Quepos/Manuel Antonio - favorite beaches/MA jungle tour?

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 4 with 2 kids ages 14 and 15 returning to MA in late March. 5 nights means we have 4 full days we can do activities as the other 2 are basically full travel days in/out of SJO. We know the area and love the local dining opportunities. However, we are looking for insights for a few activities we did not need to look into on our first trip there. (We are staying in an airbnb within walking distance to Emilio's Cafe) Thanks for sharing your experiences!

1. Near MA, what is your favorite beach and why? Espadilla, Biesanz, MA Beach, La Macha and just before Jaco, there is Playa Bejuco which I understand is a nice beach. We absolutely loved the private beach Tulemar had because it provided beach gear and it was small but not overly crowded (since it was private) and although small, the sand was soft and the water warm. It was a sweet beach for us and we are looking for something similar.

2. What is the best tour you did checking out the beauty of MA Park? Prefer evening jungle tour but day is fine, would love something private if possible. It'll be really hot in March, so would love access to beach time if day. Would love to see owls, monkeys, snakes, sloths.

3. We love rafting and in the States have done Gulley (WVA), Snake (WY), Rio Grande (NM), Balsa (La Fortuna) - would love nothing better than Pacuare but I don't know how to make it work with limited time and commute between MA to there is so long - so maybe that means another trip in the future - but we would love to raft near MA. March is dry season but we were hoping to find rafting class 3 and 4 rapids - possible on either Savegre or Naranjo at that time or another reasonably distanced river near MA?

[Anonymous]

Another Costa Rica post?

[Anonymous]

We rafted with Rafiki on the Savegre but it was in August and the rapids were crazy! So much fun and the guides are amazing- they raft year round unlike in North America with just the summer season. I don't think it is Class 4 in the winter though.

[Anonymous]

Amigos del Rio for rafting trips. March won’t have big rapids but can be beautiful. I think we did savegre.

We preferred the uvita area: nauyaca falls and the beaches around there (playas ventanas); kayaking near sierpe was amazing. Rainmaker park was nice. These are south of Manuel Antonio though.