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

Costa Rica · Manuel Antonio

Wildlife beyond the park

Mangroves, rescue centres and night walks to see animals you won’t meet on the trails by day.

6 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. Isla Damas mangrove boat tour (day or night)2

    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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  3. 3

    WildlifeOpen

    Rainforest night walk

    Private reserves near the park entrance2.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $79
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A guided 2- to 3-hour walk through private reserves next to the park to see frogs, snakes, spiders, insects and roosting birds.

    Source: Iguana Tours – Night walk in the tropical rainforest · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $79 if you get there yourself or $95 with transport (one operator, 2026).
    Hours
    Daily departure at 17:30.

    Tip: Minimum age 7 with that operator. Bring a torch and closed shoes.

    Nearby: Costa Rican cooking class on a farm (0 km) · Sunset from the Manuel Antonio hill (0 km) · La Macha Beach (1.3 km)

    Sources: Iguana Tours – Night walk in the tropical rainforest · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026) · Wikivoyage – Manuel Antonio National Park

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  4. 4

    NatureOpen

    Rainmaker Conservation Park

    Hills of Parrita, northwest of Quepos22.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    ₡12,000
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private rainforest reserve in the hills above Parrita with trails, hanging bridges, waterfalls and swimming holes; it also runs a night tour for amphibians and reptiles.

    Source: Rainmaker Conservation Park – official site · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Self-guided visit ₡12,000 plus tax; guided or night tour ₡32,500 plus tax (official site, 2026).

    Tip: It is still open (TripAdvisor 2025 award on its website). A Quepos operator sells it with transport and lunch for $149.

    Nearby: Kayaking in the Isla Damas mangrove (12.9 km) · Isla Damas mangrove boat tour (day or night) (12.9 km) · Kids Saving the Rainforest (wildlife rescue) (13.6 km)

    Sources: Rainmaker Conservation Park – official site · Iguana Tours – Rainmaker rainforest hiking

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  5. 5

    NatureOpen

    Punta Quepos trail

    Punta Quepos, between Quepos and Playa Biesanz3.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    $89
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A guided hike through protected secondary forest on Punta Quepos, the lighthouse headland, starting at Biesanz Bay and climbing to a 360° lookout over the sea and Manuel Antonio.

    Source: Iguana Tours – Punta Quepos ocean view nature hike · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $89 if you get there yourself or $95 with transport, including reserve entry (one operator, 2026).
    Hours
    Departures at 7:30 (birding) and 14:30 (with sunset).
    Time needed
    About 4 hours, with beach time.

    Nearby: Biesanz Beach (0.5 km) · Sea kayaking and snorkelling to Biesanz Beach (0.5 km) · Playitas Beach (0.9 km)

    Sources: Iguana Tours – Punta Quepos ocean view nature hike

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  6. 6

    WaterOpen

    Kayaking in the Isla Damas mangrove

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

    Entry
    From $79
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A kayak trip of just over 2 hours through narrow channels of the Isla Damas estuary, with monkeys, herons, kingfishers, iguanas and sometimes crocodiles or mangrove boas.

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

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $79 per adult including a meal (agency, 2026).
    Booking
    Schedule depends on the tide; minimum age 6 (in a double kayak with an adult up to age 15).
    Time needed
    About 4 hours including transfers.

    Nearby: Isla Damas mangrove boat tour (day or night) (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 kayak tour · My Tan Feet – Manuel Antonio with kids (updated July 2026) · My Tan Feet – Things to do in Manuel Antonio (updated July 2026)

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