Anyone who’s considered Costa Rica as a vacation destination has probably heard about Manuel Antonio. It’s home to Costa Rica’s most popular national park and one that’s been labeled one of the most beautiful national parks in the world (Forbes Magazine, 2011).

Visiting the park is obviously a really cool thing to do, but there are other activities that you might want to consider as well.

So, here’s a list of 10 cool things to do in Manuel Antonio…

1. Kayak tour of the Damas Island Mangrove Estuary

   Outside of the Manuel Antonio National Park itself, the Damas Island mangrove estuary is one of the most bio-diverse locations in the area for flora and fauna. Several tour companies offer this tour. If you don’t like the idea of a kayak tour, you can also do it by boat.

2. Have a drink in the “bat cave bar” at La Mansion

   I have always loved La Mansion Inn both for the ambiance of the place and the great people who work there. The bat cave is one of its really cool and unique amenities. This is a bar that is inside a cave that is inside of the hotel. Sounds pretty cool, ey? The bat cave bar even has a mini-dance floor with disco lights.





3. Go Rafting on the Savegre or Naranjo Rivers

   There are two exciting rafting experiences one can have in the Manuel Antonio area. The Savegre is a laid back raft (Class II to III) and great for nature viewing and very kid friendly (minimum age is around 8, depending on the tour operator).

   The Naranjo is more adrenaline-pumping, with rapids that can reach Class IV. The Naranjo lower portion doesn’t run during the summer season as the river level gets too low, but the upper Naranjo (El Chorro) does.

   This section of the river cuts through a narrow canyon requiring extremely technical maneuvering and features rapids of the Class IV level.



4. Lunch or dinner at El Gran Escape

   This is a little restaurant in Quepos that has long been one of my favorites. Great tuna steak with a lush green salad. Yummy!

5. Romantic dinner at Kapi Kapi

   If you want to have a romantic candlelight dinner, this is the place I’d recommend. We have even had a few customers propose marriage here. I suggest reservations as the place is very small with limited tables.

   If you’re wondering about the name, it is the common greeting of the Maleku indigenous group that live in a completely different area. But it’s still a cool name.



6. Hire a private guide for your own personal Manuel Antonio National Park tour

   There are a few ways “to do” the park. You can just go for the beach, since the park features several beautiful ones. You can take a guided group tour, but that puts you on a schedule with other obnoxious tourists, which many people don’t want.

   Or, you can just go in the morning and hire one of the guides that offer their services at the park entrance. Cost is around $50 for a group of four and they will show you stuff you’d never see on your own.

7. Go to the “private” beach at Playitas

   Manuel Antonio is no secret spot. The word is definitely out and this place can get super crowded. If you want a beach that gets less traffic, try Playitas. It is within walking distance of the many hotels that are on the “hotel” road (the one where you will find Arenas del Mar, La Mansion, La Mariposa and several others).

   If you have a 4×4, you can even drive out on the beach. Bring a surfboard too because the waves can get good there. It’s a little rocky, so swim with caution.



8. Enjoy a rural tourism experience at Los Campesinos Reserve

   The Campesinos Reserve is on the lower Savegre River, 25 km (15.5 miles) east of Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. There you will discover the longest hanging bridge in the region, which passes through an impressive natural landscape with a marvelous waterfall.

   There are several trails to extraordinary places such as the Los Chorros waterfall and natural pools, and there are strategic points for enjoying gorgeous views of Manuel Antonio. The highest point in the forest has a tramway.

9. Take a surf lesson with MASS

   Manual Antonio Surf School (MASS) has been a preferred surfing lesson provider in this area for years. They have a cool “surf and turf” tour that combines a tour of the best breaks with instructions and surf time.



10. Have a pescado entero (whole fish) on the beach

    The old Mar y Sombra restaurant and disco used to be the place for this (and dancing the night away). However, it was demolished for mysterious reasons.

    Nevertheless, just down the beach there is another great little place to sit and watch the waves, drink an Imperial and eat a delicious whole, fried red snapper.

    In fact there are several places to do this in “downtown” Manuel Antonio. You must eat a pescado entero at least once on your visit there.

These 10 cool things to do in Manuel Antonio are guaranteed to make your overall experience a bit more, as we say, pura vida!

[custom_script adID=191]

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.