The Best Things To Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Duration: 4 hours  |  Times: 7:30 AM or 1:00 PM  |  Includes: Local transfers, bilingual guides, all equipment, snacks & lunch

🌊 Adventure

#1 — White Water Rafting on World-Class Rapids

One of the most exhilarating ways to experience the Costa Rican rainforest, from a raft hurtling through Class II to Class V rapids. Costa Rica is one of the world’s top white water destinations, and Casa Playitas puts you minutes from some of its best rivers. No prior rafting experience is required, your concierge will match your group to the right river and rapids level, whether that’s a family-friendly float through lush jungle scenery or a high-adrenaline run through heart pounding whitewater. Bilingual guides handle everything on the water, and round trip transport from the villa is included.

🌊 Adventure

#2 — Canopy Zip-line Tour Through the Rainforest

Fly through the treetops of Costa Rica’s rainforest canopy on one of Manuel Antonio’s premier zip-line tours, just a short drive from Casa Playitas. Spanning 9 cables and 20 platforms, the tour includes a 60-foot rappel and a heart stopping Tarzan swing, all while certified guides keep safety front and center. In between the thrills, and nature walks between platforms,  you’ll have up close wildlife encounters from sloths, monkeys, and tropical birds. Perfect for families with children aged 5 and up, and seasoned adventure seekers alike. Round-trip transportation and a meal are included.

Duration: 3–4.5 hours  |  Includes: Round-trip transport, certified guides, meal & drinks  |  Min. age: 5+

Duration: 2.5–3 hours + optional beach time  |  Includes: Round-trip transport, park entry, guide, fresh fruit & water

🌿 Wildlife & Nature

#3 — Private Guided Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park

The single most popular experience in the region, and just a short drive from Casa Playitas. A certified bilingual naturalist guide leads you through one of the world’s most biodiverse parks, using high-powered telescopes to spot two and three toed sloths, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws, coatis, and brilliantly colored land crabs hidden in the canopy. After the guided portion, stay on for optional beach time at one of the park’s pristine white-sand coves.

🌿 Wildlife & Nature

#4 — Damas Island Mangrove Kayaking

Trade the jungle trails for tranquil waterways on this half day kayaking and boat exploration of the Damas Island mangrove sanctuary, one of Costa Rica’s most unique ecosystems. Glide past white-faced monkeys, anteaters, raccoons, crocodiles, and sloths while your bilingual guide explains the five species of mangroves lining the canals. At high tide, keep an eye out for mangrove snappers and juvenile barracudas cruising the shallows beneath you.

Duration: 4 hours by boat or kayak  |  Includes: Bilingual guide, local transfers, snacks, refreshments & meal

Includes: Bilingual captain & mate, all fishing equipment

⚓ Ocean & Fishing

#5 — World-Class Sportfishing out of Quepos

Quepos Marina Pez Vela is just minutes from Casa Playitas, and is one of the premier sportfishing ports on the entire Pacific Coast. From November through April, anglers routinely release up to 15 sailfish in a single day. Your charter also targets Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Yellowfin Tuna, and Wahoo offshore, or Dog Tooth Snapper and Grouper for inshore bottom fishing. Fly fishing enthusiasts can target Sailfish and Marlin with specialist operators in the area.

⚓ Ocean & Fishing

#6 — Catamaran Coastal Tour of Manuel Antonio

Set sail from Quepos Marina Pez Vela on a 4 hour catamaran cruise along the stunning coastline of Manuel Antonio National Park. Glide past sea cliffs, rock formations, and tiny islands while scanning the water for dolphins, sea turtles, and seasonal humpback whales. Your bilingual guide highlights coastal wildlife throughout, and the afternoon includes snorkeling in the vibrant reefs of the Manuel Antonio Marine Preserve, plus a BBQ lunch on board as you soak in the Pacific views. Available at 9 AM and 2 PM.

