Manuel Antonio Beach, located within Manuel Antonio National Park, boasts a stunning stretch of sand and clear waters perfect for swimming. The beach is also home to various wildlife such as monkeys and baby turtles. However, visitors must be cautious of their belongings due to the presence of animals. Although snorkeling may not be possible due to cloudy water with sand, the warm December weather makes it an ideal time for swimming in soft sand.
Bit touristy, but definitely worth a visit. I don’t think it is necessary to have a guide, you can see sloths, monkeys, lizards and birds on your own as well. The beach is lovely on both side, only the food sucks in the buffet, but that’s is the only option.
Bal?zs Basky — Google review
Stunning beach with the most emerald and blue colors in the region. A true gem.
Note; no food is permitted in the park and only a personal bottle of water is allowed through the gate.
The park closes at 4pm- you are not allowed to exit and re-enter- only once per day.
Come prepared to see all the rainforest and white sanded beach has to offer! Monkeys, sloths, Mcaws, snakes and all the others you can imagine.
Absolutely gorgeous piece of nature's paradise!
Chase Cook — Google review
Great beach! One of the best seen in Costa Rica so far! Clean, comfortable and you’re in the jungle while you relax and tan! Would recommend
Amanda Sim — Google review
Clean beaches. They really take care of them. You can also see monkeys and other animals running around. Make sure to watch your belongings though.
We even saw some baby turtles on the sad so watch your steps.
Only down side is that you can’t bring food to the park so it’s hard to hang out all day. They do have a cafe but the lines are long.
Jessie Gong — Google review
Such beautiful scenery and views. The environment was so friendly and welcoming. What an awesome time at this beautiful beach!
Henry Bonilla Jr — Google review
Very nice beach, big waves, clear water, very soft sand. We did see a lot of monkeys. Didn't bother me but there was a lot of sellers walking down the beach and talking to us trying to sell us stuff.
Alex Pilote — Google review
The beach is beautiful but it is quite a walk down from the entrance. I wouldn't come here just to swim but its a nice benefit to the park. Don't leave your items unattended because of the monkeys (they are fearless). Changing rooms are pretty much just a stall so don't expect a rinsing area or mirror to be available.
M L — Google review
Beach gorgeous . Warm December swim , cloudy with sand so not good for snorkelling - but good swim and soft sand . Good facilities ie shower Loos and snack cafe up the hill. The park wardens stop the swimming at 3 pm - and start to shoo everyone out of the park at that time . Probably the best swim in Manuel Antonio
Maria C — Google review
Great experience visiting Manuel Antonio beach. A lot of monkeys and animals along the way you could see. The beach was white sand and breath taking views
Igor Pljev — Google review
The beach itself is underrated. One of the best places to take a dip in the ocean. Waves are nice but not too harsh. Good chance to come across some wildlife. There's is also a fresh water faucet.
Pritzy Davo — Google review
This beach was stunningly beautiful. We came here as part of our guided tour of the national park, and it was the perfect place to cool off with a quick swim. The sand is beautifully golden and soft, and the waves were very calm, unlike many Costa Rican beaches that we have been to! The water temperature is perfect, and the view of the cove is gorgeous! Would recommend coming here if visiting Manuel Antonio National Park, but remember the walk is about 20 minutes from the car park. Once there, there are bathrooms and outdoor showers to use. Would thoroughly recommend!
thirza — Google review
This is a hidden gem. It’s a gorgeous beach with very clean water and amazing wildlife. It’s about 30 mins of a hike into the park and it’s an easy walk. The swimming closes at 3 pm usually. The facilities are also nice with picnic benches and clean toilets near the beach.
Be careful to not disturb the resting iguanas here. Also look out for a lot of hermit crabs and other small species on your way. Sloths and capuchins are also common to see.
Bipul Mayank — Google review
This is the most beautiful beach I have ever been to. It is so clean at the beach. The national Park does not allow any plastic or food to be brought in so there is no trash. The water as you can see from the photos are so blue!
Elizabeth — Google review
Pretty beach. It was the most crowded place we went to in all of Costa Rica, however. Outer trail into the ocean was closed off unfortunately.
Eli Fauss — Google review
Beautiful beach, when your go there after 4pm, there is really nobody. Of course it is a little inconvinient to get there from the crowded beach Espadilla, but nothing you wouldn't manage :)
So far the best experience in Costa Rica. Best things in life are free ;)
Juraj Pekár — Google review
We were a little unsure about visiting was is apparently " the most visited National Park in Costa Rica". However we had a fabulous time in the park, seeing a lot of wildlife and avoiding most of the crowds.
We booked tickets in advance through the official website and arrived early at about 8am. We also chose not to have a guide. You are not allowed to take food or single-use plastic into the park. If you want to eat you need to go and sit in a cafe in a giant cage and buy expensive and not very good food.
We had a good walk on most of the trails around the park (some were closed). You do get a good sense of jungle and wild habitat on some of the more remote paths. We also had a nice long chill and a snorkel on a beautiful but quiet beach called Playas las Gemelas, where there was some coral and many fish. This was away from the crowds on the beaches on the peninsula where the monkeys are very bold and can take bags looking for food.
We managed to see a fair bit of wildlife too: deer, sloths, Coati Iguanas on the beach etc.
I think this place is well worth a visit and if you want to avoid the crowds, you can do this by going early ( or probably later in the day) and going to the less obvious places.
I think the Park service does a brilliant job, balancing the number of tourists with the need to keep a reduced impact on the park.
Bruce Learner — Google review
The beach is beautiful but it is quite a walk down from the entrance. We swam in the waters and loved it, but found Espadillo to be much calmer. Don't leave your items unattended because of the monkeys. Changing rooms are pretty much just a stall so don't expect a rinsing area or mirror to be available.
Anthony M — Google review
Park has 2 accesible beaches side by side. They are quiet with almost no waves. There are better beaches in Quepos. Careful of monkeys stealing your small items.
Stéphane — Google review
Beautiful beach. Waves were very gentle, great for just hanging out and bobbing around. Super soft sand, definitely not a rocky beach!
They have restrooms and showers a short walk away.
Jessica Howard — Google review
Beautiful place to relax. Calm beach. You can see more Iguana and Monkeys
Biesanz Beach is a lovely crescent-shaped bay surrounded by trees with a calm and inviting atmosphere perfect for swimming. The waters here are shallow and ideal for beach activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkeling to see some fish. However, it should be noted that there are rocks around the corner on the left side of the bay which can pose a danger to swimmers. To avoid these rocks when entering the water, visitors should use the far right side of the beach instead.
Beautiful vibe with calm waters for beach and swimming. Around the corner looking out to the left are rocks and buoys to swim out, paddle board or kayak to see some fish with a snorkel.
Kevin Markman — Google review
Nice beach with soft sand and warm water. Can be crowded on busy days, but it's very quiet early in the morning and late afternoon.
It's nice and safe to swim, you can also rent kayaks and go snorkeling, but don't expect to see a lot of fishes.
The beach is accessible by going through an easy 5-minute hike, but it's advisable to wear proper shoes, as flip flops aren't the best option.
