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Wildlife in Manuel Antonio
TOWN GUIDE

Wildlife Tours in Manuel Antonio

Sloths, monkeys and beaches in one small national park on the Pacific. Day tours from local guides, compared side by side, with start times and hotel pickup on every card.

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Reserve with a 25% deposit on Lyferr's secure checkout · Full refund up to 48 h before day tours, except Lyferr's commission

THE SHORT ANSWER

  • WHAT YOU'LL SEE

    Sloths, capuchins, squirrel monkeys

    Iguanas on the beach, frogs on night walks

  • BEST TIME

    All year, at park opening

    Dry season (Dec to Apr) is the busiest

  • FIRST TIME HERE?

    Start with one day

    A guided park walk, the beach and a night walk

  • GETTING HERE

    About 3 hours from San José

    1 hour from Uvita, 1 h 15 from Jacó

LYFERR IS A MARKETPLACE

We don't run tours. Independent local guides and operators list them, we vet every one and show each record openly, and you reserve through Lyferr's secure checkout.

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TOURS IN MANUEL ANTONIO

Trips and day tours in Manuel Antonio

Multi-day trips that stop in Manuel Antonio, and day tours from guides who live here.

No trips through Manuel Antonio listed yet

Multi-day trips appear here as guides list them. Every trip on Lyferr shows its route, dates and group size before you book.

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How it works and guarantees

Prices are set by each guide. The price you see is final. Lyferr's commission comes out of the guide's price, not on top. Each card opens the tour's page on Lyferr.

GUIDES IN MANUEL ANTONIO

Guides in Manuel Antonio

No guides in Manuel Antonio on Lyferr yet

Local guides are joining Lyferr town by town. Each one is vetted, and their record is shown openly.

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WHAT LIVES HERE

Species you can see in Manuel Antonio

Odds for one guided outing in October. Birds from eBird checklists near town; other animals from published studies, or a Lyferr estimate where no rate exists. Not a promise.

NOT IN MANUEL ANTONIO, AND WHERE TO GO INSTEAD

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WHEN TO COME

Manuel Antonio, month by month

Sloths and monkeys live in the park all year. The dry months bring sun and crowds, and September and October bring the heaviest rain.

Season

  1. Jan: Drier months
  2. Feb: Drier months
  3. Mar: Drier months
  4. Apr: Drier months
  5. May: Wetter months
  6. Jun: Wetter months
  7. Jul: Wetter months
  8. Aug: Wetter months
  9. Sep: Wetter months
  10. Oct: Wetter months
  11. Nov: Wetter months
  12. Dec: Wetter months

Monkeys *

  1. Jan: Very likely
  2. Feb: Very likely
  3. Mar: Very likely
  4. Apr: Very likely
  5. May: Very likely
  6. Jun: Very likely
  7. Jul: Very likely
  8. Aug: Very likely
  9. Sep: Very likely
  10. Oct: Very likely
  11. Nov: Very likely
  12. Dec: Very likely

Sloths *

  1. Jan: Likely
  2. Feb: Likely
  3. Mar: Likely
  4. Apr: Likely
  5. May: Likely
  6. Jun: Likely
  7. Jul: Likely
  8. Aug: Likely
  9. Sep: Likely
  10. Oct: Good chance
  11. Nov: Good chance
  12. Dec: Good chance

Toucans

  1. Jan: Likely
  2. Feb: Likely
  3. Mar: Likely
  4. Apr: Likely
  5. May: Likely
  6. Jun: Likely
  7. Jul: Likely
  8. Aug: Likely
  9. Sep: Likely
  10. Oct: Likely
  11. Nov: Likely
  12. Dec: Likely
  • Very likely
  • Likely
  • Good chance
  • Rare
  • Drier months
  • Wetter months

Bird rows: share of eBird checklists near town that report the bird, by month (approximate). Other rows come from published studies, or are a Lyferr estimate where marked *. Not a promise. Shaded months are the drier ones.

