Manuel Antonio & Quepos Tours Guide

How to plan around Manuel Antonio National Park rules

Manuel Antonio protects a dramatic biological corridor where primary and secondary lowland rainforest meets white-sand coves, offshore bird islands, and fringing coral reefs just south of Quepos. Despite its compact size, the peninsula supports three of Costa Rica’s four monkey species—including the endangered Central American squirrel monkey (tití)—alongside both two- and three-toed sloths, white-nosed coatis, and green iguanas.

Because the park operates under strict SINAC conservation rules, planning ahead is essential: the park is closed every Tuesday, daily visitor entries are capped by timed slot, single-use plastic bottles and all visitor food are prohibited at the gate, and tickets are sold online through the official SINAC portal unless explicitly bundled into a certified tour operator’s package.

Top excursions around Manuel Antonio & Quepos

• Guided national park walks (7:00–7:30 a.m. entry): Entering on the first morning slot beats the midday heat and crowds along the Perezoso boardwalk and Cathedral Point trail, giving your naturalist guide time to set up high-magnification scopes before transitioning to Playa Manuel Antonio or Playa Espadilla Sur.
• Marina Pez Vela catamaran & snorkeling sails: Morning sails prioritize calmer water visibility for snorkeling around Biesanz Bay, while afternoon departures capture Pacific sunsets and seasonal humpback whale sightings (July–October and December–March).
• Damas Island estuary kayak & boat safaris: Scheduled around high tide just north of Quepos, quiet paddle or covered-boat excursions wind through towering red mangrove tunnels inhabited by silky anteaters, capuchin monkeys, caimans, and herons.

Local transport & packing notes

The hilly coastal road between Quepos town and the national park beach village is short but winding; most tour operators provide direct pickup from hilltop boutique hotels along Route 618. Pack a reusable metal or hard-plastic water bottle (required for park entry), quick-dry swimwear for post-hike coves, and reef-safe sunscreen.