Also, try to get there at sunrise or sunset, which is when you can hear the howling monkeys on the hike.
Hagop Jack Kavafian — Google review
Nice beach, but was pretty crowded. There were paddle board, kayak, and jet ski rentals all for a good price (about $10/hour) and a good cart and small restaurant (?) (bar??) serving drinks and other foods.
My friend and I paid $10 for an umbrella and two chairs, which we used for about 2-3 hours. There were a LOT of these set up and they took most of the space on the beach.
Getting to the beach requires a small hike (relatively easy but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with significant mobility issues). It’s a very rock path, it’s about a 3-5 minute walk down and a 5-8 minute walk back up. There are bathrooms along the way (₡100 to use) and showers, which are glorified tarp shelters.
Overall, a nice beach. Very rocky at the immediate entrance to the water, but it’s a nice beach with minimal waves and relatively clear water. I noticed I felt more buoyant in this water than I normally feel when I swim, and when I accidentally got water in my mouth it was very salty. Not sure what that’s about but it wasn’t bad and didn’t conflict with anything, just interesting!
I didn’t see any monkeys come out of the trees and go through peoples things, but it also felt like a pretty busy day at this beach so maybe they weren’t too interested.
Blanche Wetzel — Google review
Nice location, but I smashed my feet into multiple rocks. This made me sad.
Danny Chemtov — Google review
An absolutely gorgeous beach with kayaking, chairs, and umbrellas for rent as well as drinks and shower use for purchase. The sand is clean and soft, the water is clear, and best of all… the water is WARM! I visited during July and at no point was I even remotely cold.
There weren’t a ton of people, but it was definitely populated. It is quite a journey to get there, as you must take the bus and exit on the main road Vía 618. The bus doesn’t stop directly there, so we had to walk a bit uphill to finally reach Calle Parador then we followed the road all the way down past Shana Hotel to then access the path just past it. After a short 7-10 minute walk through the jungle, you find yourself at the marvelous beach. You can also skip the walking and just order a taxi. It cost $10 to get from Shana Hotel (the nearest place that can call you a taxi) to Hotel Villas Lirio.
The kayaking was $10/person for one hour and I found that a huge treat. Also, because this beach is situated pretty much in the jungle, you have a high chance of spotting wildlife. We saw several monkeys monkeying around.
This beach is truly a treat in every way and I highly recommend you visit if you’re in Quepos/Manuel Antonio area!
Simon Moore — Google review
Tucked away, this relatively small beach is a natural oasis. There’s a bit of a walk, some of it a little steep, to access. Check the tide schedule before you go as the beach is completely underwater at high tide.
LDW — Google review
Great little beach. Enter on the far right side to avoid rocks
Weston Dickson — Google review
Pretty calm waters and not too deep. It had some rocky parts. There were some bathrooms near by but badly maintained. Access is less than 200 meters walk from main road.
Josu? Z??iga — Google review
One of the nicest beaches I’ve been to anywhere in the world.
It’s quite small and picturesque. There isn’t a lot of shade and in some parts the tide comes in right up to rainforest, so pick your spot wisely.
The beach is in a cove so the water is calm and incredibly warm. It’s also a gentle slope and shallow for a small distance so great for kids.
There are people renting a few loungers and sunshades but they don’t hassle you. They also sells drinks at a fairly reasonable price.
If you park on the street near the entrance to the trail you may need to pay someone around $4 to watch your car. But that’s about half the price of parking at the national park and they will help you park and turn on the narrow road so I think it’s worth it.
The trail is about a 10 minute walk. It’s rocky in some parts but really easy.
On the two times we visited the beach either on the beach or the walk down the trail we saw Capuchin Monkeys, squirrel monkeys, 4 sloths, toucans and mot most often within touching distance.
It’s now the only beach I would go to in the area.
Gordon Allan — Google review
If you can brave the hills and are in for a good workout, I recommend walking to avoid the parking fees. Otherwise, this was my favorite beach in Manuela Antonio. The water is tranquilo, warm, and shallow. The sand is soft. There is a good coral patch to the left if you are snorkeling. It takes a bit of a rocky walk to get there as others have said but there are bathrooms and showers now on a property nearby (cost about $1)
Sara Enos — Google review
Another nice beach in the QUEPOS area with clear and calm waters. Watch the slope access from the street, where you can park. A very nice senior couple watches you car at very reasonable price, while you enjoy. Crews at the beach rent chairs and tents but there is also some shadow. And don’t miss the kayak and snorkeling. They also rent there. Enjoy!
Armando Heilbron — Google review
This beach has nice sand and great shade. There are monkeys in the trees right by the beach which was a treat.
They offer jet skis, parasailing, kayaks, massages, surf lessons, etc, but the prices weren’t necessarily cheap. They were pretty fair though.
During low tide, there is a lot of space to lay out and play in the sand. At high tide, the water will get almost to the trees.
When looking at the water from the beach, the left side of the beach is really crowded. That is also where to rent stuff. If you want more relaxing and less people and have your own chairs and things, stick on the right side and you get the beach all to yourself.
The waves are great for boogie boarding or beginning surfing.
Brittney Anderson — Google review
Great beach, flat water with low waves. Little bit of walk to get to the beach. You have chairs, some food options and kayak for rent. Water shoes recommended as there are lot of rocks.
Gaurav Kalani — Google review
Beautiful, secluded beach. Very mild waves since it’s more enclosed. Much less crowded than most other beaches in the Manuel Antonio area and with fewer vendors walking around if you want a massage or your hair done. We parked a little past Shana By The Beach Resort along the side of the road and paid a parking attendant $5 USD. There are signs along the road that suggest you pay someone to “watch your car” for car thieves. Stay on the right side of the road, and you’ll find a hiking trail that takes you to the beach. The trail isn’t like the one at Playa La Macha as is on the mild to moderate side in terms of difficulty of terrain and steepness. I was in Chacos/sandals and my partner was in studier flip-flops. There’s another sign that points you towards the beach along with bathrooms/showers. We ended up playing a guy $20 USD for two beach chairs under an umbrella. You could probably find a place with decent shade under the trees or on the rocks, but we were warned about the “monkey mafia” that shows up some time in the day, and apparently the monkeys are notorious for stealing your belongings. We ended up not seeing any monkeys. Beach is a little rocky, and we were told to either aim for the middle or the right side when getting into the water. We saw some people snorkeling in the water. There were also paddleboards and two-person kayaks for rent along with this bike/pedal-powered board that I had never seen before. If you’re a strong swimmer, you could most likely make it to a part of the beach on the right towards some big rocks in the water that is more secluded. They also sell food/pizza and drinks along the beach if you get hungry or thirsty, but we had our own snacks and drinks packed with us. Towards the end of our time at the beach, I saw a toucan fly into one of the trees near us. Didn’t see many people with pets, but there was one guy who had his dog with him. Lots of families with young children there. A mixed crowd with people of all ages. Thoroughly enjoyed our time here.
