To round out our week in Costa Rica, we went on a guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. The park is located on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast near Quepos, and is home to an abundance of wildlife and tropical plants. This was one of the top things to do when visiting Manuel Antonio, so we definitely prioritized visiting!
We ended up doing a guided tour with Radames Tours that we booked through our resort, Si Como No, and there are many different guided experiences you can book. I highly suggest opting for a guided tour so you don’t need to worry about the entry process into the park and your guide ensures you see as much wildlife as possible when you are there! The guides are professionals at spotting the different monkeys, sloths, snakes, birds, and more due to spending every day in the park. We would not have seen even a fourth of the wildlife we saw if we had visited without a guide.
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Top tips for visiting Manual Antonio National Park:
- Wear closed-toe shoes such as hiking boots since you will be on rocky and dirt paths.
- Bring a backpack with beachwear and a change of clothes.
- Schedule an early tour to beat the heat.
- Have cash on hand for the snack shop inside the park and the vendors at the entrance/exit of the park. Stop at the vendors after visiting the park.
- Remember to tip your guide! When they are not guiding tours, they are locating the wildlife to share with you.
Booking with a tour company had many advantages! Not only did they handle our entry into the park, but they also included our transportation to and from our hotel, and the whole process was seamless! Our guide was very knowledgeable, made sure the tour portion remained private, and shared their professional grade scope so we could see even the tiniest of wildlife. He even airdropped all the photos he took to anyone who wanted them afterwards.
Free Time
Once the tour portion ended, we went off on our own to explore the various hiking trails and private park beaches. Many people changed into swimsuits (there are restrooms located inside the park) and spent the rest of the day enjoying the beach. So if you or your group is looking to explore AND have a relaxing beach day, the park offers the best of both worlds.
On the way out of Manuel Antonio National Park we stopped by the many vendors for souvenirs and even got a chance to try some fresh coconut drinks.
We met back up with Radames Tours at their marked meeting area outside the park where they provided us with fresh fruit, snacks and water while we waited for our transport back to our hotel.
A trip to Manuel Antonio National Park is a MUST when visiting Costa Rica. If you are interested in more resources to help plan your trip check out my other blog posts, and you can follow me on Instagram at @sierrainthecity.
You can book a guided experience at MANP here: Manuel Antonio National Park Wildlife Tour
Book your stay at Si Como No in Manuel Antonio here: Si Como No
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