Best ATV Tours in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Prices, Ages & Waterfall Rides

ATV tours in Manuel Antonio don't run inside the national park; they operate on private jungle land above Quepos, roughly 10–20 minutes inland from the coast. All three operators cover off-road jungle trails, river crossings, and a waterfall stop, with hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, helmets, and lunch included. Durations run from 3 hours (Costa Rica Jade) to 4 hours (Fourtrax), with prices from $85 to $124 USD per person. The key differences are age policy, trail time, and food inclusions. This guide covers all three.

Best overall: Costa Rica Jade Tours is the best ATV tour in Manuel Antonio for most travelers. It has the lowest starting price ($85/person), the highest review volume (1,285 reviews at 4.8 stars), A/C hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, a waterfall stop, and lunch included. It also has the most flexible age policy, accepting passengers from age 4, making it the right pick for families. Fourtrax is worth considering if you want more trail time (4 hours) and a slightly more comprehensive food package. H2O suits adults-only groups who want a half-day option with flexible ATV sizing. If you're still deciding which activities to combine, our Manuel Antonio day tours guide covers the full range of excursions available from the same base.

All three operators cover the same general terrain and include hotel pickup and lunch, so the decision comes down to budget, trail time, age of your group, and whether you want the option to ride solo or shared. Here's how we'd break it down.

Costa Rica Jade Tours: Best Overall

At $85 per person with 1,285 reviews at 4.8 stars, Costa Rica Jade is the most-reviewed ATV operator in the area and, in our view, the right choice for most travelers. The 3-hour tour covers jungle trails, river crossings, and a waterfall stop with a bilingual guide, A/C hotel pickup, and lunch included. It's the only operator that accepts young children as passengers — ages 4 and up on double ATVs — making it the most family-flexible option. Both single and double ATVs are available, so individual riders and pairs can each choose what works for them.

Fourtrax Adventure Tours: Best for Couples Wanting More Time on the Trail

Fourtrax runs the longest tour at 4 hours and the most generous food package: a fruit snack mid-trail plus a full lunch and water throughout. At $124 USD per person, it's the premium option in this comparison. The double ATV format means two people share one vehicle. Accepts passengers from age 5 with drivers 16 and older, so small children can ride along. We'd lean toward Fourtrax if an extra hour on the trail and a more substantial meal experience are worth the higher price to you.

H2O Adventures: Best for Adult Groups Wanting Single or Double ATV Choice

H2O Adventures sits in the mid-range at $93 per person and is the only operator alongside Costa Rica Jade to offer both double and single ATV options, so everyone in an adult group can choose whether to drive solo or share. At 3.5–4 hours it's closer to Fourtrax in trail time than Costa Rica Jade. Lunch and water are included. All riders must be 16 or older with no passenger exceptions, so it's suited to adults-only groups. With 60 reviews at 4.7 stars it's the newest listing of the three, but the rating holds up. We'd book H2O if your group is all adults and you want the flexibility of single or double ATVs at a price between the other two operators.

ATV tours in Manuel Antonio run year-round and the experience differs meaningfully between seasons. Dry season gives you firmer, dustier trails; green season brings mud, deeper river crossings, and a more physical ride.

• Dry Season (December–April): Trails are firmer and river water levels are lower, making this the easiest window for first-time riders and families with young children on double ATVs. Peak tourist season: book 24–48 hours ahead as morning slots sell out quickly.
• Shoulder Season (May–July): Morning tours typically stay dry while afternoon rains are common but rarely affect early departures. Trails are beginning to muddy up. Fewer crowds and more booking flexibility than dry season.
• Green Season (August–November): The jungle is at its most lush and river crossings run deeper. Guides adjust routes based on conditions. We think this is the most rewarding window for experienced riders who want the full off-road experience rather than the cleanest ride.

Most tours depart in the morning, typically around 7–9 AM, and return to the hotel by early to mid afternoon, fitting cleanly into a full day without giving up time at Manuel Antonio National Park or the beach.

Here's how a typical Manuel Antonio ATV tour runs from hotel pickup to drop-off:

• Hotel pickup: A van picks you up from your hotel in Quepos or Manuel Antonio. Costa Rica Jade Tours uses air-conditioned vehicles. The drive to the departure base takes 10–20 minutes depending on your hotel's location. The operator confirms your exact pickup time the evening before.
• Briefing and gear (20–30 minutes): At the base your guide covers ATV controls, trail rules, and how to handle river crossings. You're fitted with a helmet and any other protective gear. No prior ATV experience is needed; guides have you practice basic controls on level ground before the group leaves the base.
• ATV trail ride: Costa Rica Jade's 3-hour tour includes roughly 2 hours of actual ATV trail time; the remainder covers the safety briefing, the Rainmaker hike (when included), and lunch. Fourtrax and H2O run 3.5–4 hours with a similar structure. The route covers off-road jungle tracks, farm roads, and river crossings through private land. Trails are unpaved with hills, mud sections, and stream crossings. A guide leads from the front and a second guide follows at the back.
• Waterfall stop (15–20 minutes): Most tours include a waterfall stop, but this depends on season. In green season, Costa Rica Jade typically stops at two swim spots; in dry season (December–April), the Rainmaker hike may be skipped entirely and some groups only get river crossings as their water component. Fourtrax's main stop is also the Rainmaker, reached via a short walk from the ATV parking point. Ask the operator when booking whether the Rainmaker is confirmed for your slot.
• Food: All operators include a full lunch. Fourtrax also adds a fruit snack on the trail before the main meal and provides water throughout. H2O includes water alongside lunch. Costa Rica Jade includes lunch. The post-ride meal tends to be more substantial than most people expect: a full traditional Costa Rican spread, not a snack.
• Return drop-off: Drop-off at your hotel. Total door-to-door time is approximately 4 hours for the Costa Rica Jade 3-hour tour, and 5–6 hours for the 4-hour Fourtrax and H2O tours.

