Manuel Antonio National Park Day Trip from San Jose

We had a SUPER day trip with our guide Alex. It is a very long day ...7am till close to 9pm but packs in so much. The tour starts and finishes with hotel pick up/drop off in San Jose. A straight drive to Arnel Volcano would be 3 to 4 hours but we did a variety of things on the way to break up the journey and make it very interesting. We visited a coffee plantation, stopped for a mid morning snack and to see birds close up, saw a variety of waterfalls and a nice lunch. We choose to do zipp lining which lasted 1.5 hours and had 9 lines through the rain forest..... our first time doing this and not to be missed. We finished with about 1.5 hours at a hot spring. Then it was the long drive back to San Jose with a stop for dinner on the way.”

Our tour guide and our driver were so nice and informative. The sights were beautiful and we saw so many sloths and monkeys! Overall an awesome time. Highly recommend!”

The only hard part for me was finding the nearest major hotel to be picked up from, but once I got there it was pura vida all day! We stopped for a pleasant breakfast (gallo pinto, scrambled eggs, toast with cheese, fresh fruit, sausage, plantains, coffee, and fruit juice), and looked at the iguanas wandering around. We walked over the crocodile bridge and saw about 7 saltwater crocodiles basking in the sun. We stopped to look at souvenirs (I had bought the same things the previous day at the San Jose Artisans' Market for much cheaper). When we got to the national park, we were given a little mini lunch (ham and cheese sandwich, apple, and a bottle of water). We were then given about 3 hours to explore the national park, and told where to meet after that. Our guide went in with us, walked us to the beach, talked about a few different trails, and then let us wander. I saw howler monkeys, capuchins, coati, agouti, a few types of crab, a vulture, and lots of iguanas. I took the Cathedral Trail, which is a little loop made up almost entirely of very steep steps. I had time after that to walk along the beach and get my feet wet (it's a beautiful beach, and perfect for swimming), then to dry off and walk back, and I still had time to browse the souvenir stands outside the park and walk along the main street for a while. We were given a few choices for dinner: I ordered the paella, which was delicious and filling, with lots of seafood in it. It came with fries and vegetables, soup, and a little ice cream cake sandwich thing for dessert. Drinks are also included. After that we drove back to San Jose (with one bathroom break), and were dropped off at our hotels again. I had been looking forward to this since I got to Costa Rica, and I wasn't disappointed! The tour guide Eric was very knowledgeable, and repeated everything in both English and Spanish. The driver Aaron was safe and friendly.”

This was a great tour, our tourguide Antonio was very kind and friendly. He explained a lot about the tour and gave great information throughout the day. The beach was absolutely amazing and beautiful, great walking trails and we got to see so many beautiful wild animals. Breakfast and Lunch were awesome!! I definitely recommend this tour!!”

Manuel Antonio is a huge natural park. The walk from the entrance to the beach takes approximately 30 minutes, and one is face to face with nature at every step. Go prepared to meet monkeys, deer, and an immense variety of plants, exotic flowers and insects. It is so worth it. The beach is beautiful. It is NOT the white sand beach without waves that it seems, but it is nice enough to spend a happy day in contact with nature. The tour organizer was on time, the bus although small had enough space for everyone. The guide was very pleasant and provided us with many details along the way. The tour starts at 6 am and we were back around 8:30 pm. Take this detail into account if you travel with small children. Worth it. The tour operator has everything planned, I recommend it.”

Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Plenty sights of wildlife and beautiful scenery. I would definitely recommend this day trip excursion to others”

Jonathan was a great tour guide and safe driver. Beautiful park...beach was by far the highlight of this excursion.”

My trip to Manuel Antonio Park was phenomenal! I was picked up at my hotel in San Jose at the precise time I was told I’d be picked up. The tour-guide and the bus driver were both very informative, friendly and funny. I was able to see 3 sloths along the path to the beach then, once at the beach, I saw several monkeys, raccoons and other wildlife. The beach and the surrounding rainforest were astonishingly beautiful, I didn’t want to leave! At the end of the tour we went to a restaurant with some of the best food I have ever had, this is not an exaggeration! The food was incredibly good! I’ll definitely be returning and I really hope I have the exact same tour-guide again. He made the trip amazing!”

I enjoyed this tour a lot given that Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica. The tour is highly recommended especially if you are pressed for time. Normally, it takes at least two days to visit Manuel Antonio. Since I am from the Philippines with more stunning beaches, I just went trekking at the National Park. I took all three major trails and leisurely walked for around four hours. It's a different experience because you get to see monkeys, sloths, raccoons and other animals along the trail. The guide was also informative and entertaining!”

Great trip to a truly beautiful beach. We had a fantastic tour guide - Jose, who took great care of the whole group even though we all were interested in different things. Wonderful breakfast and lunch and the National Park has so much to offer.”

Very long day of driving, but the stops along the way were well selected.”

