Manuel Antonio is a national park where the forest runs all the way down to the sand. The day starts with pickup in Jacó, Playa Hermosa or Herradura and runs in an air-conditioned van; the guide stays with you the whole day.

You walk the forest trails slowly, which is the point — a guide is the difference between walking past a sloth and seeing one. There is time at the beach afterwards, so bring swimwear and a towel, and lunch is at a restaurant above the park on the way out. Park entry and the round trip are in the price. The price itself changes with the size of your group.