Michael Harley Cruz — Google review
Stunning little beach. More of a local feel. Beautiful water and sand. About a 5 minute walk from plentiful street parking. Gave a guy 2000 colones to “watch” our car and help us get in and out of parking. Definitely not necessary but happy to give him some money for his troubles. Although we didn’t use them, there are places for food, drinks and lots of water toy rentals.
Tomas R — Google review
amazing beach! quiet and not crowded, almost no waves
there is a stand the sells chairs and umbrellas ( 20 usd to 2 chairs and 1 umbrella) and also sells cocktails (2 for 17 usd ) but eventually they will insist of at least 5 $ tip no matter what you ordered
there are also monkeys near by!
Gilad Levy — Google review
Path to the beach isn’t for anyone with mobility challenges and not fun as it’s steep with some very slick areas. Beach view is ok, nothing to write home about. The water is nice but be prepared to walk through a mine field of rocks of all sizes into the water. Not for anyone with mobility challenges. Totally not worth the walk.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio is a small but impressive nature reserve situated on the coast of Costa Rica. It is home to abundant and diverse wildlife, including sloths, toucans, monkeys, birds and butterflies. The park's lush jungle trails lead visitors to stunning views of the sea and nearby islands. In addition to its natural beauty, the park boasts beautiful beaches perfect for swimming and picnicking.
What a beautiful national park! It features so much wildlife and even two wonderful beaches. I recommend hiring a guide! They will point out things that you would never see on your own. We had Josue and he was amazing!! Hands downs the best guide. He’s very knowledgeable and makes the tour extremely fun.
Niki M — Google review
If you are a beginner hiker but love being outdoors, then this is the place to be. Very easy well marked trails to be on and you’ll see a ton of wildlife. I do recommend getting a tour as you will get a lot more out of the park coming with someone who knows where to look and spot the animals. Also bring your beach gear because there is a cove inside the park where you can spend all day relaxing and swimming in very clear water with virtually no waves. Watch out for the monkeys, they will definitely steal your stuff and take your phone right out of your hands.
Andres Sanchez — Google review
Beautiful place! I purchased the entrance ticket only, no guides. I was still able to see a lot of animals in the park, including sloths. I would recommend bringing binoculars, especially if you don’t buy the ticket with a guide. You are not allowed to bring any food into the park, so plan accordingly as there are no restaurants or any food sold inside. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to go in early.
Marina Miller — Google review
Manuel Antonio National Park is an absolute gem of natural beauty. I strongly recommend hiring a guide to enhance your experience, as they can expertly spot the wildlife and provide high-powered telescopes for better views. To make the most of your visit, it’s wise to purchase tickets in advance, as they tend to sell out. Note that food isn’t allowed in the park, but you can bring a reusable water bottle. There’s a small restaurant available where you can purchase snacks. It’s a good idea to bring a towel or beach blanket, as the park doesn’t offer lounge chairs or umbrellas for shade. Despite the lack of swimming opportunities due to rough waters, the picturesque scenery here is nothing short of breathtaking. Manuel Antonio National Park is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts, offering a chance to connect with Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity.
Vanessa Benavides — Google review
This park is absolutely amazing. For the people who like greeens and nature, you can walk through different trails. For the people who like beach, you can relax there. You can spot sloths (although not easy), naughty monkeys and some big lizards. I went to this park with tour.
Chandra Kanth Reddy — Google review
A beautiful park, with such biodiversity it is amazing. I feel blessed to have been able to visit. Our guide Danny, (whose photo is included, as he explained why sloths appear to be smiling) was adept at seeing creatures we would have missed if on our own. What a worthwhile experience!
Dianne D'Bos — Google review
We loved this park! It was our favorite place in Costa Rica! We saw so many animals, and we LOVED the beach! I wish we had brought our snorkeling gear, but I had heard the snorkeling in Costa Rica was non-existent-- NOT true. We ended up buying snorkeling gear at the souvenir shop by the beach. It was $40.... But, worth it to me! It is more of a coral graveyard, but there were a lot of fun fish. There are bathrooms, showers, and potable water next to the beach. We didn't pay for a guided tour, and I wasn't sad. We still saw SO many animals! Take your binoculars! Parking was $10.
Emily Sanders — Google review
Beautiful environment! Natural wooded trail with so many different types of wildlife runs right up to the edge of the Pacific Ocean in a nice wide horseshoe beach cove. The water was perfect to lounge around in as we were there at the beach for a couple of hours. Go early because the crowd hits quickly around 11 a.m.
Shari Standridge — Google review
Went with a guided tour who help spot many creatures we would have likely missed. Unfortunately the cafe that used to be open, is closed at the moment. The beach at the end of the hiking tour was a nice finish and then it is about a mile back to the park entrance along and flat path. We did this with our three year old so it is possible with young kids.
Devin Ramdutt — Google review
A very nice beach spot for swimming, nice hiking, and a good cafe.
Plenty of wildlife.
Don't bring plastic water bottles.
No parking on site. Couple of places right before the entrance.
Buy tickets online in advance.
Cody Geisler — Google review
We had a very good time at this beautiful park.
We started the day by exploring the trails and spotting al kinds of animals.
We saw monkeys, nose bears, a kind of deer and a sloth high up in the trees.
Later we enjoyed the beautiful beach and the scenery. There are even showers to wash away the salt and sand after a swim in the ocean.
Dieuwer H — Google review
Great park. Follow the rules for entry and enjoy a great day here. Take a guide to maximize opportunities to view wild life. They are very good. Beaches are fantastic, bring towels or blanket to to be comfortable. Watch you stuff as the monkeys are brats and will help themselves. Food and drink avaliable at the top of the walk down. Bathrooms and showers to rinse off sand and salt also avaliable. This would be an excellent place to spend a solid beach day.
grant I — Google review
This is the most amazing park I've ever been too! Where else can you see sloths and monkeys, toucans and macaws at the same place with beautiful Beaches? They have beautiful reefs for snorkeling where we even saw an eel!! The hiking trails are not too hard and the views are breathtaking!! I do recommend getting a guide to help point out the sloths and other creatures hiding in the trees. The first time I went I didn't get one and missed so much. The experience my second time was so much better with a guide.
Kyle Woodbury — Google review
Gorgeous national park! We did see tons of wildlife (sloths, toucans, white faced capuchin monkeys, and more)
The trail entrance from Manuel Antonio takes you on a circular loop down to the beach and back. The interior side of the trail is gravel and easy to traverse with soled shoes. The beach side trail is partially sand (a light layer) and partial raised walkway. I imagine pushing a stroller or wheelchair would not be challenging on account of terrain.
There are several places along the trail with potable water to refill water bottles. There is also a small restaurant and gift shop with restrooms near the beach.
As mentioned, it is a gorgeous park with tons of wildlife that is happy to pose for pictures. This does mean that there are a LOT of people.
If it's your first time here I would suggest going with a guide. Many of them have binocular type equipment that will allow you to see wildlife up close. They also know where it is so you'll have the opportunity to see a lot of the more camouflaged critters.
Jessica Howard — Google review
Awesome.
