What does a Manuel Antonio National Park tour cost in 2026?

The short answer: $30 per person for a small-group guided tour of the park, and from $69 per person if you want it private. Those are our real 2026 prices, not a “starting from” teaser.

Is the park entrance included, or do I pay extra?

It depends on the tour. Our Classic Group Tour includes the park entrance — nothing extra at the gate. If you go in on your own, the official SINAC entrance is $18.30 for adults and $5.65 for kids, and it must be reserved and paid online before you arrive. Parking near the entrance runs about $10 on the day.

The park also caps entry at 2,500 visitors per day, which is why walking up without a reservation in high season is a real risk. Full detail in our guide to buying Manuel Antonio park tickets online.

How much do the other Manuel Antonio tours cost?

Tour Price per person (2026)
Manuel Antonio National Park — group $30
Manuel Antonio National Park — private from $69
Damas Island mangrove boat tour — group $55
Damas Island mangrove night boat tour — group $70
Manuel Antonio night tour — private $75
Playa del Rey birdwatching — group $125
Esquipulas birdwatching — group $135
Carara National Park birdwatching — private $220
Corcovado San Pedrillo expedition — group $250
Corcovado Sirena expedition — group $255
Resplendent Quetzal, San Gerardo de Dota — group $265

Why is the park tour $30 when others charge more?

Because the guide is the owner — Jason Solano Zamora — not a subcontracted freelancer taking a cut of a cut. The $30 covers a certified naturalist guide, the park entrance and a professional spotting scope shared by the group. It has not gone up and it is not going up.

Is a guide worth paying for at all?

If your goal is to see wildlife, yes — sloths and most birds are invisible to an untrained eye at 20 meters up. If your goal is a beach walk, no. We wrote the honest version in do you need a guide for Manuel Antonio National Park.

What is the cheapest way to see Manuel Antonio?

Buy the $18.30 entrance yourself and walk in alone. That is genuinely cheaper. For $11.70 more, the group tour adds the guide, the scope and the entrance in one price — which is why most people who try both say the second visit was the one they remember.

When should I book for December 2026?

December through February is our busiest window and the 2,500-per-day cap fills. If your dates fall in that stretch, book the tour before you book the restaurant. See the month-by-month guide for what the park is like when you arrive.