Duration: 4 hours  |  Includes: Local transfers, bilingual guides, all snorkeling gear, snacks, meal & drinks

Includes: Bilingual guide, round-trip transport, water, fresh fruit, breakfast & lunch

💧 Waterfall Adventures

#7 — Nauyaca Waterfalls (Hike or Horseback)

One of Costa Rica’s most magnificent natural landmarks, the Nauyaca Waterfalls sit inside a canyon roughly 80 meters wide in the Pacific South hills. The first waterfall drops 45 meters (147 feet) in a thunderous free-fall; the second cascades 20 meters in a beautiful stepped formation. At the base is a 1,000 square meter natural pool, deep enough to swim, with smaller family-friendly pools nearby. You can reach them via a scenic 6 mile round-trip hike or on horseback, with all guides, meals, and transportation managed from the villa.

💧 Waterfall Adventures

#8 — Canyoning & Waterfall Rappelling

For those craving pure adrenaline, this 5 hour canyoning adventure ventures into parts of the rainforest most tourists never see. Begin by crossing a 125 meter suspension bridge hanging 45 meters above the forest floor, then tackle a 45-meter waterfall rappel, followed by a second descent down a 55-meter cascade. Certified guides oversee every step with professional climbing equipment. Between descents, catch your breath over a traditional Costa Rican lunch with canyon views. No prior climbing experience necessary, open to guests aged 8 and up.

Duration: 5 hours  |  Times: 7:00 AM or 12:00 PM  |  Includes: Local transfers, guides, all gear, lunch & snacks

Departs: 7:00 AM  |  Returns: ~4:30 PM  |  Includes: Transfers, guides, all equipment, park fees, breakfast & picnic lunch

🤿 Ocean & Diving

#9 — Isla del Caño Snorkeling & Diving Day Trip

A 2 hour boat ride from Quepos takes you to Isla del Caño, frequently described as the best snorkeling and diving site in Costa Rica, and often compared to the legendary Isla del Coco. Keep watch for Pan Tropical Dolphins and sea turtles en route. Underwater, visibility regularly exceeds 80 feet, with abundant pelagic fish, barracuda, Trevally Jacks, White Tip Reef Sharks, and manta rays. Your group visits two different dive or snorkel sites, followed by a picnic lunch on the island’s unspoiled beaches.

🤿 Ocean & Diving

#10 — Surf Lessons in Manuel Antonio & Quepos

The warm Pacific breaks off Manuel Antonio and Quepos are ideal for first-timers and improving surfers alike. All instructors are ISA-certified and trained in water safety and First Aid. Boards are matched to skill level, longboards for beginners, fiberglass for intermediate surfers, and shortboards for experienced riders. Sessions are timed around local tides for the best conditions, and 2 hour lessons run at $70 per person. Board and boogie board rentals are also available by the hour, half day, or full day.

Duration: 2 hours per lesson  |  Includes: Local transfers to surf spots, all equipment, leashes, wax & rashguards

Duration: Half day  |  Includes: Bilingual guide, local transfers, snacks & meal

🌿 Wildlife & Nature

#11 — Horseback Riding Through the Cloud Rainforest

Experience the landscapes around Manuel Antonio from the saddle on this unforgettable horseback tour through the cloud rainforest. Experienced bilingual guides lead you through lush vegetation and stunning canyon views, with ample opportunity to spot monkeys, sloths, and a rich variety of bird life along the route. It’s one of the more serene ways to connect with the natural world here, perfect for guests who want adventure without the adrenaline. Transportation, meals, and all logistics are arranged by your concierge from Casa Playitas.

💧 Waterfall Adventures

#12 — Full-Day Four Waterfalls Adventure

Rated one of the top adventures in all of Costa Rica, this full-day tour takes your group south to visit four stunning waterfalls, each with its own natural swimming hole, exploration spots, and areas for cliff jumping. One waterfall even features a 20 foot natural water slide. Along the way, you’ll stop at a secluded beach framed by sea caves and palm trees that most tourists never find. It’s the ocean, the jungle, pristine beaches, and cascading water all in a single unforgettable day.

Duration: Full day  |  Includes: Round-trip transport, bilingual guide, water, snacks & lunch