I highly recommend a guide with professional equipment (If you do not have yourself). We could see several sloths, iguanas, capuchino monkeys and howler monkeys, bats etc. in a 2,5 hour tour... Just great!
Honestly i would have missed almost all the animals on my own (See pictures below).
After the tour you can enjoy two beaches.
Our Tour (Efrain´s Nature Tours) included Hotel Pick Up and drop Off!
Markus Ebbert — Google review
Great visit. Definitely bring walking shoes. There's a section that is all stairs going up. You can visit the beach while you're in the park. It's best to go early (7 am) for less crowds. You can purchase your tickets online. Take screenshots in case you don't have service. Make sure to bring water that is allowed, reusable it okay, disposable is not.
We didn't do tour, but saw lots of wildlife. Sloths are hard to spot, look for the white spots in trees. They're far up so binoculars are good. You can usually stop next to a tour group and check out what they've found.
Linda Nguyen — Google review
Most beautiful beach I have ever been to. And I have been to a lot of beaches. We started by walking up the gravel road about 1 mile. Saw some monkeys. Then we spent time at the beach. It was wonderful to have trees close by the water with tree trunks to sit on. The are also restrooms nearby.
Tickets are limited. Get yours online as early as possible
DK1981 — Google review
Beautiful location! A few things to know, they are very strict about what you bring into the park. Plastics & food are a no go. I would suggest a reusable water bottle, not just an average bottle of water. The board walk is a much smoother walk, which is wheelchair friendly. On the boardwalk I saw a lot of crabs and some iguanas. From the gravel road I saw monkeys and sloths. There are bathrooms just beyond the check point, You have to go through the checkpoint to access them even though they're technically behind you. The next set of bathrooms is about a mile away, showers are also available after swimming. There are a lot of trails to choose from, and there is a cafe although it was not open when we were there. There are limited picnic tables by the beachfront in the tree line. The beach has plenty of driftwood which makes for a convenient place to sit and relax if you can't get a table. The waves can be rough in this area, be mindful of that.
Mary Day — Google review
Beautiful park for hiking and going to the beach at the same time! We saw sloths and monkeys, very beautiful place. The only things were all the people trying to sell you and quite force you to their parking spaces, as well as all the tours and sightseeing. You don't really need a telescope to see the animals, just venture in and enjoy! Also, bring a metal water flask because they make you throw any water bottle to the trash before entering the park and get your tickets online beforehand!
Alessandra Izq — Google review
The park is nice, the beach is amazing. You do not need a guide to see monkeys, crabs or even a family of deer that walked right past us. Go online and pay the $16 USD in advance for entry. Parking is about $8 right down the street. We drove from the north and encountered some guides that step in front of your car along the highway and try to sell you their services. It’s a pushy approach and keep in mind you don’t need to stop or even talk to them. Same thing happens as you walk up to the entrance. The guides can offer many details about the plants and animals but we had a good experience on our own. A guide is the best way to see a sloth. Enjoy the easy hiking, the wildlife and the relaxing ocean sounds and views.
Peter Loucks — Google review
This is the most amazing park I've ever been too! Where else can you see sloths and monkeys, toucans and macaws at the same place with beautiful Beaches? They have beautiful reefs for snorkeling where we even saw an eel!! The hiking trails are not too hard and the views are breathtaking!! I do recommend getting a guide to help point out the sloths and other creatures hiding in the trees. The first time I went I didn't get one and missed so much. The experience my second time was so much better with a guide.
Anthony M — Google review
Make sure to buy your tickets online a few days ahead. It gets pretty busy. We got two tickets for the 8-8.30am slot and there was a long line so we made it into the park around 9am. Very crowded. Saw a slot and some monkeys. Not the most beautiful national park in Costa Rica. Only the beaches are absolutely beautiful!
Sarah — Google review
An unforgettable day in Manuel Antonio National Park.
We had planned to enter the park with a self guided ticket for the day but spontaneously decided to join a guided group directly through the National Park and we are so glad we did!
We wouldn’t have seen nearly as much wildlife as we did if it wasn’t for our knowledgable and friendly guide Danny.
It really helped us appreciate the vast biodiversity the park has to offer. From different reptiles to sloths, insects, birds, and of course, the exciting monkeys, this visit was everything we had hoped for.
After the guided tour we were able to stay in the park for as long as we wanted. We ended up spending some beautiful hours on the Sandy Manuel Antonio Beach before continuing on, and exploring other parts of the national park and encountering some more monkeys. I must visit and highly recommend the guided tour directly through the national park.
Julia Alebrand — Google review
Visited two beaches inside the park. Pristine clear blue water, clean, family friendly, and great place for seeing White-Faced Capuchin monkeys, sloths and birds. Make sure to pack light and wear sturdy shoes for the long walk on gravel and rock between the front gate and the beach.
Julia Kesler — Google review
We booked a private tour through our hotel. Our guide is what made this a five star experience.
I highly recommend a guide - we would NOT have seen any of the animals without the guide. I know some reviews were like, "oh, the animals walk right by" but that was NOT our experience. It was raining on our tour which probably did impact things. Crowds were scarce due to the rain but we still saw a LOT of animals.
Our guide pointed out so many animals we just didn't see on our own: bats, hummingbirds, reptiles, sloths, monkeys, crabs, and more! My husband had a high end camera with long distance lens so his pictures are amazing. My cell phone was less than stellar due to the distance BUT my guide helped me take photos through the scope.
Hiking was not strenuous and most paths were paved or gravel. You do not need to be in top shape to enjoy your time here. I would suggest going on a day that is not hot and sunny - this will help with crowds. We did see large groups which seemed to dampen the experience for those guests.
Sheri Freitas — Google review
It is a great place to visit and experience natural habitats of local animals. We did self guiding and still able to see the primary animals we wanted to see. Guided tours will most likely guarantee seeing a variety of animals, but pricey. We went to see the falls, but during this time of year (dry season), it wasn't really worth the hike, just a low trickle of water, very disappointing, would have been nice if there was a sign on its condition. Nature trails were very good and informative of the animals, but signs needed updating, had faded pictures, and writing. The beach is very nice and there are showers to use.
Overall a good place to visit.
Andrew McHugh — Google review
Very nice National Park, however you definitely have to reserve your tickets online in advance ( a few days early at least). Also, unlike some other websites we’ve seen, you cannot bring any food into the park, and only hard plastic (reusable) water bottles are allowed. They are open on Mondays too. The park is packed with people, but if you take the side trails its not too bad. The beach was really nice too with warm calm water. Little crabs walking around the trees.
Conrad Rygier — Google review
Great place to see and hear animals. My recommendation is to go first thing. Animals are more active. It's cooler and less humid. It can be easier for little ones. Lots of animal life to see. We saw 3 types of monkeys, 2 types of sloths 🦥 various lizards and snakes, and many other creatures.
J M — Google review
Highly commercial experience with large volumes of people for the chance to take a short walk to view various animals. The beach was beautiful and the monkeys were plentiful.
It's a beautiful place and well maintained. Monkeys will steal your stuff if it's near the treeline.
