3-Hour ATV, Meal Included

Overview

This 3-hour outing from Costa Rica Jade Tours splits its time between an ATV ride and a short stretch on foot. After a safety briefing, riders head out on quad bikes and spend roughly two hours covering off-road trails, palm plantations, rivers and small rural towns, with photo stops along the way. The ride then pauses for a guided nature walk in the rainforest at Rainmaker Park, where the group looks for birds and wildlife and reaches a waterfall with a swimming hole.

The finish is food. Back from the trails, the group sits down to a typical Costa Rican meal with drinks at the operator's ranch before the transfer back to Manuel Antonio. Guides are ICT-certified naturalists who speak English and Spanish, so the nature walk carries some real interpretation rather than just a break from riding.

Pickup and drop-off at Manuel Antonio area hotels is included, as is all ATV equipment. The tour suits travellers who want a mix of speed and scenery rather than a full-day expedition. Expect to get wet and muddy, both on the river crossings and at the waterfall. It runs rain or shine, which in this climate is part of the deal. Anyone after a calm, dry sightseeing drive should probably look elsewhere, but reviewers who came for adventure consistently describe a fun, well-guided day.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupChoose from two pickup locations in Manuel Antonio. Pickup and drop-off are included in the tour.
2. Transfer to ATVsA bus or coach ride of 30 minutes takes the group from Manuel Antonio to where the ATVs are waiting.
3. Quepos ATV rideThe core of the tour, 2 hours, with a photo stop, guided commentary, sightseeing, the quad bike and off-road ride, and scenic views along the way.
4. Secret stopA 20-minute visit with a guided walk, swimming, and wildlife viewing at the waterfall and rainforest.
5. Ranch lunchA 20-minute lunch at the visitor center with a typical Costa Rican meal and drinks. Listed as optional.
6. Return transferA 30-minute coach ride back, with drop-off at two locations in Manuel Antonio.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day smoother, based on the listing and on what travellers report back.

• Getting wet. You will swim during this tour and you will ride through rivers, so a swimsuit is essential. Multiple reviewers said they ended the ride wet and muddy, and one suggested a change of clothes so lunch could be enjoyed dry.
• Clothing and gear. The listing asks for comfortable clothes, and full ATV equipment is provided. Given the mud and spray, wear things you do not mind getting dirty. A change of clothes for after the ride was one reviewer's suggestion and is easy to act on.
• Walking involved. The nature walk covers roughly 300 meters, so the on-foot portion is short rather than strenuous. It leads to a waterfall in rainforest where the group stops for a swim.
• Guide quality. Reviewers repeatedly praise the guides as attentive, kind and enthusiastic, and the listing notes they are ICT-certified naturalists. The wildlife and scenery commentary during the walk is a genuine part of the experience, not filler between rides.
• The meal. A typical Costa Rican meal with drinks is included and served at the operator's ranch at the end. Several travellers singled out the food as a highlight, calling it delicious. It is a sit-down finish rather than a snack on the trail.
• Weather. The tour runs rain or shine, which the listing states plainly. Reviewers treated the mud and wet conditions as part of the fun rather than a problem.

Common issues. This is a wet, muddy tour by design, so anyone expecting to stay clean will not. One reviewer arrived late and found the group waiting, a reminder that pickup times matter. One family found their son was under the age requirement to drive, rode two-to-a-vehicle instead, and the operator refunded the difference. Tips are not included.

Common Questions