Private Manuel Antonio National Park Tour from San José
Description
Enjoy a private tour to Manuel Antonio National Park from San José with a naturalist guide and professional photographer. Includes high-quality photos, drone videos, private transport, and time to relax at Espadilla Beach. Support local businesses and travel stress-free.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your private, certified naturalist guide will accompany you from the moment you're picked up at your hotel, offering insights about Costa Rica’s landscapes and wildlife along the scenic drive to Manuel Antonio. Upon arrival at the national park, your guide will lead you on a personalized nature walk through the rainforest, pointing out sloths, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, and more. After the guided walk, you’ll have free time to enjoy the park’s beautiful white-sand beaches.
After exploring the national park, enjoy approximately two hours of free time at Playa Espadilla Norte — a scenic public beach just outside the park entrance. You can relax on the soft sand, swim in the Pacific Ocean, or have lunch at one of the many local beachfront restaurants. Your guide will be available to assist or offer recommendations, but this portion of the tour is self-paced and perfect for unwinding before heading back to San José.
We'll make a quick stop at the famous Tárcoles Bridge to spot American crocodiles from above as they bask or swim in the river below. The Tárcoles River is home to one of the largest populations of American crocodiles in the world — some grow over 5 meters (16 feet) long!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Additional pickup information: Pickup is available from any hotel or location in San José, Heredia, and Alajuela within the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM). Please provide the exact address and name of your accommodation when booking. If you’re staying outside of these areas, we’ll coordinate a central meeting point that’s easy to access. Pickup times may vary depending on your location, but typically occur between 5:45 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Please be ready at least 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. We will confirm the exact pickup time and details via WhatsApp or email the day before your tour.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(2)
Our private Manuel Antonio National Park tour from San José with Karla at Paticas Travel was absolutely unforgettable. It’s an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Costa Rica. Karla picked us up at our hotel promptly at 5:00 AM in her car, and from the very start the day was perfectly planned and executed. On the drive down, we stopped for a delicious breakfast and then at a bridge overlooking a river where we spotted three or four crocodiles basking below…such a cool surprise! Shortly after, we pulled over at the scenic Jacó sign, where we were lucky enough to see four colorful macaws flying overhead and another perched in a nearby tree. Incredible photo opportunity. Once inside Manuel Antonio National Park, we walked along the trails and saw several monkeys, iguanas, and our personal highlight, a sloth in a tree holding its baby. From there, we visited a couple of stunning beaches before heading to a local soda for a truly delicious lunch. As a side note, we’re not really beach people. Most visitors would probably spend much more time swimming and sunbathing because the beaches were stunning (bring your suits and towels!). I’m sure that must have thrown Karla for a loop, but she did a phenomenal job filling the afternoon by taking us after lunch to explore nearby towns like Quepos and Jacó, and then on to the beautiful Playa Herradura, where we watched a spectacular sunset. On the ride back to our hotel, we listened to her awesome music playlist while chatting about different artists and sharing songs…such a fun and personal touch. Throughout the entire drive to and from, Karla also taught us about Costa Rica’s history and even gave us lessons on popular Costa Rican phrases, which made the journey fly by. Karla is an outstanding guide…professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and warm in a way that immediately puts you at ease. It was truly a pleasure supporting a local family business, and you can feel how much pride she takes in what she does. If you’re looking for a tour in Costa Rica with a personal touch, a local guide who is fully bilingual, and someone who will go above and beyond to make your day special, look no further than Karla at Paticas Travel. We couldn’t recommend her more highly.
Our private Manuel Antonio National Park tour from San José with Karla at Paticas Travel was absolutely unforgettable. It’s an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Costa Rica. Karla picked us up at our hotel promptly at 5:00 AM in her car, and from the very start the day was perfectly planned and executed. On the drive down, we stopped for a delicious breakfast and then at a bridge overlooking a river where we spotted three or four crocodiles basking below…such a cool surprise! Shortly after, we pulled over at the scenic Jacó sign, where we were lucky enough to see four colorful macaws flying overhead and another perched in a nearby tree. Incredible photo opportunity. Once inside Manuel Antonio National Park, we walked along the trails and saw several monkeys, iguanas, and our personal highlight, a sloth in a tree holding its baby. From there, we visited a couple of stunning beaches before heading to a local soda for a truly delicious lunch. As a side note, we’re not really beach people. Most visitors would probably spend much more time swimming and sunbathing because the beaches were stunning (bring your suits and towels!). I’m sure that must have thrown Karla for a loop, but she did a phenomenal job filling the afternoon by taking us after lunch to explore nearby towns like Quepos and Jacó, and then on to the beautiful Playa Herradura, where we watched a spectacular sunset. On the ride back to our hotel, we listened to her awesome music playlist while chatting about different artists and sharing songs…such a fun and personal touch. Throughout the entire drive to and from, Karla also taught us about Costa Rica’s history and even gave us lessons on popular Costa Rican phrases, which made the journey fly by. Karla is an outstanding guide…professional, incredibly knowledgeable, and warm in a way that immediately puts you at ease. It was truly a pleasure supporting a local family business, and you can feel how much pride she takes in what she does. If you’re looking for a tour in Costa Rica with a personal touch, a local guide who is fully bilingual, and someone who will go above and beyond to make your day special, look no further than Karla at Paticas Travel. We couldn’t recommend her more highly.
