
Welcome to El Faro Tours
We organize a variety of tours to make your stay in Manuel Antonio memorable. Our services include tourist information, booking of tours and bus tickets, and assisting with travel arrangements. Our tour desk is located in El Faro Beach Hotel.
Welcome to Manuel Antonio Beach!
Manuel Antonio National Park
The Manuel Antonio National Park tour includes two amazing hikes in the national park, the Forest Trail and the Beach Trail. The tour has full service. You will be picked up at 8am. The “Forest Trail” hike is about 1,5 hours and includes guide services and stops to see animals with a telescope. After a rest on a beautiful white sand beach starts the second trail which takes about 1.5 hour. The two trails are mostly flat and easy to walk.
Time schedule: 8am–11am (the park is closed on Mondays)
Includes: Round trip with a guide
Damas Island boat/kayak tour (mangrove estuary tour)
Enjoy a guided tour through a mangrove swamp where you have a good chance to see rainbow boas, crocodiles, silky anteaters, opossums, and a variety of water-birds such as the pink spoonbill, heron, white ibis, and white-headed eagle.
Boat: The boat tour is informative and fun, a great experience for the whole family. Kids will love the monkeys jumping in the trees and the parents will appreciate the relaxing boat ride.
Kayak: The kayak tour is easy paddling and takes you through small alleys closer to the beautiful flora and fauna. The tour includes a break on a sand bank where snacks (fruits, soft drinks, water and cookies) will be served. Double kayaks are available for couples.
Duration: 1 hour
Includes: Transportation, round trip, guides, soft drinks, a meal and snacks
Horseback-riding in a cattle farm
Enjoy a scenic excursion on horseback through the Costa Rican countryside on trails that meander over 1000 stunning acres of working cattle ranch, natural reserve, African palm plantation, creeks and tropical fruit plantation. You can stop by to swim on a waterfall. Your knowledgeable guide will regale you with information about the land, nature and culture.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Schedule: 8am & 12am
Includes: Transportation, guide, helmet, fruits & drinks
Savegre River white water rafting
This full-day trip takes you to the pristine river area of Savegre which is one-hour drive from Manuel Antonio. It’s a gentle river, class 3 rapids, that is good for the entire family.
Schedule: 8am & 12.30pm
Includes: 4x4 transportation round trip, rafting gear (life jacket, helmet, paddle), safety instructions, safety kayakers, lunch
Please pack with you: Water shoes, bathing clothes, sunscreen, waterproof camera, clothes for changing, towel
Naranjo River white water rafting
Naranjo River white water rafting is a half-day trip. It takes approximately 30–40 minutes to drive through the countryside to get to the rafting area. With rapids class III and III plus, it is a nice medium level rafting that is good for everyone, also for beginners. The first part takes about 1,5 hours. There are lots of rapids, one after another and tons of action! We will enjoy a break on a sand bank where you’ll have a snack. After that, we will continue for another hour. On this leg, the river gets gentle (class III) so you have more time to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Schedule: 8am & 12.30pm
Includes: Transportation, rafting gear (life jacket, helmet, paddle), safety instructions,
safety kayakers, snack
Please pack with you: Water shoes, bathing clothes, sun screen, waterproof camera, clothes for changing, and towel
Jet Ski Tour
A guided jet ski tour of the Manuel Antonio area on low-emission Jet Skis. The tour takes you on a guided safari along the coast line of Manuel Antonio National Park with safety and respect for the environment, in an exotic and thrilling jet ski experience. The tour is fun for all ages. No experience is necessary.
Duration: 2 hours
Schedule: at any hour
Please pack with you: Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and shirt if needed, waterproof camera, towel, credit card for damage deposit
Includes:
- Jet Ski, transportation to/from pier, fresh fruit and water
- Guide with radio & first aid kit providing information on marine life, environment & history
- Snorkel and swim stop (equipment provided), dolphin and marine life watching
Canopy Zipline
Canopy tour is a half day excursion. You will need 45 min. to drive to the canopy area, through primary or secondary forest landscapes. There are platforms, cables, repel lines (from a platform on the tree top to a platform on the ground), a swing and a suspended bridge. Great fun and beautiful scenery.
Duration: 5,5 hours
Schedule: Every day at 7 am and at 9.50am
Includes: Transportation, all the gear, certified guides, breakfast (7am) or lunch (10am)
Please pack with you: Tennis shoes or hiking boots, shorts, T-shirt, bug spray
Catamaran
Catamaran offers you a boat ride along the coast in search for dolphins, whales and turtles. After the exhilarating sailing adventure you will stop in one of the many protected jungle coves to swim, snorkel and enjoy lunch or dinner. You will discover, along with a professional guide, a fascinating undersea domain, playground to a multitude of tropical fish species. On the afternoon trips you will witness those unforgettable offshore sunsets as you sit back to relax and enjoy.
Duration: 5 hours
Schedule: 8am–1pm
Includes: Transportation, boat ride searching for dolphins and marine life, snorkel equipment, drinks, lunch or dinner and music
ATV tour
Drive your own ATV into the tropical mountains of Quepos, which lead you through rustic areas, unpaved roads, African palm plantations, countryside areas and towns. Visit and swim in waterfalls with pristine and refreshing waters. Teens 16 years and above can drive solo only with parents' approval.
