Top Things to do in Manzanillo
What to do and see in Manzanillo, Costa Rica: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Manzanillo, Costa Rica including Nature Observatorio, Punta Uva Beach, Caribe Horse Riding Club, Abel Bustamante - Tour Guide, Green Water SUP Tours, Playa Cocles, Bucus Tours, Chocorart, Indulgence Spa, The Ara Project.
Restaurants in Manzanillo
1. Nature Observatorio
Overall Ratings
5 based on 166 reviews
Nature Observatorio is a beautiful treehouse suspended 25 meters up on a tree in the middle of the jungle in the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge at the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Enjoy wonderful nature hike through primary forest, exercise yourself climbing up the tree with ropes, and sleep up on the tree in the middle on the jungle. This is not just your ordinary accommodation. We are offering the ultimate 3-in-1 Costa Rica Tour Adventure: 1. Hike through real prime rainforest. Watch wildlife in its real natural habitat and listen to the sounds and whispers of the nature. 2. Climb 25 meters (8 stories) high up the tree. Use our safe climbing technique to hoist yourselves up to Nature Observatorio. 3. Spend a night up on the tree in the middle of the jungle. Enjoy one of the most memorable nights of your life and feel like Tarzan and Jane. To prepare yourselves for the adventure we suggest to read Frequently Asked Questions on our website.
Reviewed By Milada K - Bratislava, Slovakia
Peter and his project of treehouse close to Manzanillo are simple awesome. Peter is a very knowledgeable person, his eyes see all tiny animals, he is an experienced hiker and traveller and his project of treehouse took my breath away. One of the best things I have ever seen in my life. The views from the Observatory are breath-taking, you can experience real jungle, listening to all the noises made by monkeys, birds, etc ... And also the way how you get up to the treehouse is super interesting, bit adrenaline. I loved it. Highly recommended!
2. Punta Uva Beach
Overall Ratings
5 based on 398 reviews
Reviewed By Fone B - West Hollywood, California
If you went to Costa Rica to enjoy the sea and the natural beauty without being crushed by buses full of tourists, souvenir vendors, and other Disney-fications, this is where you want to be. Swim, sun yourself, read, walk in the trees.
3. Caribe Horse Riding Club
Overall Ratings
5 based on 372 reviews
Have you always dreamed of riding a beautiful horse on a picturesque beach? What about exploring the jungle in a very eco-friendly way? Make the very most of your time in Puerto Viejo by joining an exclusive horseback ride along one of the most incredible, and undeveloped coast of Costa Rica. Our tours combine both Beach and Jungle and range from relaxing rides, perfect for families to private rides for more experienced riders.If you prefer quality over quantity or poorly maintained horses, then our Horseback Riding Adventure is for you. Your guide has a life long experience with horses, our horses are all healthy, well fed and taken care of. Security is our main concern, and we are the only stable to offer helmets and back protection. We have special gentle horses to accommodate children from 6 years old on. We also offers special package such as swimming with the horses, honeymooners special, wedding events...Just ask!
Reviewed By Laurie M - Vancouver, Canada
Jimmy and his crew provided us with an amazing day. The horses were specific to our riding ability and the ride offered some fun challenges. We saw lots of wildlife including 2 green macaws. The ride on the beach was great. There was not rushing and we got to thoroughly enjoy the 2.5 hour ride :) Was a great boxing day experience. Will hope to go again in April. I would highly recommended this company! They even took pictures of the adventure and emailed them to us :)
4. Abel Bustamante - Tour Guide
Overall Ratings
5 based on 237 reviews
Reviewed By Monkmaga P - Peterborough, Canada
Abel's knowledge and enthusiasm were contagious. We spent a wonderful morning discovering amazing Costa Rican Birds. He made sure everybody got good looks at each species, was incredibly patient and generally made bird watching seem like the most interesting activity on the planet - even...MoreMr. Drew Thank you very much for sharing your experience, your words makes me feel very proud I’m very glad you have enjoyed!!
5. Green Water SUP Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 74 reviews
Green Water SUP Tours is a unique tour company combining the popular sport of stand up paddle boarding with exploring the Southern Caribbean and its natural beauty. Focused on our customers experience, we offer paddle board tours and lessons on the Caribbean Sea and nearby rivers. We are based out of Puerto Viejo, Limon where we have access to some of the most beautiful coastlines Costa Rica has to offer. Please come and visit us! Pura vida!
Reviewed By TianaZen - London, United Kingdom
This was a first for me and I wasn't sure what to expect! I had a great afternoon with the most professional instructor Francisco! He was extremely helpful and knowledgeable not just regarding the SUP but also the wildlife. Would always do it again! Would highly recommend green sup!
