Most visitors to Manuel Antonio spend their days within a few kilometres of the park, but the hills and coast around Quepos reward a day out. The best excursions fall into four groups: waterfalls and forest, food and farms, relaxation and the open ocean. Most are sold as guided trips with hotel pickup, so you do not need a car or a rural driving plan. Pick one or two for a trip of four or five days, and treat them as the counterweight to the park, the beach and the boats. Remember the national park is closed on Tuesdays, which makes it a natural day for an outing.
Nauyaca Waterfalls
The headline day trip is Nauyaca, a two-tier waterfall in the Barú River valley inland toward Dominical, with a deep swimming pool beneath the main drop. The Nauyaca Waterfalls full-day tour covers transport, a guide and a meal, and the trip involves a drive of about an hour and a walk or ride to the falls. It suits fit, adventurous travellers and older children. Go in the morning, wear water shoes and bring a dry bag. The falls run fullest in the green season and are easier to reach in the dry season.
Farms and food
A chocolate farm tour is an easy half-day outing that suits all ages, and the chocolate, vanilla and coffee combo tour is a slower, more food-focused option for adults. Both are good wet-weather choices. Many operators combine a farm visit with another activity, so ask about packages. Bring cash for products, which make fine souvenirs, and check any rules about taking agricultural goods home. These tours start from the hills behind Quepos, so you will not need to travel far.
Hot springs
After a few days of early starts, a soak in warm, mineral-rich pools is a welcome rest. The jungle hot springs excursion offers a full day of relaxation among trees, with transport from the Manuel Antonio area. It suits the day after a strenuous outing or the day before a long journey. Keep sessions in the hottest pools short, drink water and leave jewellery at the hotel. People with heart conditions, low blood pressure or pregnancy should speak to a doctor first.
Whales, dolphins and the open ocean
A boat trip into the open Pacific offers a different experience from the sheltered bays. The whale and dolphin trip with snorkeling is sold as a half-day outing, and humpbacks are generally around from about July to October and December to March, with dolphins all year. Sightings are never guaranteed. If you prefer the comfort of a stable boat, a catamaran cruise often sees dolphins too. Sport fishing out of Los Sueños is another ocean option for anglers, with a private charter and a full or half day on the water.
Farther afield
Several well-known sights lie a longer drive away, and tours to them are sold from Quepos and from nearby Jaco. Carara National Park, on the way up the coast, is known for scarlet macaws and birdlife, and the Tárcoles River bridge is famous for its crocodiles. The coast to the south has the Marino Ballena area near Uvita, known for whale watching, and the beaches around Dominical and Uvita are quieter than Manuel Antonio. These outings take most of a day and involve significant driving, so check what is included and how long the transfers take. They make sense if you have a week or more and want to see more of the Central Pacific.
Choosing and combining
If you have only one spare day, choose Nauyaca for the scenery or the chocolate tour for a gentler day. If you have two, add the hot springs for balance. If you are travelling with young children, favour the farm visit and the boat trips over rough tracks and wet rocks. If you are an active traveller, combine a waterfall day with the ATV or rafting. Try not to book a long day trip the day before an early flight or after a late night.
Practical tips
Confirm pickup times and meeting points the evening before, tell operators about dietary needs and mobility concerns, and carry water, sun protection and insect repellent. In the green season, from May to November, start early to avoid afternoon storms, and in the dry season, from December to April, book ahead because popular trips sell out. Keep a dry bag for your phone and camera, and bring cash for small purchases, since rural sites may not accept cards.