Duration: 4,5 hours
Schedule: 7am, 10am and 2pm
Includes: Transportation, all ATV equipment, guides, great meal (breakfast 7am, lunch 10am or dinner 2pm)
Please pack with you: Tennis shoes or hiking boots, shorts, T-shirt, bathing suit, towel
Rainmaker (walking Canopy/Hanging Bridges canopy)
Rainmaker tour takes you on a guided forest hike to see species such as frogs, snakes, insects, and birds, and to enjoy beautiful landscapes and contact with nature. The tour is featured as an educational and recreational experience. The tour starts with a snack with fresh fruits, ice tea or coffee. The exciting trail includes crossing 11 earth bridges, 100 steps to 6 suspended bridges and then all the way down to the river canyon where you will enjoy a pristine water river pool. Then the beautiful river trail takes you back to the ranch, where you will be awaited with a typical Costa Rican lunch buffet.
Duration: 7:30am to 2pm
Schedule: Every day 7:45am
Includes: Transportation, snacks, lunch, guide
Surf Lessons
Learn surfing, take a break with water and fruits and have a nice day at the beach! You will be provided with shirts and boards, and you can have your picture taken, while you are surfing!
Duration: 1 or 2 hours
Schedule: Every day
Includes: Transportation, all surfing gear, instructor, fruits and drinks, photographs
Paddleboard
Paddle at the main beach in Manuel Antonio as well in some more secluded places in Manuel Antonio area. Stop off at many hard-to-find waterfalls, waterholes and some secluded beaches. Day tours include breakfast or lunch.
Duration: 2 hours
Schedule: at any hour
Includes: Transportation, breakfast or lunch
Parasailing
Try parasailing and your adrenaline will be pumping as you fly 600 hundred feet above the Pacific Ocean. For up to 3 people at the same time.
Duration: 15 minutes in the sky
Schedule: at any hour
Trimaran Tour
During the Trimaran tour, you have a good chance to see dolphins, stingrays, sea turtles, and migrating whales. From the boat, major islands in the area may be viewed including Olocuita and Isla Verde, which was once used by the native Quepoa Indians as a cemetery. You will also visit Punta Quepos and Punta Catedral, the latter being located on the coast of Manuel Antonio National Park. As the captain loosens the sails and allows the calm winds to direct the boat, you will arrive at Playa Puerto Escondido. After enjoying the different islands, we continue sailing to the coast of a beautiful beach called Bizans, where our passengers will be provided with appropriate equipment for snorkeling. On average, you may encounter 45 different species of fish. During the whole journey, guides will offer natural drinks, soda, water and beer.
Duration: 5 hours
Schedule: 8am–1pm
Includes: Transportation, boat ride searching for dolphins, snorkel gear, open bar, lunch or dinner
Scuba Diving
Join the dive team on the daily dive trips for an exploration of the local reefs. You will see the life that surrounds the volcanic rock formation; you can spot schools of grunts, snappers and jacks, lobsters, eels, starfish and the occasional visit of white tip reef sharks, turtles and mantas. 2 tanks dive (1 tank dive in two different diving spots), you dive off the boat. For certified divers only.
Schedule: 7am & 1pm
Taxiboat Montezuma
The Montezuma boat ride is the fastest way to get from Montezuma to Jaco or vice versa (1 hour). You will see the Nicoya Peninsula and its beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and good waves. The taxiboat has daily departures from Montezuma at 9:30 am, and again from Herradura beach, just a bit north from Jaco beach, at 11:00 am for the return to Montezuma. You will probably have the chance to see marine wildlife including dolphins, manta rays, and turtles and if you are lucky even whales. All the shuttles leave from Montezuma beach and Herradura beach in Jaco. Every Boat has a canopy.
Schedule: daily 11am from Jaco
Please pack with you: comfortable clothes, sandals, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, camera, rain coat
- Reservations in advance are required
- The pick-up in Jaco main town is between 10am and 10:30am at the hotels or at Musmanni Bakery and coffee shop, which is located next to Más o Menos supermarket
- Luggage limit is 20kg per person, surf boards and boxes have an extra cost of $10 per piece, no bicycles or pets
Buses to/from Manuel Antonio
From San José to Manuel Antonio Beach: The bus company (and the terminal) in San José is called Tracopa. It is situated near Plaza Víquez on Calle 5 between Avenidas 16 & 18. The ticket costs about 4500 colones/$9 and the trip takes three hours.
Daily departure times: 6am, 9am (except on Sundays), 12pm, 2:30pm, 6pm, and 7:30pm.
From Quepos to Manuel Antonio: Local buses leave from Quepos bus station every twenty minutes. The ride costs 310 colones/60¢ and takes 15-20 minutes. The beach is the last bus stop before the bus returns to Quepos.
Arriving in Manuel Antonio
If you plan to visit Manuel Antonio National Park or enjoy the beach, we recommend staying in Manuel Antonio beach area. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and accommodation options available, and you save the trouble of taking the bus every time you want to explore your surroundings. We also recommend an advance booking. There are often touts, sometimes aggressive, hanging around at the bus stop trying to distract arriving tourists to those hotels that pay for their services. If you select one of their recommended places, you end up paying extra for the room plus tout's commission. You can tell them firmly that you know where you are going and don't want them to follow or help you. If you feel uncertain, just give us a call and we will come and pick you up.
Scuba Diving
Join the dive team on the daily dive trips for an exploration of the local reefs. You will see the life that surrounds the volcanic rock formation; you can spot schools of grunts, snappers and jacks, lobsters, eels, starfish and the occasional visit of white tip reef sharks, turtles and mantas. 2 tanks dive (1 tank dive in two different diving spots), you dive off the boat. For certified divers only.
Schedule: 7am & 1pm