Although this tour starts out very early in the morning it is well worth it! The drive is long but hey, I wanted to see Costa Rica and our tour guide, Carlos was very informative. About an hour in, we stopped for breakfast, which was very tasty and well prepared. After that we drove another 30/40 minutes or so and stopped a local gift shop. It was reasonably priced items and well worth stopping for. We proceeded to the park and they stopped by a beautiful scenic view to take pictures. When we got to the park, they gave us a very good small sub sandwich and water. Then he gave us the options of going directly to the beach or take the rain tour and then go to the beach. I opted for the tour as I live by the beach back home. It was very informative and he was definitely on the lookout for any animals. We actually didn't see any monkeys until we got to the beach, their home. LOL Carlos also told us about the 3 point look out which you could go up to see and it is definitely a hike up, so be prepared. Now here is where we encountered those lil spider monkeys. Try not to be afraid of them although they seem aggressive. The points were a beautiful spot to take pictures of the ocean. Once we made it back down, we decided to lay out at the beach. Well this is where those monkeys get aggressive. I didn't have any food in my bag however, I had pulled my towel partially out of my bag. My friend was watching my bag, so she had her back against the trees, well one came up and started to grab my stuff. She ran away and another person on the beach shewed him away. So we moved further down the beach thinking if we were away from the closes part of the forest, they would leave us alone. Well they did but then we had an encounter with 3 raccoons. They are easily shewed away if you are aggressive with them. After our beach time was over, we went back to the restaurant where we were served a delicious lunch which we had great options prior, to choose from. The service was impeccable and with the cost of the tour, it was surely every pennies worth. I highly recommend this tour and just be prepared, it is a long day. We were lucky that it was during the week and the traffic wasn't as bad. They did say it has sometimes taken twice the amount of time to get back due to the high volume of traffic and the day of the week.”

Excellent. Very enjoyable trip. The bus was comfortable and air-conditioned. We were given the choice of walking through the forest before spending a few hours on the beach or walking straight through to the beach for those wanting to spend more time on the beach. We started with breakfast then a snack before the walk in the forest and lunch after the beach and before heading back to the hotels.”

The park was amazing! Be prepared for challenging walking elevations, even to and from the beach. There are many path options to walk, or enjoy several beaches. The main beach is definitely the best! There are many animals to watch and they are very friendly. Keep an eye out for raccoons and iguanas. We considered staying in Jaco, but instead settled on taking several day trips from San Jose. This was worth it! It was a full day, but there were meals included. They are very accommodating and picked us up from our hotel in Escazu.”

Manuel Antonio National Park is a must see in Costa Rica. It is simply beautiful. Whether you want to relax on a great beach or trek one of the many trails in the area and observe the wildlife it is a great place. You will likely see a wide variety of Costa Rica animals such as iguanas, monkeys, sloths, and frogs, plus an array of beautiful Pacific Coast landscapes and crystal clear water to swim in. This tour is highly recommended!!!”

The tour guide Carlos was amazing. I've done many day trips tours in different countries, and Carlos was probably the best guide I've ever had. He explained the itinerary/time frames very clearly and repeatedly. He was very knowledgeable of the flora and fauna and really took the time to explain things. We saw an abundance of animals-- crocodiles, three species of monkeys, deer, several sloths, scarlet macaws on the pacific coast highway, rainbow crabs, etc. The beach was beautiful. This tour was an incredible experience.”

I highly recommend this trip! Food was amazing, beach was amazing, tour guide/group were amazing. Everything about this trip was amazing. Just what I needed!!!!!”

I love it. The beach was warm and amazing. The food was delicious. It was such a long day but worth it.”

The best .”

This tour was GREAT. Small group, guide spoke in English and Spanish or sometimes Spanish then English. Very friendly, very knowledgeable. We stopped at a rest stop that had gifts for a bathroom break, then at a nice place for a buffet breakfast. The guide made sure to keep track of everyone. Made sure we understood what our schedule would be and of course answered our questions thoroughly. Breakfast consisted of pinto beans and rice, eggs, juice, coffee. You can buy water, soda or snacks even gifts before you head down the trail to see the alligators. Then back on the bus, when you hit town, he again explains everything and makes sure you get your packed lunch which was a sandwich, fruit and water. Then you walk to the park. You can either follow the guide or venture out on your own and do whatever you please. You are told at least 3 times what time and where to meet for a late meal which you fill out a form along the way and choose from salad, chicken, fish, steak. This is a sit down, served FULL meal. You get wine or beer, coffee, soda and a full course meal. The food was delicious. The park is amazing. The animals are incredible. Monkeys, crabs, raccoons, sloths, birds. Its a big place, not really crowded, unless animals are near by. The water was a little rough the day I was there, I didn't swim. I did wade in to cool down. It rained a little, but nothing that was awful until we were sitting down to eat. Its a lot of walking unless you simply sit on the beach. The cathedral climb is not for those that cant handle lots of steps.It was a moderate hike up and hard on the knees on the way down. Paths are clearly marked. I would recommend this trip, not sure small children would enjoy it. And for older people, skip the cathedral climb and the rest of the paths are easy to walk. It wasn't so much hot as it was humid, make sure you bring lots of water!!”

A great day trip and orientation to Costa Rica. Meals were great, the park was beautiful, fantastic scenery and warm water for my swim! Our guide George and driver Paulo were excellent. I particularly enjoyed learning more about Costa Rica through George's narrative. Its a lot of driving but well worth it.”

The tour was excellent. Maria, our guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful throughout the tour. The breakfast and lunch also were excellent. We saw many beautiful things in the national park including lots of monkeys!”

Long drive, but awesome park.”

Very nice trip from morning to night, including breakfast and lunch at a nice reserve barely seen except for some animals monkeys and the guide was fine”