I did walk away with a beautiful memory but the commercial aspect threw me off a bit. Our tour guide was lovely and took us to a local restaurant to eat which was tasty and off the beaten path.
I recommend it if you like beautiful beaches. If you just want to see animals, I think there are other options. I do have to admit, it's the only place I saw sloths.
David Lefort — Google review
Nice park but it's overrated. Not worth the price paid. The guides are nice and very knowledgeable. One basically walks on a paved road and the guides look for animals or insects on either side of the road to show you through one of their binoculars, you take turns looking through them, groups are of 6 to 8 persons.
Do not take food of any kind and no disposable drink bottles. Take a non-disposable water bottle or thermos.
Eric Manriquez — Google review
Loved the fact that you can have both the jungle and the beach together. ❤️
It's a park that can be easily explored by yourself. You don't need a guide.
Tickets are $18 for adults and have to be bought online. It wasn't an easy process for me to buy them. They made it a little difficult.
Inside the national park, you are not allowed with plastic bottles and food. I was checked to the entrance, and they took some stuff that I had. I had to buy a metal bottle of water inside the park and that was 3000 colones.
Watch out the monkeys when you're using the beach inside the National Park because they will open your backpacks and steal your stuff. I'm not joking.
Sukia Park and ZIP LINE Tours offer an immersive experience with the diverse wildlife of the area. The park boasts a variety of animals, ranging from herons to crocodiles, as well as a butterfly garden showcasing all stages of their life cycle. Knowledgeable guides provide insight into the ecosystem and care deeply for the animals and zip lines. Visitors can also explore a black Cayman refuge on foot.
Definitely the best tour of our trip. Our guides, Juan and Diego, were beyond magnificent. Their love for the project is marvelous and the have a deep love and care for the animals and zip lines. Very welcoming and fun. It is close. Good time.
regan backus — Google review
Our three tour guides are AWESOME! This is our last day of our CR trip and these guys and Sukia zip line tours were a wonderful way to top off our trip. Their jokes and friendly style made for a memorable event.
Make sure to check out the butterfly garden and crocodiles with a guide - it really makes a difference to learn about the butterflies vs just looking at them.
Our youngest is 8 and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He has done these types of events when he was younger without much hesitation at all - overall a good family experience.
Daniel Pak — Google review
Our guide Sebastian was very friendly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the animals and insects of Sukia. We went during the day and did not see many animals (a heron, a dart frog, and some lizards) during our hike but we did learn a lot about the ecosystem and thoroughly enjoyed our hike through the property and the waterfall. There's also a beautiful butterfly garden where we got to see them in all life stages, as well as a crocodile, turtle, and black Cayman refuge which was very cool to walk through and learn about. Highly recommend!
Emma W — Google review
We enjoyed 3 attractions at Sukia Park! First, we viewed the butterfly garden where we saw Morpho, Owl, And Tiger Butterflies 🦋. Later that night we did the night tour and saw the caterpillars and the cocoons that said the butterflies came from. We saw frogs, sleeping Kingfisher birds, crocodiles, and my favorite...the Jesus Christ lizard 🦎. Two days later, we did their zipline tour. It was amazing and we felt extremely safe. All of our tour guides were very knowledgeable and professional. My favorite was the repell down the waterfall at the end. All pics and videos were air dropped to us free of charge. I highly recommend Sukia park if you visit Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica.
Danah Boudreaux — Google review
We really enjoyed our day tour with Sebastian! He is very knowledgeable and took his time to explain and show us everything in detail. We learned so much and were lucky to see lots of wildlife even though our tour was around noon. All the staff is very friendly. Highly recommend!
Olya Zimina — Google review
This was a last minute tour for us. Our hotel set up this final tour as I visited Costa Rica to see sloths. Sebastian was our tour guide and he was amazing! I can not say enough about Sebastian and his amazing wealth of knowledge.
We did NOT do the zipline but it did look fun. :) Instead Sebastian took us on a hike throughout the reserve and spent a few hours showing us the beauty within the park. We were able to see a variety of frogs, birds, monkeys, and yes the most amazing sloth! Sebastian's keen eye often found things that I would have completely missed. We ended our tour in the butterfly garden which was beautiful.
As usual, the service is what really makes this place stand out. There are so many places/tours to see in Costa Rica but you won't receive the same level of service as with Sebastian.
Sheri Freitas — Google review
What an incredible Zip Line experience. It is the only Zip line tour in Manuel Antonio itself. Not only do you get to do long runs, but there is also a rappel line next to a waterfall. The guides were amazing. Juan and Diego, our guides were amazing. Made the family feel comfortable and safe the whole time. After our zip line tour, we also got to check out the Crocodiles and the butterfly garden. We will definitely be back when we return next year.
Daniel Rodrigues — Google review
We had an amazing time at Sukia Park Butterfly and Reptile Tour with Sofia as our guide! The park is beautiful and filled with so many different species of butterflies and reptiles, it's a nature lover's paradise.
Sofia was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the animals, and she made the experience even more special by sharing interesting facts and stories about each one. She was also very patient and kind, answering all of my questions and making sure we were comfortable throughout the tour.
We learned so much and had so much fun, I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Sofia and Sukia Park, for a wonderful experience!
scott thompson — Google review
An adventure worth visiting. Juan the tour guide did a great job as teaching us about the wildlife in the park. The butterfly park was remarkable. The crocodiles are truly breathtaking. Very interactive and fun experience in Manuel Antonio. We were a group of 11 and took 2.5 hours to complete the tour! There’s a person taking pictures and they send them to you almost instantly for you and your guests to enjoy the memories! Would 10/10 recommend this tour. If you’re doing the walking tour I recommend a guide so you can learn all about the animals and their magic!
Didi Diaz — Google review
Our unplanned visit to Sukia Park turned out to be an amazing surprise. We stopped by with the hope of experiencing the beauty of butterflies. The park was accommodating, and we had called ahead to schedule a tour, which they readily agreed to. Our tour guide, Jose, was an absolute gem. His wealth of knowledge extended beyond just butterflies; he was well-versed in crocodiles as well. The butterflies were a stunning sight, their vibrancy adding a burst of color to the experience. Jose’s expertise shone during the crocodile tour too, where he shared a wealth of information. We even had the unique chance to witness a crocodile’s cough – a moment to remember. I’ve included a video in this review for those interested. For the best experience, I recommend doing the tour in the morning, rather than the evening. Jose was kind enough to invite us back the next day to catch the butterflies in their morning activity phase. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from taking up his offer. Overall, Sukia Park and our guide Jose left a lasting impression with their warmth, knowledge, and the memorable experience they provided.
Vanessa Benavides — Google review
We did the daytime zipline followed by the butterfly and crocodile tours. We also had lunch in the cafe beside the butterfly exhibit. The guides were a riot, safety first but also very funny the entire time. You could see how much they love what they do. They took many pictures and videos and emailed them to us afterwards. Zip lining was a ton of fun. If you have the time, grab a breakfast or lunch at the cafe, it is fantastic and the servers are great as well. Pura Vida!
