Tours & Activities

The Canopy Tour is the most popular tour in Costa Rica for a good reason! 10+ zip lines, rappelling, suspension bridges, and a "Tarzan swing" make for an invigorating experience. There are two local options, depending on your time lines. Both are safe for kids and elderly folk, and there is also a night canopy tour option. They’ll even capture the Kodak moment when you’ve lost all ability to control your panic reflex!

For those of you with a proclivity towards adrenaline AND machinery, exploring the nearby mountains by ATV is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Cruise your way up a 4x4 road lined with rainforest, along crystaline streams and waterfalls… and then get rewarded by a plate of Costa Rican food afterwards! ATV tours are a great way to explore the surrounding mountains, and to get off the beaten path!

The Full-Day Southern Zone Waterfall Tour is a private excursion to explore the attractions along the coast from Manuel Antonio to south of Uvita. Along the way you will stop by some of the area’s most beautiful beaches and swim in some of the area’s most refreshing waterfalls, including Playa Ventanas and the Pavón waterfall. Lunch at an ocean-view restaurant is included. Bring a cooler full of drinks and snacks and make it a road-trip to explore even more of Costa Rica!

Horseback riding is not only about bonding with the animal world, but also with the natural world. Ride across open pastures, through the rainforest, over rivers, up into the hills, and down to a hidden waterfall. Visit a mountain village, and sit down for a delicious, local meal. 

There are a number of different horseback riding tours, depending on your interests, desired time length and difficulty level. 

In Costa Rica, visiting the mountains and rainforest is as important as visiting the beaches—and even more exotic. Vacation Buggy takes you there in both comfort and style, in an open-air 4x4 vehicle complete with a cooler and stereo system. Cross a 400-foot long ‘Indiana Jones’ bridge, bathe in the waterfalls below, and enjoy a meal of local food in a lodge overlooking it all…

On the ADR 10-in-1 Adventure Park you will travel down the barrel of a river in a Hummer truck, riding up a very steep mountain, hike via ferrata overlooking the beautiful scenery, feel the adrenaline rush as you fly through the skies on the Tarzan swing and then get prepared to be soaked as you rappel and zip line through the most spectacular waterfalls. This is the extreme version of the canopy tour and not for the light-hearted!

There are only 2 comercially rafted rivers along the Pacific coast—andy they’re both serviced out of Quepos - Manuel Antonio. The Naranjo (1/2 Day, Class III-IV) is a fun, quick ride. The Savegre (3/4 Day, Class II-III) is also a beautifully scenic river. Both include a delicious meal and drinks. Either will get your ears wet, and leave your heart beating like a jungle drum. 

The Elegante sailing tour is true to its name as a more luxurious alternative to the typical catamaran tour. The tour aboard this 100-foot wooden yacht is also slightly longer, includes a gourmet lunch or dinner and two drinks. There is bar service (paid) many different large spaces to spread out. After exploring the coast, stop at Biesanz Bay to snorkel and play around on their numerous sea toys. Or enjoy a gorgeous sunset from the water while sipping mimosas…

The catamaran tour is a great way to get out on the water, see the coastline and get some snorkeling in, too. The catamaran comes complete with a bar, covered seating, sun decks, music and waterslides. 

Quepos has become one of the deep-sea fishing Meccas of the Americas, and recently hosted the Offshore World Championship at the Pez Vela marina. Fish inshore for cod, bass and mackerel, or offshore for mahi-mahi, tuna, snapper, sailfish or marlin. Nothing is better than a great day on a boat with friends, drinks and food—and when you’re done, you can have your catch cooked up for you by chef! 

Fishing licenses not included ($15/pp)

Wave Runners are the ATVs of the ocean and allow you to go beyond the beaten waves. Simple to drive, they seat two and ply through the waves with ease. The two-hour tour includes transportation to and from your residence, snorkeling in a pristine bay, snacks and refreshments. See Manuel Antonio’s dramatic coastline from the ocean and get your adrenaline on at the same time!

Many people associate parasailing with extreme sports—but that’s not the case at all. In fact, parasailing is very peaceful and gentle. While, yes, there is the added element of being suspended by a parachute a couple hundred feet above the water—the ride is easy, and the landing soft. What better way to appreciate the beauty of the coast than from the perspective of a sea bird?