Our experience (the trail itself): The "rainforest and waterfalls" in tour names refers to the landscape and one or two waterfall stops, not a hiking experience. Most of the riding is through muddy jungle tracks and farm roads. Guests expecting a scenic overlook drive are usually surprised by how physical and hands-on the terrain actually is, and most find that's the better version.

Our experience (what to wear): Whatever you wear will get muddy or wet regardless of the season. Leave anything you care about at the hotel. Closed-toe shoes, older clothes, and a change for after are the consistent advice across hundreds of reviews.

No prior ATV experience is needed. Guides adapt the pace to the group's comfort level and supervise all river crossings. Most guests who were nervous about driving find that the river sections are the highlight by the end of the tour. The measured ATV pace is genuinely accessible to older adults; groups in their 60s and 70s complete the ride comfortably. The Rainmaker waterfall hike at the end involves significant stairs and is a separate physical challenge; some older visitors skip the hike and wait at the base.

ATV tours in Manuel Antonio range from $85 to $124 USD per person across the three featured operators, with hotel pickup and lunch included in all of them. Here's how pricing breaks down:

• Budget ($85/person — Costa Rica Jade Tours): 3-hour route with A/C hotel pickup, bilingual guide, single or double ATV, helmet, and lunch. Accepts passengers from age 4 on double ATVs; the most family-flexible option and the lowest price of the three.
• Mid-range ($93/person — H2O Adventures): 3.5–4 hour route with hotel transport, bilingual guide, choice of single or double ATV, helmet, lunch, and water. All riders must be 16 or older.
• Premium ($124/person — Fourtrax Adventure Tours): 4-hour route with hotel pickup, bilingual guide, double ATV, helmet, fruit snack on trail, full lunch, and water. Longest trail time and the most food inclusions of the three.

We think Costa Rica Jade is the sweet spot at $85: it's the lowest price, has the highest review volume, accepts young children as passengers, and covers all the essential terrain. We'd give Fourtrax the edge if an extra hour on the trail and a more generous meal package matter more to you than price.

Several operators near Manuel Antonio offer combo packages bundling the ATV ride with zip lining and a butterfly garden visit in a single full-day booking. These typically run 6 or more hours and cost around $165 per person, removing the need to coordinate schedules across two separate activity providers.

If your group wants both an ATV ride and a canopy experience in the same day, a combo package is the most efficient option. For a full breakdown of the zip line operators serving the Manuel Antonio area, including course details, pricing, and who each course suits, see our Manuel Antonio zipline guide. Another popular pairing is an ATV tour in the morning followed by an afternoon on horseback; our Manuel Antonio horseback riding guide covers operators, routes, and what each suits.

• Book 24–48 hours ahead in dry season: Morning slots fill quickest in peak season (December–April). Most operators run tours daily but popular departure windows book up fast.
• Wear clothes you don't mind ruining: The trail is muddy year-round. Closed-toe shoes, old shorts or pants, and a shirt you're fine staining are the right call. Bring a change of clothes for after the tour.
• Clarify single vs. double ATV at booking: A double ATV means two people share one vehicle, one driving and one as passenger. Costa Rica Jade and H2O Adventures offer both options; Fourtrax is double only. If everyone in your group wants their own vehicle, confirm single ATV availability when booking.
• Apply sunscreen before leaving your hotel: The route is mostly jungle shade, but departure and return are in open terrain. Apply before the pickup van arrives; stopping mid-trail is inconvenient.
• Bring a waterproof bag or phone case: River crossings splash water into the ATV. Most operators advise keeping phones and cameras sealed during crossings; a zip-lock bag works fine.
• Mention fitness or mobility concerns when booking: ATV riding involves gripping handlebars and absorbing trail bumps for 3–4 hours. Most operators can accommodate minor limitations but it's worth confirming directly at the time of booking.
• Confirm pickup time the evening before: Operators contact you the night before to confirm your exact pickup window based on hotel location and group logistics.
• In dry season, bring sunglasses and consider a buff or face covering: Dust kicked up from the ATV ahead is the most consistent complaint from December through April visitors. No protective eyewear is provided; sunglasses or goggles make a real difference.
• The booking time shown is your hotel pickup time, not when riding starts: Transit to the base takes 20–30 minutes, and the safety briefing adds another 20 minutes before the group heads out on the trail. Factor this in if you have afternoon plans.
• The route covers more plantation than jungle canopy. African palm plantations make up a large portion of the trail on every operator's route; the forested sections and waterfall stops come in the second half of the ride. The scenery isn't what most people picture from the name, but from what we've seen in reviews, the variety of terrain (plantation roads, river crossings, and forest) is more interesting than a single-terrain loop.
• Wildlife sightings are most likely near the waterfall areas. Monkeys and other animals tend to appear in the forested sections around the waterfall stops rather than on the open plantation roads. If spotting wildlife matters to your group, we'd make sure to mention it at the start; most guides will slow down and point out animals when conditions are right.