Michael — Google review
We had an amazing time on the nighttime jungle walk. Our tour guide, Juan, was knowledgeable of the flora and fauna and took the time to show us everything, and help us get some cool pics. We loved seeing the crocodiles! 10/10 experience!
rachel w — Google review
I cant recommend the crew at Sukia enough. They were professional, knowledgeable, and extremely friendly. My two daughters age 7 and 10 were a bit nervous but the Juan, Brian and Chino made them feel very comfortable and confident. As a bonus you get a full tour of the butterfly garden and crocodile rehabilitation center.
Morgan Malone — Google review
Diego, Jared & Brian were awesome guides for our journey through the park. The zipline path of many sections extends through gorgeous views of the forest canopy, over winding creeks, and a spectacular waterfall. The visit into the butterfly pavilion was amazing, seeing butterflies 🦋 in all stages from eggs laid on the leaves, to caterpillars crawling and cocooning themselves and emerging to fly around and even land on us. Checking out the turtles 🐢 & crocodiles 🐊, ranging in age from a few years to more than 50, was an experience. Even spotted a couple of howler monkeys 🐒 and a sloth 🦥 as we made our way around.
Greg Sullivan — Google review
Sukia park was SO good that we went three times. The experience wasn't only just the amazing natural beauty surprisingly soon after leaving the road -- such a hidden gem -- it was also the warm, kind and knowlegeable staff who run and own the park... they made sure that the tour was interesting and fun, and most importantly, extremely safe. Paying close attention to their safety protocols, I really liked what I saw, not only the training, but how they operated their radios and communicated with each other. One of our guides knew literally everything about every tree, animal and insect, and blew us away with explanations of everything we asked about. The zip lines opened up to such great landscapes, and we saw a beautiful waterfall (rappelling down there is definitely a great addition -- do it if you get the chance!), and there was plenty of great wildlife including a sloth hanging in a tree a few meters away (probably the closest we'll ever get to one), not to mention monkeys. The tour was so beautiful that my wife conquered her long time fear of heights just to do it again, and we went a total of 3 times. While that was totally enough to make an amazing day, we also loved the butterfly garden with close encounters with the blue morpho butterfly -- with an excellent explanation and education about the life cycle and the insects there. I almost forgot to mention the enclosed crocodiles there too, of all sizes! Definitely go if you're in Manuel Antonio... Diego has been making zip lines for a long time, and he is a true master of the art. There's no other zip lines anywhere nearby that compare, and this is certainly worth more than the price of admission, especially given the level of service and uniqueness of the experience. Can't wait to return and go again!
We stayed at the hotel here and were not disappointed. The rooms were clean, the staff was extremely friendly, especially José, that guy works hard to do whatever you need and is a great tour guide. The included breakfast was also great (fresh fruit, eggs, toast, and potatoes). There are many iguanas and monkeys that will hang out on the patio during breakfast as well, including passing macaws. The stairs are pretty steep and no wheelchair access though, which wasn't an issue for us. Must say hi to the dogs that live there too, we'll miss you pitufina y lily! :)
kathy leider — Google review
Incredible place. We went to the dinner and show. The view was spectacular. 360 degrees from the dining area. Staff were excellent, food was excellent. The entertainment excellent. Great value and one of the best experiences on our trip.
Chris Connell — Google review
Stayed at Mountain Top Park Hotel for 4 nights. Check in was smooth and we were warmly welcomed by "Chile" at the front gate. Room was small but nice and clean. Nice modern bathroom with big shower but soap and shampoo dispensers didn't work well. Bed a bit hard but got used to it. Asked for and received extra pillows...very accomodating. Breakfast is served every morning by Hosea and Wendy on a cute deck with a nice view. Great coffee, yogurt, fruit, eggs, potatoes and toast. Saw iguanas, monkeys and macaws on the property and a sleeping sloth. The staff are very friendly and hospitable. Hosea gives a little tour of the property to each guest. Wendy cleans the rooms and cooks breakfast. They do whatever they can to make sure the guests are happy.
On the property is also the Mountain Top restaurant with an incredible 360 view. We had cocktails and dinner at the top 2 nights and saw magnificent sunsets. Had the whole place to ourselves pretty much!! George is the bartender and is super friendly and made us great drinks for Happy Hour!! The food is reasonably priced and very good. Shayla served us and was sweet and practiced her English on us. I would recommend the restaurant and the hotel is a good value for the money.
Anita Friesen — Google review
Mango’s fav park in Manuel Antonio! Thanks for the great customer service!
This place has a 360 view is really located at the top of Manuel Antonio.
You’ll find a restaurant and a bar where you can recover energy after the walk.
Sneakers are enough for the walk around the park. Is super worthy!
Our scooters are safety enough to climb to the top and brings you back.
Mango Scoot — Google review
The most AMAZING place to stay or visit in MANUEL ANTONIO
With views of cost & mountains both.
Friendly staff and hanging bridges along with Zip line… must visit,serene spa with breathtaking taking view and full service BAR 🍸I would call it a” HIDDEN GEM”
Jan Noorani — Google review
I went with my husband and 2 year old son. This is a really cool place to walk/hike trails through the jungle. The hanging bridges were so fun, too! There was a stairway to get down before the highest hanging bridge section so my son and I went down the stairs and my husband walked the highest part. My son and I then walked the trail to the top and met my husband. A toddler would need to hold the hand of adults and/or be carried at all times on the bridges. We did not do the guided day tour, just the self-guided walking tour. It was really fun and good exercise. We saw a medium sized iguana and a mammal we could not identify. It looked like a beaver. There was really nice foliage. Most of the paths are not paved so you need tennis shoes or hiking shoes. There were not very many people there so it is a hidden gym at this point. There wasn’t anyone else on the hanging bridges so that was nice, especially going very slowly with a toddler.
Laurissa Beckman — Google review
It was an absolutely incredible stay here. Our server George was so warm and welcoming making our visit to the mountain top cafe extra special.
Sunset was amazing. Highly recommend the star fruit mojito drink. You receive a voucher for an item at the restaurant when staying at the hotel.
Sam Senra — Google review
This was a great experience with some truly amazing views and trails. The park is pretty small but they are adding some new rooms for rentals there which would be amazing to stay there when they are finished. They are also doing construction on the restaurant which will be amazing when done with 360 degree views from there. The suspension bridges were great to see above the trees and for spotting the wildlife below. Our guide was Jose who really made our trip, taking us to the top and sharing his knowledge of the wildlife and vegetation. He made our time there extra special and we would highly recommend this park. Thank you Jose! We will be back!
Rainy Hunte — Google review
Really nice owner showed us a sloth that hangs out near the house they're building. The restaurant was closed for construction, but had some great views! I only wish the park opened earlier to visit the animals coming out for breakfast. Hanging bridges trail has many bridges and a nice view over the trees... Not sure why hanging bridges are a selling point in Costa Rica parks, but they seem to like them 😂
4 stars only because if we saw more animals it would be more worth $20. I think $10-15 would be better. But you can return all day. The owner said around 2-3pm more animals come out. I just would have preferred to walk the trails at 7 or 8am for animals looking for breakfast. I was too tired to return since it was a 15 minutes sweaty walk from my hostel. But apparently they light up the bridges at night (not sure with the construction). When the restaurant is reopened and whatever else they're building, I think it will be a better deal!
