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Sandy beach beside the sea and a wooded headland in Manuel Antonio.

Costa Rica · Manuel Antonio

Plans for Tuesday or a rainy day

The park closes every Tuesday: these activities still run and several don’t depend on sunshine.

7 places

  1. 1

    WildlifeOpen

    Kids Saving the Rainforest (wildlife rescue)

    Naranjito, northeast of Quepos9.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $60
    Hours
    8:00–17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A non-profit rescue centre and sanctuary, accredited by GFAS, caring for sloths, primates and parrots. The guided tour shows animals that cannot return to the wild and explains its wildlife bridges.

    Source: Kids Saving the Rainforest – Wildlife sanctuary tour · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $60 adults and $45 children under 12; under 3 free (official site, 2026).
    Hours
    Monday to Sunday, 8:00–17:00.
    Booking
    Book online; private tours and volunteer programmes are also available.
    Time needed
    1.5 hours.

    Nearby: Zipline canopy tours near Quepos (4.2 km) · Quepos municipal market and farmers’ market (5.9 km) · Kayaking in the Isla Damas mangrove (5.9 km)

    Sources: Kids Saving the Rainforest – Wildlife sanctuary tour · Kids Saving the Rainforest – Home (hours) · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026)

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  2. 2

    FoodOpen

    Villa Vanilla spice, vanilla and cacao farm tour

    Naranjito, in the hills east of Quepos12.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A family farm founded in 1987 where you walk through vanilla, true cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, cardamom and cacao plantings and finish with a tasting at a viewpoint.

    Source: Villa Vanilla – Rainforest Spices: the tour · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    Book online; the tour needs at least 2 guests to run.

    Nearby: Rafting on the Naranjo River (0.7 km) · Extreme rafting at El Chorro (Naranjo River) (0.7 km) · Horseback ride to the Tocorí waterfalls (3.4 km)

    Sources: Villa Vanilla – Rainforest Spices: the tour · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026)

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  3. Isla Damas mangrove boat tour (day or night)3

    Photo: diego_cue, CC BY-SA 3.0

    WildlifeOpen

    Isla Damas mangrove boat tour (day or night)

    Isla Damas estuary, northwest of Quepos10.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    $70
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A roughly 2-hour ride in a covered boat through the Isla Damas mangrove, with no walking, a naturalist guide and a meal included. There is also a night version.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Damas Island mangrove boat tour · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Day: $70 if you get there yourself or $95 with transport; night: $75 or $99 (one operator, 2026). An agency sells it from $83.
    Booking
    Times are set by the tide. A local guide notes this tour runs on Tuesdays, when the park is closed.

    Tip: A good option for older travellers, babies or a rainy day, since there is almost no walking.

    Nearby: Kayaking in the Isla Damas mangrove (0 km) · Quepos seafront and town centre (4.9 km) · Quepos municipal market and farmers’ market (5 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Damas Island mangrove boat tour · Iguana Tours – Damas mangrove boat tour / night boat tour · Wikivoyage – Manuel Antonio National Park

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  4. 4

    FoodOpen

    Costa Rican cooking class on a farm

    Farm in the hills near Manuel Antonio (hotel pick-up)2.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $85
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    An experience on an organic hill farm where you pick ingredients in the garden, make tortillas and cook typical dishes to share.

    Source: My Tan Feet – Local flavor cooking experience · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $85 per adult (agency, 2026).
    Hours
    Departures at 8:00 and 14:00.
    Booking
    Minimum 2 adults.
    Time needed
    About 5 hours.

    Nearby: Rainforest night walk (0 km) · Sunset from the Manuel Antonio hill (0 km) · La Macha Beach (1.3 km)

    Sources: My Tan Feet – Local flavor cooking experience · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026)

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  5. 5

    FoodOpen

    Quepos municipal market and farmers’ market

    Next to the Quepos bus terminal5.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A market next to the bus terminal with cheap sodas and ceviche stalls; at weekends there is a farmers’ market.

    Source: Wikivoyage – Quepos · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Wikivoyage mentions the market on Saturday mornings; we found no updated official schedule.

    Nearby: Quepos seafront and town centre (0.3 km) · Catamaran cruise with snorkelling and sunset (0.8 km) · Sport fishing from Quepos (0.8 km)

    Sources: Wikivoyage – Quepos · Wikivoyage – Manuel Antonio National Park

  6. 6

    CultureOpen

    Marina Pez Vela

    Southern end of central Quepos5.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A yacht and sport-fishing marina in Quepos with a seafront promenade, shops and restaurants. Catamarans and many charters leave from here.

    Source: Marina Pez Vela – official site · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Next to the marina there is a small park with picnic tables, outdoor gym equipment and a lookout over the bay.

    Nearby: Catamaran cruise with snorkelling and sunset (0 km) · Sport fishing from Quepos (0 km) · Quepos seafront and town centre (0.5 km)

    Sources: Marina Pez Vela – official site · My Tan Feet – Things to do in Manuel Antonio (updated July 2026) · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026)

  7. 7

    CultureOpen

    Quepos seafront and town centre

    Central Quepos5.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Quepos is the area’s working town, with the bus terminal, banks and supermarkets; its seafront promenade (Paseo del Mar) links the centre with the marina and is a good sunset spot.

    Source: Wikivoyage – Quepos · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Get there on the local bus that runs every 30 minutes from the beach. Quepos is cheaper than the hill for food and shopping.

    Nearby: Quepos municipal market and farmers’ market (0.3 km) · Catamaran cruise with snorkelling and sunset (0.5 km) · Sport fishing from Quepos (0.5 km)

    Sources: Wikivoyage – Quepos · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026)

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