you want to see and how much time you want to spend. If you're moving slowly to photograph everything, that works. If you want to cover more ground, the guide keeps pace. After the walk, you get to choose: swim at one of the beaches inside the park, or head back with the guide for fresh fruit and water. The beaches inside the park tend to be quieter than the main beaches outside it. One important note, once you leave the park, you cannot re-enter without buying a new ticket, so plan that boundary before you go.

The guide speaks English or Spanish, and you'll need a photo of your passport ID page on your phone the day of the tour. The park does not allow single-use plastic or outside food, so pack accordingly.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle pickup from your hotel.
• naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
• telescope for wildlife viewing.
• fresh fruit and water at the end of the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Dantes Water Sports

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Quepos means you don't need a car or a ride arranged separately, and the private format lets you control how long you spend at each stop and whether you swim at the end: useful if you're staying in town without transportation and want the wildlife without rushing.

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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 (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What wildlife will I actually see in Manuel Antonio National Park?

Three species of monkeys, two species of sloth, birds, lizards, coatis, agoutis, bats, and deer are all common sightings along the trails. The guide uses a telescope to help you spot animals in the canopy and at a distance, and can help you photograph them through the scope with your cell phone.

Can I swim during the tour, or is it just a walking tour?

Swimming is optional and happens after the guided walk. You choose whether to spend time at one of the beaches inside the park or exit with the guide. The beaches inside the park are less crowded than the main beaches outside it.

How long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs between two and four hours depending on what you want to see and how long you want to spend at each stop. Because it's private, the pace is entirely up to you.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the park?

No. Hotel pickup in the Quepos area is included, and the guide meets you at the park entrance. You travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What do I need to bring or know before I go?

Have a photo of your passport ID page on your cell phone. The park does not allow single-use plastic bottles or outside food, so leave those behind. Once you exit the park, you cannot re-enter without purchasing a new ticket.