Maddi Petro — Google review
We had a blast at Mountain Top Park. It’s currently a hidden gem! My friend and I loved our experience so much that we came back the next day for sunset suspension bridges and drinks with more friends! We did a tour of the trails and the suspension bridges that was excellent! The view from the bridges and the restaurant up top is simple not to be missed! If you are going to Manuel Antonio you have to incorporate these incredible views into your trip plans!
Lyndsey McAdams — Google review
Honestly, this was an odd experience!
We went about 15:00 on a weekday expecting a queue and to be engaged until sunset… but the place was dead. The trees and flora weren’t well established and (after visiting other hanging bridges) these were a bit on the rough-and-ready side. The “cafe / bar” itself was also very self-made, was empty on the top and middle floors, with loud drilling and construction activities shaking the whole place.
Nonetheless, the bridges were a lot of fun and the view from the top of the “cafe / bar” was incredible.
Not quite sure it was worth the $20 each paid, though!
Manuel Antonio Nature Tours offers an incredible experience with knowledgeable guides who are passionate about showcasing the diverse wildlife in the area. The tours provide opportunities to see a variety of animals, including anteaters, sloths, monkeys, snakes, crabs, and bats. The use of tools like periscopes and phones ensures that everyone in the group can observe the wildlife simultaneously.
Edwin is the best! Walk with him in "his office" and let him show you the magic of Manuel Antonio. Supremely knowledgeable, he takes the time to find out what interests you and then guides you along, helping you understand the importance of this place. The sloths and the monkeys stole the show, but the attention to detail and answering our every question as we wandered through the park made the experience stand out. I highly recommend him for your guide!
Chrissy Mincy — Google review
Edwin was simply amazing!! He was so knowledgeable. He asked what we wanted to see and he checked everything off our list. If you are wondering if you should hire a guide, you absolutely should!! We wouldn't have seen most things without Edwin's eye. We were able to see an anteater, sloths (3 and 4 toed), howler monkeys, white faced monkeys, a snake, crabs, bats and many plant species. Edwin uses the periscope but then his phone so everyone in the group can see everything all at the same time. Many of the guides have people look through the scope one at a time, so if an animal moves, it might get missed. He also captures the photos and videos and shares them with you afterwards. It was an AMAZING experience. We couldn't recommend him more. He was also great with our teenagers. He was also funny! Thanks, Edwin!!!
Melissa O'Neill — Google review
An alright tour of the Manuel antionio national park! However, we only saw monkeys and the back of a sloth during the last 15 minutes of the tour, so Remember that there’s no guarantee that you’ll see animals. The beach is super nice but since you can’t buy food/water there it wasn’t really an option to stay after the tour… We were in a group of 8 people and transportation from hotels in Manuel antonio is included, a snack consisting of a sandwich and fruit was served after the tour. Bring a reusable water bottle!!!
Ellen Uggeldahl — Google review
It was a great experience. Our guide Edwin was great. He showed us a lot of wild life along the trail we saw the slots, bats, basilisk lizards, crabs and monkeys. Also the mangroves. Really liked his iphone scope attachment. With that phone attachment it was easy to see the wildlife enlarged on the phone without having to peek through the finding scope lens. He was able to take good pictures from his phone and then transfer it to my phone. Instead of each person having to aim their camera and take the picture on their camera which will slowdown the whole group. I would highly recommend the tour and Edwin's touch. Just one note bring your towels and enjoy the beach in the park after the tour.
Rohan Reddy — Google review
Visit one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica - Manuel Antonio Beach. To get to the Beach you might want to book a tour with guide through the jungle.
Booking Manuel Antonio Tours was definitely worth it, as they know the terrain and have a keen eye for pointing out wildlife! You probably won't see much of the wildlife if you go on your own. We spotted 4 sloths, snakes, lizards, and howler monkeys.
At the end of the tour, you will reach the Manuel Antonio Beach. Here you will have the beach almost to yourself, and it's absolutely beautiful.
ElenaPhoto — Google review
We highly recommend Manuel Antonio Nature Tours. Francisco, our private guide, was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the plants and wildlife in the park. His English skills are so good. He expertly navigated all the phases of the beginning of our tour such as locating toilets, getting us quickly and calmly through the entrance checkpoint, and explaining how the spotting scope works. During the rest of the tour, he described the park's plants and animals in detail and with wonderful stories and analogies. We finished the tour with colorful photographs and videos from the spotting scope to take home.
Tammy McLane — Google review
Overall, we had a great experience with Manuel Antonio Nature Tours. Booking on their website was easy, and they responded immediately to every question over email.
Carlos was an amazing guide, and his two hour tour was one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip. He's friendly, knowledgeable about the park's ecosystem and wildlife, and shares all that information in an engaging way.
He found many animals for us, including two and three toed sloths, howler monkeys, a toucan, and various smaller creatures. He took photos and videos through his telescope and shared them at the end of the tour.
This is a must do in Manuel Antonio, and I highly recommend Manuel Antonio Nature Tours.
Dan Podsedly — Google review
Edwin is a great guide. He doesn't rush through the park like the other guides. He takes his time and find all kind of hidden animals. He's very knowledgeable and very nice. The fresh fruits at the end is a plus!
Thank you for giving us a great experience at the Manuel Antonio Nature park.
Emmanuel Ramon — Google review
This was our first tour of Costa Rican native plants and animals. Our guide was so knowledgeable and helped us see through the spotting scope and with the ‘naked eye’. He took amazing shots of the animals and insects, then shared them with us.
This is a well-run company that makes the booking, arrival process and tour experience very easy and stress-free.
We highly recommend Edwin Castillo tours.
Janette Eckert — Google review
We really enjoyed our tour! Our guide Mop was excellent - very knowledgeable and brilliant at spotting wildlife and helping us capture it on camera. Nice small group of three and we went early in the morning before it got too busy. Very professional, good communication before and after - would really recommend Manuel Antonio Nature Tours!
Sophie Tuson — Google review
Our family had a 7am small group tour with Mop and it was fabulous! We were traveling with our almost 3 year old and they paired us with another family with a little girl which was perfect for us! Mop was great about helping the kids use the scope and photos to see the harder to spot animals and making sure the adults also got a lot out of the tour. On our way out of the park a few hours later, we ran into him with his next group and he let us join them to see the amazing sloths they’d just spotted. Highly recommend especially the early morning tour if you are traveling with kids!
Carly Glazer Newman — Google review
Our tour of Manuel Antonio national park was made special by our tour guide Mop! We lucked out and got a private tour as no one else was in our group. Mop had a very good eye and showed us multiple sloths (including a very active baby and mama sloth), stick bird, white faced and howler monkeys, a land turtle, helicopter dragonfly, bats, etc. Of course nothing is guaranteed as this is all natural- no animals are staged for the public which is how it should be.
