Frequently Asked Questions

There are three options for the Manuel Antonio National Park tour: Classic $30 per person, Premium $65 per person (our most popular) and VIP Private $100 per person. The park entrance ticket ($18.08 adults / $5.65 children) is included in Premium and VIP Private. With Classic you buy your own park ticket online in advance. See the four options and current prices.

All three options include an ICT-certified bilingual naturalist guide, our professional Swarovski scope and free 4K photos and videos of your sightings. Classic $30 is guiding only, with no transport, snack or park entrance. Premium $65 adds round-trip hotel transport, the park entrance ticket and a fresh fruit snack inside the park. VIP Private $100 is only your group, with private round-trip transport, park entrance, fruit snack and a guide who adapts the pace and route to you.

Most first-time visitors book Classic or Premium — same guide, same scope, same trails; Premium simply removes the logistics by including your ticket and hotel transport. Choose VIP Private if you want your own start time, your own pace, or you are travelling with family who prefer no other guests along. Message us your dates and group size and we will tell you which one fits.

Yes. Park tickets are not sold at the gate — you must reserve and pay yours online in advance ($18.08 adults / $5.65 children). The park limits entry to 2,500 visitors a day and does sell out, especially from December to April. If you arrive without a valid ticket the tour cannot run and is non-refundable. With Premium and VIP Private we take care of the ticket for you.

Park tickets are sold only through the national park system (SINAC), and the daily cap means they sell out roughly 3–4 weeks ahead in high season and 1–2 weeks in green season. We plan our guests entry in advance, so a sold-out day on the public site does not automatically mean you miss the park — message us with your date and we will check the options.

Tickets are released up to two months before your visit date, and not earlier. That is another reason to book your guided tour ahead of time — we track the window so you do not miss it.

About 2 hours of guiding inside the park — around 2.5 hours door to door when transport is included. Afterwards you can stay in the park and enjoy the beaches for as long as you like.

Manuel Antonio National Park is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is closed on Tuesdays. We recommend an early start — wildlife is most active in the first hours and the park gets busier later in the morning. See our park information guide.

Early morning. Animals are most active and easiest to spot right after the park opens at 7 a.m., temperatures are cooler and the trails are less crowded. That is why our tours start early.

White-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, the rare squirrel monkey, two- and three-toed sloths, iguanas, coatis, raccoons, and more than 350 bird species. We cannot promise any single animal — this is wild nature — but a trained guide with a scope greatly improves what you will actually spot and photograph. See what lives there in our Manuel Antonio wildlife guide.

You can legally enter on your own. But visitors who came for the wildlife most often say going without a guide is the one thing they would change: sloths sit still and camouflaged, and a naturalist with a scope shows you animals you would walk right past — then puts the scope on your phone so you take the photo.

Yes. The park limits entry to 2,500 visitors a day and tours fill up fast, especially in high season. Booking ahead guarantees your spot and your guide. Travelling in December or over New Year? Read our Manuel Antonio December guide first, because tickets and dates go early.

Groups of 8 to 10 guests for Classic and Premium. VIP Private is only your own group, nobody else.

Premium and VIP Private include round-trip hotel transport (Manuel Antonio and Quepos area). Classic does not include transport — you arrange your own ride, and parking near the park costs about $10.

It is about a 3.5–4 hour drive from San Jose. Shared shuttles run roughly $65 per person and private transfers about $207 for 1–4 people. Our Premium and VIP Private tours include round-trip transport from your Manuel Antonio or Quepos hotel, so you do not have to arrange that part separately.

We meet you at an agreed point in Manuel Antonio (near Supermarket Joseth) or, on Premium and VIP Private, at your hotel. You get exact instructions and your guide name when you book — so there is no confusion, and nobody can pose as your guide.

Yes, and it is the most common complaint we hear. People in reflective vests wave you into a parking spot on the way in and then disappear — they are not affiliated with the park. The legal lots near the entrance charge roughly $4–10 for the day with a real attendant. On our tours we meet you at a set point, so you never have to deal with this.

No. A known scam is someone at the entrance quoting $150 for entrance and a guide. Real park entry is a fixed, far lower rate, and legitimate guides do not hustle you at the gate. Your Wakoo guide meets you at an agreed spot and knows your name — you will never be pressured at the entrance.

It is one of Costa Rica most visited and tourist-friendly areas. The main things to manage are the entrance scams above and opportunistic theft on the beaches — simple precautions handle both, and travelling with a local guide removes most of the friction.

Opportunistic theft does happen when bags are left unattended while people swim. Do not leave valuables on the sand, and ideally leave what you do not need at the hotel. On a guided tour, someone is always with the group.

They can — white-faced monkeys and raccoons are bold and go for anything that smells like food, and they are most active around midday. Keep food sealed and out of sight, never feed the animals, and keep bags zipped and close to you. Your guide will show you how to stay clear of them.

Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, water, a swimsuit, and a camera. Remember: no food is allowed inside the park (drinks are fine).

No. Outside food and snacks are not allowed inside Manuel Antonio National Park — this protects the wildlife. You can bring water, and there is a refreshment area inside. Have a good breakfast before an early tour. On Premium and VIP Private we bring a fresh fruit snack that is permitted.

Bring your passport or a clear photo of the photo-ID page. Rangers check your ID against your ticket at the entrance, so everyone in the group should have theirs ready.

Absolutely. The main trail is flat, easy-access and adapted for all ages — a favorite for families. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, tell us in advance and we will plan the route and pace around them.

The park is magical in the rain and the animals stay active, so tours run as usual. If the park closes for weather, we reschedule your tour at no cost. Guest cancellations are explained in our cancellation policy.

Wildlife is excellent year-round. The green season (May–November) brings short afternoon downpours, but mornings are usually dry — which is exactly when we tour. October is the wettest month yet still very much worth it: quieter trails and a lush, active forest. December to April is the dry season and the busiest: see our December and high season guide for dates, weather and how early to book.

Yes. It is one of the most reliable places in Costa Rica to see sloths, monkeys and tropical birds, in a compact, beautiful park where rainforest meets the beach. With a guide, most visitors see far more than they expected.

Yes. Every booking includes a US$2 donation per person to Kazan Karate for Kids — a local program supporting children in Manuel Antonio through martial arts and discipline. It is built into what you pay, at no extra cost to you.

Our 24/7 Maya assistant on WhatsApp is the easiest way to reach us. You can also call +506 8514 1361 or +1 857 597 5525. Office hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Costa Rica time; WhatsApp and phone support are available 24/7. Talk with us on WhatsApp.