Manuel Antonio National Park wildlife tour with specialist

A Swarovski spotting scope means you see animals hidden in plain sight.

A guided wildlife tour of Manuel Antonio National Park led by a certified ICT nature specialist, exploring rainforest trails for about 2 hours to spot sloths, monkeys, toucans, iguanas and butterflies, then ending at Manuel Antonio Beach. The tour includes free high-quality photos and videos taken with a professional Swarovski spotting scope. You choose between a group setting (up to 10 travelers) or a private tour. Park entry tickets are purchased separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Manuel Antonio National Park and Beach

• Join guided rainforest trail tour
• Spot wildlife with nature specialist
• Use Swarovski scope for photos
• Learn about flora and fauna
• End tour at Manuel Antonio Beach
• Relax and enjoy the beach

The experience

The tour starts with a certified guide who has spent over 16 years reading the rainforest. You'll walk the park's trails for roughly 2 hours, stopping when the guide spots movement in the canopy or the understory: a sloth wedged into a fork, a toucan perched too high to see without help, a troop of monkeys moving through the branches. The Swarovski spotting scope isn't just for the guide. It's how you get close to what would otherwise stay distant, and every photo and video the scope captures is yours to keep, free.

The park itself covers about 1,000 hectares, but only 10 percent is open to the public, so the animals move freely through most of it. The guide will do the searching, but sightings are not guaranteed: the creatures aren't held in captivity and they don't perform on schedule. What you get instead is someone who knows where to look and how to point out a camouflaged iguana or a three-toed sloth that blends into the branches. You'll learn why the animals are there, what they eat, how they move through the canopy.

After the walk, the tour ends at Manuel Antonio Beach, one of Costa Rica's best. You can swim in the water, rest on the sand, or watch for the monkeys and sloths that sometimes come down to the shoreline. The group stays small, a maximum of 10 people, so the experience doesn't feel crowded. If you prefer a private tour instead of a group, that option is available at checkout.

What’s included

• Guided rainforest walk led by a certified ICT nature specialist.
• free high-quality photos and videos taken with a professional Swarovski spotting scope.
• access to Manuel Antonio Beach at the end of the tour.
• a welcome message with all tour details sent after booking.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish9 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00

Guide in English or Spanish9 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 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 day except Tuesday9 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 13:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “Once you book the tour we will send you an email with detailed information about the meeting point like photos and the pin in the map where we will be waiting for you.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Costa Rica Wakoo Tours – Jason Solano, Naturalist & Birding Guide

Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you enjoy meeting other nature lovers and want to keep costs down. Pick the private option if you prefer a personalized pace and the flexibility to linger on animals the guide finds. Either way, the spotting scope is what turns distant shapes in the canopy into animals you can actually see and photograph.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What animals am I likely to see on the Manuel Antonio tour?

The tour targets sloths, monkeys, toucans, butterflies, and iguanas, with the guide using the spotting scope to help you locate them in the rainforest canopy. Because the animals roam freely through the park, sightings depend on where they are that day. The guide will search, but cannot guarantee you'll see any particular species.

How long is the rainforest walk, and what's the pace like?

The rainforest portion lasts about 2 hours, with stops whenever the guide spots wildlife or points out details about the forest. The pace is moderate, with frequent pauses to look and listen. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it's not recommended for travelers with knee or hip problems.

Do I get the photos and videos the guide takes with the spotting scope?

Yes, all high-quality photos and videos captured with the Swarovski spotting scope are included free with your tour and yours to keep.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour price includes the guide, the spotting scope photos and videos, and access to the rainforest trails and beach. Park entry tickets are not included and are purchased separately (adults $18, children $5). Transportation to the park is also separate.

Can I book a private tour instead of joining a group?

Yes, a private tour option is available at checkout. The group tour has a maximum of 10 travelers. The private option is for your party alone.

What happens after the rainforest walk?

The tour ends at Manuel Antonio Beach, where you're free to swim, relax, and spend the rest of your day. The beach is occasionally visited by monkeys, sloths, and birds, so wildlife spotting can continue there as well.