Two private reserves on either side of Manuel Antonio: a chain of hanging bridges through the canopy of a wet mountain valley, and flat trails through beach forest and mangrove where scarlet macaws feed in the almond trees.
When the national park is full, these two private reserves give quieter forest and different wildlife, one in the hills and one on the shore.
Rainmaker lies 40 minutes inland on a rough road. Its loop climbs beside a river and crosses a chain of canopy bridges, about 250 metres of walkway in all, slung between giant trees high above the valley; when the water is low, river pools invite a swim. Hacienda Barú, 45 minutes south on the highway near Dominical, is a former cattle ranch turned refuge, with flatter trails through beach forest, mangrove and regrown rainforest, where scarlet macaws, agoutis, coatis and spiny-tailed iguanas are common.
Entry costs roughly US$20–27 at Rainmaker and US$15–18 at Barú, and both are best before ten in the morning, when the animals are active and the heat is bearable. Barú also offers a night walk, a tree-top platform or a zip-line for the afternoon.
Do one each morning, or Rainmaker one day and Barú on the way to Uvita.
From the reception, follow the trail beside the river past cascades and pools.
Cross the chain of hanging bridges high in the canopy, looking down on the valley and out for toucans and trogons.
Descend to the river pools for a swim if the water is low, then loop back to reception.
Walk the flat trails through beach forest to the shore, scanning the almond trees for scarlet macaws.
Return through mangroves and regrowing rainforest, with agoutis, coatis and iguanas on the paths.
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The access road is rough but passable in an ordinary car in the dry season; tours from Quepos include transport.
The entrance is on the Costanera just north of Dominical; buses towards Dominical stop at the gate.
Both reserves offer naturalist guides at the entrance; Barú also runs bird and night walks.
Manuel Antonio practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences; Pexels photographs under the Pexels licence.
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