Manuel Antonio is a nature lover’s dream. Backed to the brim with incredible views, exuberant plants, a plethora of birds, monkey and sloth species, Manuel Antonio is simply meant to be explored and what better way to explore it and really take in the views, than by foot?  For those exercise-loving travelers, here are top 4 active spots around the Manuel Antonio for great hiking in Costa Rica.

Manuel Antonio National Park

The Manuel Antonio National Park just received a facelift and boasts newly constructed trails made for easy walking which lead to 3 pristine private beaches. With the help of a guide, hikers will easily be able to spot wildlife swinging in the trees and will have plenty of photo opportunities. This is a must-see for anyone visiting the Manuel Antonio area.

Los Altos Trails

For those seeking a bit more intensity and also less crowds, visitors can hike the Los Altos trail, best done early in the morning or at sunset. While the gravel trail is quite vertical, the end result is a private beach cove usually empty and meant to be enjoyed. This is a short hike and offers alternate jungle trials that inter-loop into 4 different beaches so you can choose to either keep the hike short and sweet, or take a long cardio- stimulating hike.  Whichever option you choose, you will be blown away by the beauty of the vistas along the way.

Rainmaker Preserve

20 minutes North of Manuel Antonio you will find the Rainmaker Preserve. One of our favorite things about Rainmaker is its ability to stay a hidden gem and is one of Manuel Antonio areas best kept secrets. If you’re looking for a true taste of Costa Rica without the lines or hordes of tourists, make your way to Rainmaker and prepare yourself to be amazed. While you won’t see monkeys or sloths hanging from trees, Rainmaker is one of the most bio-diverse areas in Costa Rica and visitors are often afforded sightings of BlueMorpho butterflies, varieties of birds, vibrantly colorful poison dart frogs, and thousands of unique plant species. With the help of a guided tour with one of the many certified naturalists, you’ll begin your tour at the base of the Rio Seco as you make your way through the 150,000 acres of untouched rainforest, suspension bridges, waterfall swimming pools and frame-worthy photo opp’s.

Nayauca Waterfall

45 minutes South of Manuel Antonio, you will find this natural phenomenon. Often regarded as one of Costa Rica’s largest and most beautiful waterfalls, Nayauca is a sight to be seen. Visitors can choose from going by horseback or traversing the hills by foot. For those looking to burn some calories and have fun at the same time, we recommend lacing up the sneakers and hitting the ground. At a roundtrip 6 miles, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to rest along the way. Passing along coffee plantations and scenic views, you’ll be able to stop halfway at a typical Costa Rican “Tico” homestead where you can refill on water, have a bite to eat or take pictures of the curious peacocks and toucans who have taken up residency in the yard. Continuing on, you’ll follow the deafening sounds that will lead you to the jaw dropping double waterfall that is Nayauca.

Those of us lucky enough to have visited or spent time in Costa Rica know that in its core, Costa Rica is a wild and colorful place that is perfect for those who love hiking…