MANUEL ANTONIO AT A GLANCE

PARK DAYS
Closed Tuesdays
Open Wednesday to Monday, 7:00 to 16:00. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday, the park stays closed.
TICKETS
Online only
Buy through SINAC before you go. No sales at the gate. Bring ID that matches the booking.
FROM SAN JOSÉ
About 3 h by road
Route 27 toward Caldera, then Route 34 south to Quepos. The park is 7 km past Quepos.
WEATHER
Dry Dec to Mar
Rain from May to November. September and October are the wettest months.

PACK LIGHT: No food inside. Food and single-use plastics are not allowed. Bring water in a reusable bottle. The ICT park page still lists Monday as the closing day. SINAC moved the closure to Tuesday in 2021, and current sources agree. Check the SINAC booking page for your date.

WHAT'S NEAR YOU

What you can reach from Manuel Antonio

Times are by road from the centre of town. The first ring works for a half day, the outer rings are day trips.

Travel time from Manuel Antonio, by road. 1 Manuel Antonio NP, 5 min. 2 Isla Damas, 25 min. 3 Rainmaker, 35 min. 4 Uvita, 1 h. 5 Carara, 1 h 15

  1. 1. Manuel Antonio NP

    5 min
    National parkSloths and monkeys

    Trails and beaches with sloths, capuchins and squirrel monkeys. Closed on Tuesdays, so book tickets online and go at opening.

  2. 2. Isla Damas

    25 min
    Mangrove estuaryBoat or kayak

    Mangrove channels with herons, crabs, caimans and white-faced capuchins. Tours run with the tide.

  3. 3. Rainmaker

    35 min
    Private reserveFrogs and birds

    Hanging bridges and a river trail in the hills above Quepos. Good for birds by day and frogs on night tours.

  4. 4. Uvita

    1 h
    Marino Ballena NPWhale season

    Humpback whales from July to October and December to March, and dolphins all year. Boats leave early.

  5. 5. Carara

    1 h 15
    National parkScarlet macaws

    Forest where the dry north meets the wet south, with scarlet macaws, trogons and crocodiles at the Tárcoles bridge.

  • Go on a weekday morning

    The park is busiest at weekends and closed on Tuesdays. Arrive at opening, before the heat and the groups.

  • Hire a guide with a scope

    Sloths and frogs are hard to spot without one. Most park guides carry a scope and help you take photos through it.

  • Keep your bag closed

    Capuchins and raccoons raid beach bags. Feeding wildlife is illegal, so keep snacks sealed and out of sight.

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Every day tour on Lyferr shows its start time and pickup area before you book.

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FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photographing wildlife in Manuel Antonio

Be at the gate at 7. Here is when the light works, where to stand and what to pack.

SHOT LIST · ODDS FOR OCTOBER

PLAN THE SHOT

Sunrise is between about 5:15 and 6 am and sunset between about 5:15 and 6 pm, depending on the month.

Arrive for the 7:00 opening. Animals are most active in the cool early hours, before the heat and the tour groups. The beaches close at 15:00.

See photo tours here

FIELD TIP FROM LYFERR

Be at the gate when it opens at 7. The first hour on the main trail is the quietest, and sloths and monkeys are easiest to find before the crowds.

Lyferr field guide · based on park rules and local practice

WHAT TRAVELLERS SAY

Reviews of guides in Manuel Antonio

No reviews yet. Verified Lyferr reviews appear here as travellers complete tours, and only travellers who booked can leave one.

NOT BOOKING YET?

Take the Manuel Antonio wildlife checklist with you

One printable page: the 10 spots, the best time of day, what to look for in the trees, and the photo settings that work. Sent to your inbox.

No spam. One email with the PDF.

Lior Berman Fernandez, founder of Lyferr

WHO WROTE THIS

Lior, founder of Lyferr

Wildlife photographer and guide who grew up in Guanacaste, and a finalist in the Sony World Photography Awards and Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Lior has guided and photographed wildlife across Costa Rica, from Arenal's rainforest to the dry forest at home. This guide is what he tells friends before they go.

  • Sony World Photography Awards finalist
  • Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalist
  • Born in Guanacaste

Fact-checked by founder Lior Berman Fernandez · Data: iNaturalist public records · How listings work →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes, both species. Three-toed sloths are often seen in the park by day, two-toed sloths more often on a night walk.

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