6. Playa Cocles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 357 reviews
7. Bucus Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 83 reviews
Omar Cook will be your guide for the most of the tours, he is a Manzanillo resident.Who has worked for many years as a trained and certified jungle guide.Omar has expertise in these ranges bird identification, botany animal and plant habits but also in geography of the entire country of Costa Rica.We offer Jungle hikes, Bird watching, Gandoca Lagoon kayak tour, See the Leatherback turtle, Snorkling, Dolphin tours, Indian reserve tour and a lot more adventure tours.
Reviewed By kurtmg1 - Rocky Point
This has been the highlight of our trip so far. Omar is so knowledgeable and expressive he makes the jungle come alive. Such a great ambassador and promoter of conservation. He puts real life nature into real world situations. We agree that no one does it better then Mother Nature and no one explains it better then Omar. He has such vast knowledge we wished we had more time then just a half day. He knows where to find all the life in the jungle and provides keen insights to their habitats. I guarantee you will leave with a much better understanding of nature and a greater appreciation of the environment. Still have a smile on my heart.
8. Chocorart
Overall Ratings
5 based on 143 reviews
CHOCORART is a family run ORGANIC CACAO FARM who grows Cacao in harmony with nature and produce all kind of ORGANIC CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS. We offer a CHOCOLATE TOUR ON OUR FARM which is a visit on our CACAO PLANTATION and our ARTESANAL CHOCOLATE PRODUCTION, from Monday to Friday at 3 pm. The Tour takes from 1,5 hour to 2 hours. On the main road in Playa Chiquita is our Chocolate Shop where you can reserve the Chocolate Tour or by all our Cacao products and other organic products like organic coffee etc. The shop is open from Monday to Friday the whole afternoon.
Reviewed By IamToony - New York City, New York
the plantation is beautiful with wide variety of fruit trees, flowers and bushes. i love the organic production. the chocolate was so pure and delicious. the actual process was very interesting. we were able to participate in the shelling and churning process. we had sample of hot chocolate and chocolate on banana slices that were just so heavenly!!!!! oh and the sour guava drink we were offered was also very delicious.
David was very knowledgable and eager to share his knowledge. he also answered questions we had about other plants. other than chocolate which was the main focus of the tour, he also let us sample grapefruit on the plantation and a fruit called ackee which is also known as the brain fruit !!! it was very interesting to experience a fruit i've never had before. we did another chocolate tour during our 1st visit to CR but this one is definitely our favorite. i support local businesses and i support their organic production to create best quality chocolate instead of mass production. it's very hard to do nowadays and they seem to really enjoy their craft as opposed to making large profit. it's admirable.
David, just so you know!!! the bamboo that we asian ppl eat is in the paragraph below. I couldn't find a can at any stores in PV to share with you. hopefully you'll be able to experience it for yourself one of these days!! it's quite tasty.
'Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible shoots (new bamboo culms that come out of the ground) of many bamboo species including Bambusa vulgaris and Phyllostachys edulis. They are used in numerous Asian dishes and broths. They are sold in various processed shapes, and are available in fresh, dried, and canned versions.
Raw bamboo shoots contain cyanogenic glycosides, natural toxins also contained in cassava.[1] The toxins must be destroyed by thorough cooking and for this reason fresh bamboo shoots are often boiled before being used in other ways. The toxins are also destroyed in the Canning process."
9. Indulgence Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By sohler00 - Columbiana, Ohio
We had a couples massage while staying at La Costa de Papito. When you book give them about half hour to call in their massage therapist. They differ slightly with pressure and style so you may have a different experience depending on who you get. My husband had a deeper massage which I was looking for, but mine was on the lighter side. I like to get a massage in each new place I'm in and I was pleasantly surprised by how relaxing it was.
10. The Ara Project
Overall Ratings
5 based on 57 reviews
The Manzanillo reintroduction station is located in a primary tropical rainforest at almost 100 m above sea level. The visitors are directed to the top of a hill for a once in a lifetime experience to view Endangered Great Green Macaws in free flight that we have reintroduced into the wild. This tour is a truly inspiring natural experience and a unique photographic opportunity.
Reviewed By Vicki S - Black River Falls WI
Good work by good people, many volunteers. Loads of solid information about the why's and how's of what they do to help raise and release endangered Green Macaws. Several large national parks and reserves are close by. The released birds are likely dispersing to colonize parks that have not had macaws in many years. Good stuff !
WONDERFUL experience and one of the many really terrific things that really does define Pura Vida essence of Costa Rica.