He paced the tour very much for our liking- where he spent a lot of time looking and letting us experience (from a good distance) the animals. While we walked he would explain what we had just seen. I would book this tour again and request specifically for Mop to be our guide!
I suggest you reserve a ticket for Manuel Antonio first and then book this tour. You cannot get in to the park even if you already have a guided tour (as the park entry tickets are separate). Follow the directions in the email on how to find their office/parking as there are a lot of scammers on the road to the park entrance. The trail is very well paved and pretty easy. You can hang out at the park to enjoy the beach/trails after you finish the guided tour but make sure you bring all the things you need as there is no readmittance once you leave. There is only one place to buy food/drinks and souvenirs- no food is allowed in the park trails/beach (this for the health/ safety of the animals). It would also be a good idea to look up what time is best for the things you would like to see (birds early morning, etc).
Mira Romero — Google review
We toured with Mop, who was very knowledgeable and had some sort of magic radar for finding animals. We saw so many different species! The beach is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I wish I had brought my snorkeling gear! Definitely plan to swim after.
Jo Ann Beltre — Google review
A guide is absolutely necessary in order to fully experience everything Manuel Antonio has to offer. Saul was an amazing guide with great experience. He came equipped with scopes for us to see the animals better and had so much information about the plants and animals we saw. He was great at finding all kinds of different animals in the trees that we would have never spotted on our own.
Sierra Shields — Google review
MOP was a fantastic guide. We definitely wouldn’t have seen any of the wildlife without him. The experience created wonderful memories for our family - even saw the sloths! The instructions they send are clear and easy to follow, even including pictures.
I had such an awesome experience! Full Spanish emersion is definitely the best way to learn and the staff and other students and volunteers were so nice. I would definitely recommend staying with a host family, it was so nice to get to know them over my 4 weeks here :))
briana noelle — Google review
My experience with living in Costa Rica was one that I will never forget. I ate delicious food and stayed with an amazing host family. Participating in the TEFL Program at Manuel Antonio was great, too. I met wonderful people, who I now consider lifelong friends, and learned new techniques for teaching English. My trainer, Jackie, made sure we stayed on top of our work and did our best when it came time to teach our lessons. The staff at Maximo Nivel welcomed me and were supportive throughout my program. Thank you for a memorable experience!
Beverly Johnson — Google review
Came here for one month Spanish immersion program & was really impressed with the quality of care & curriculum they offered. The staff & instructors that run the institution are very sweet & it was so nice walking in every day & seeing their smiling faces. The campus has an open concept floor plan with indoor & outdoor spaces for classes & studying. The back patio overlooked the ocean & hillside & was the perfect place to catch sunsets. I enjoyed my time here & would love to try their other campuses in Peru & Guatemala!
Jasmine Sabio — Google review
Just recently graduated from Maximo Manuel Antonio, and had such an incredible experience! Felt so lucky to have met such an amazing group of like-minded people doing the course, which I felt really added to the experience. The course itself was a lot more challenging than I'd initially thought, but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and made it all the more fulfilling to graduate! The school has an incredible view, which I never got tired of. The staff were super friendly and helpful - and our TEFL Trainer Jackie was insane, couldn't have done the course without her patience, guidance and constant encouragement, her can-do attitude got us all through it 100% :)
Katie Smyth — Google review
Maximo Nivel in Costa Rica has given me the most amazing study-abroad experience. The teachers and staff are extremely kind and patient. Their goal is to ensure that you understand the material in its entirety while still having a good time. Because of that, they are willing to review the material repeatedly until you know it, and they encourage the students to participate in tutoring sessions. Maximo Nivel welcomed me into their program with open arms, which was so wonderful because it completely rid me of any nervous jitters or anxiety about the new experience, and they were very good at ensuring all of us students were aware of the schedule and other fun little opportunities like free salsa dancing or cooking classes. This was an experience I would keep with me for a lifetime, and I highly recommend this program to anyone with an itch to travel, who wants to learn Spanish, or just to get immersed in a different culture for a couple of weeks. By far, this has been one of the greatest experiences I have had, and I will cherish the memories forever. Thank you, Maximo Nivel, Pura Vida.
Angelic Robinson — Google review
I completed the TEFL course in Antigua Guatemala with Wayne. Wayne was a very qualified and very charismatic teacher and when I started the course I had no prior experience. By the end of the course I felt fully confident in my ability to teach and prepare ESL classes. The techniques used here are very practical and useful. I can recommend the TEFL course!
Gabby Dakota — Google review
I had an amazing time taking my TEFL certificate in Manuel Antonio with Wayne Summerbell as my TEFL teacher. Wayne brought so much energy to the class, making TEFL really fun and engaging. I loved his beautiful boardwork and that he didn’t only teach the TEFL technics but modeled it throught the course. It was great to have so many opportunities to get practical teaching experience. Wayne always gave us very helpful feedback after each of our lessons.
Plus, Manuel Antonio is one of the most beautiful places I‘ve ever been to. I can only recommend taking this course in Costa Rica Manuel Antonio!
Dina Tanaka — Google review
This is a great institution. They were extremely helpful and answered any questions we had. Everyone was so nice, friendly, and welcoming. Highly recommended.
Eleanor Tiziani — Google review
I was pretty much scammed. Why would you pair a beginner student with an instructor who only spoke Spanish? I couldn't ask questions, and instructions were only given in Spanish. This led to more time lost. I'd literally waited for the professor to chicken peck google translate. Again, I can use google translate. So, why sign up for Spanish lesson if we're just going to use Google translate?
There were times we would pause for two or three minutes. My instructor totaled about 20 minutes late in a week (one due to technical difficulties on day one and the other was about four minutes late) Not a big deal you may think? Well, 20 minutes is 1/3 of a Spanish class.
I should be in my Spanish class now, but decided it was a waste of time and I'll use this hour to post a review and search for a new Spanish school! I straddled the line between 1 or 2 stars and decided 1.5 which rounded up to two since I'm unable to give 1.5 stars. Hugely disappointed with this school. Reviews are not always reliable. So, if you're one of these people who give 5 stars to not be offensive, mean, scared to tell the truth, etc. Never rate another business. The rest of us do not want to experience the same misery!
This school should have been professional from day one, and I more than likely would have committed to a long term program had the quality teaching been available.
Thanks for showing your true colors. I wouldn't even attend a free lesson from this school. Never again. All they want is your money, lessons are repetitive, and Adios!
T J — Google review
I had a wonderful experience with Maximo Nivel in Quepos, CR, with Matt as the group leader. We painted the walls of a multi-sport complex and learned so many new things. I would 100% travel and volunteer with this company again!
Marlena Pestrue — Google review
Had a fantastic time in Costa Rica. Spent time in San Jose, Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio. I learned Spanish, went on tours and volunteered at a turtle conservation site. Maximo Nivel staff were amazing especially Andres and made my time really enjoyable. I could not rate them any higher!
Alex Collins — Google review
What an amazing experience! Everyone at Maximo Nivel was so welcoming and helped make this experience even more special!