Paddle boarding is the new 

rave. Sure, it takes a bit of practice, but the boards are large and stable, and the instructors certified and capable. Explore the majestic coastline of Manuel Antonio—rocky cliffs, cove beaches, even a hidden waterfall. Once you get your sea legs, try the mangrove paddle board tour to experience the wildlife up close. 

Whales are some of the most majestic and fantastic animals to see in their wild habitats, and Costa Rica is the spawning grounds for both South and North American humpback whales. The best time is August – October, when the South Pacific whales are visiting, but it is also possible to see the North Pacific whales in December – March. Dolphins can be seen year-round. Please note there are no guarantees!

There are no snorkeling-only tours in the area, however the catamaran tour and Elegante sailing tour include equipment and a stopover at a local bay to snorkel and explore.  Alternatively, if you are really keen on getting your snorkel on--try the Isla Caño snorkeling & diving tour, which leaves from Bahia Ballena (1 hr south).  

Manuel Antonio is a great place to learn to surf, as the waves tend to me manageable and there are few currents.  The surf lesson includes transportation, equipment, instructor, fruit & water, & beach chairs.

A banana boat ride is great fun for any age.  Ride up to seven people at a time, and zip around the bay in front of the beach.  If you're lucky, you'll fall off and get refreshed! Pairs well with parasailing.

Manuel Antonio national park was lauded by Forbes Magazine as one of the “12 Most Beautiful National Parks of the World”. As Costa Rica’s smallest national park, it is full of wildlife—monkeys, sloths, iguanas, peccaries and other animals abound. Certified guides not only have the best eyes and equipment for spotting animals, but also a wealth of knowledge to impart.  

Most people don't arrive in Costa Rica itching to go on a mangrove tour--but they should. Damas, the coastal mangrove system just north of Quepos, is one of the most serene and natural habitats you will ever experience. The area is rife with wildlife--from white-faced monkeys to brilliant red crabs. This is a birder’s paradise, with kingfishers, herons, egrets and tons of other fowl. Also home to the rare 'silky anteater'. Kayak and tour boat options.

The night jungle tour is a great way to see a completely different side of the rainforest.  At night many nocturnal animals come out, including frogs, insects, raccoons, opossums, ant eaters, sloths, kinkajous and porcupines.  If you're really lucky you might see a silky anteater, marguey, ocelot or other feline species!

The chocolate tour starts with the cultural and biological background of cacao in the world and here in Costa Rica. Learn how to make café chorreado, the real Costa Rican practice of preparing coffee. Learn the most important aspects of Costa Rican culture and tradition, the trapiche(mechanic sugarcane-mill).  Grind sugar cane to extract the juice and make delicious cocktails. Finally, learn about medicinal plants through the new herb garden.

Rainmaker is a 1,500-acre preserve located in the foothills of the Talamanca mountains, 25 minutes from Quepos. With several good hiking loops, hanging bridges and a beautiful creek with several good swimming holes, Rainmaker is a great option for people who love hiking.  Pre-order a great Costa Rican lunch at their restaurant for afterwards!

Santa Juana is a small, charming village in the mountains, approximately 1 hour drive from Quepos.  There is a great river and waterfall down below with places to jump from at all heights, and also a good local restaurant with great views of the distant coastline. Pre-order your lunch and horseback ride to the waterfalls also!

Los Campesinos is a gorgeous waterfall canyon with a couple of hanging bridges, approximately 1 hour from Quepos along a gorgeous drive.  Cross a 400-foot suspension bridge over the canyon before descending down into the gorge to swim in the pool at the base.  Pre-order a great, local meal for lunch afterwards, too!

There are 2 places which call themselves the Quepos Hot Springs--and neither is anywhere near Quepos.  This one is about an hour drive from Quepos, located along a river in the mountains above Hatillo (just north of Dominical).  The springs themselves are tepid at best, but pretty.  More fun is playing in the river (seasonal), which has several natural waterslides.

The Reto MAE is a 10-kilometer unofficial trail which goes along the coast from Quepos to the main beach and national park and visits every beach along the way.  It can be done in sections also: Quepos to Playa Vaca, Playa Vaca to Playa Biesanz, and Playa Biesanz to Playa Espadilla.  Best to get directions from a local, though, as the trail is not well marked.