Step into the Tropical Wet Forest on user-friendly trails and meet the creatures protected in the Greentique Wildlife Refuge. Led by your Greentique Certified Guide, you’ll see a variety of the area’s flora and fauna, including the spectacular Blue Morpho and several other tropical butterfly species, with displays of each stage of metamorphosis. The Crocodile Lagoon features crocodiles, caimans, and turtles, all observable from elevated walkways just adjacent to the Butterfly Atrium.
Includes: Greentique Certified Guide
Departure Time/Place: Greentique Wildlife Refuge, tours by reservation at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: 6+
Activity level: Easy
Recommend: Walking shoes/sneakers, shorts or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket during green season, water bottle, camera, binoculars
Greentique Wildlife Refuge – Guided Jungle Night Tour
Jungle Trails, Reptile & Amphibian Lagoons
Discover Manuel Antonio’s Wildest Nightlife Destination. The Jungle Night Tour is a unique odyssey into the nocturnal world of the Pacific Tropical Wet Forest. Led by your Greentique Certified Guide through the complex ecosystem of the Refuge’s reptile and amphibian lagoons, you’ll be immersed in a symphony of the signature sounds of thousands of jungle residents, including more than a dozen species of native frogs, all engaged in the rituals of life in their natural habitat. An extraordinary photography and video opportunity, a monopole, light tripod, or selfie stick are helpful if you don’t want to use a flash. However, the guides are skilled at lighting the wildlife, making handheld night shooting easy for everyone. The Night Tour is the only opportunity to see local Manuel Antonio wildlife at night, as the National Park closes at sunset.
Includes: Greentique Certified Guide, flashlights
Departure Time/Place: Greentique Wildlife Refuge 5:30 p.m. by reservation
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: 6+
Activity level: Easy
Recommend: Walking shoes/sneakers, short or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket during green season, water bottle, camera
Greentique Wildlife Refuge – Butterfly Atrium & Botanical Gardens Day Tour
Experience the “Butterfly Effect”— Greentique Style. Led by a Greentique Certified Guide, you’ll explore this beautiful and uniquely designed 12-sided structure, resplendent in native flora and featuring hundreds of brilliantly colored butterflies, including the vivid Blue Morpho. Part of the active Coastal Wet Forest research station and supervised by Greentique WLR Resident Biologist Jimmy Mata, the Butterfly Atrium also features insect displays along with various on-going research projects. Jimmy reports quarterly on the status of habitat research to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINAE).
Recommend: Walking shoes/sneakers, short or long lightweight pants, lightweight waterproof jacket during green season, water bottle, camera, binoculars
See the Magic of Nature with Those Who Know it Best. Explore one of the most famous National Parks in the Costa Rican National Park system. All along this moderate three-hour walk, your Greentique Certified Guide will share the secrets of the Coastal Wet Forest and the wonders of the Park and the region’s natural history. Manuel Antonio is home to species of monkeys, plus sloths, white nosed coatimundi, raccoons, agoutis, iguanas, snakes, birds, butterflies, and other insects. After the tour, we suggest that you spend some time on the beautiful beaches within the park, so take along your bathing suit and hotel beach towel and catch our hotel shuttle later in the day.
Includes: Transportation, park entrance fee, and water bottle
Departure Time/Place: Tours by reservation, departing from the hotel lobby at 7:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Park closed Mondays.
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: 6+
Activity level: Moderate
Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers, shorts or lightweight long pants, light waterproof jacket during green season, hat, sunscreen, camera, binoculars
Cost: $55 per person; $42 per child 12 and under; Custom Private Tour $85 per person
Roll through Costa Rica’s lush tropical jungle canopy on a series of cabled tree platforms. Get a bird’s-eye view of the monkeys, tropical birds, and a wide variety of other flora and fauna. Ziplines, rappels, and a Tarzan swing are all a part of this incredible adventure. There are options for several Zipline tour operators and rates.
Includes: Bilingual local guide, transportation, all zipline gear, meal or snack
Departure Time/Place: Time/Place: 7:10 a.m., 10:30 a.m.; hotel lobby
Duration: Options for 4 hours
Ages: Minimum age based on tour selected
Activity Level: Moderate
Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers, short or long lightweight pants, water bottle, camera
Cost: $65.00 to $85.00 per person for all ages; minimum 2 persons
"This is such a great gift. We saw crocodiles, caimans, whiteface monkeys, capuchin and howler monkeys, different types of turtles and frogs. The butterfly garden was magical. Just a peaceful peace of heaven. What a happy place."
Birding
Central Pacific – Manuel Antonio
Greentique Wildlife Refuge Birding Tour
You’ll see a variety of the neo-tropical birds that live in and migrate through the Central Pacific Coast and Wet Forest. Led by your Certified Greentique Guide, this tour is an excellent opportunity to spot Blue-crowned Motmots, Spot-crowned Euphonias, Chestnut-backed Ant birds, Black-hooded Ant shrikes, Golden-hooded Tanagers, and dozens of other species.
Includes: Greentique Certified Guide
Departure Time/Place: 6:00 a.m. from Sí Como No Resort or from the Greentique Wildlife Refuge
Duration: 2 hours
Ages: 6+
Activity level: Easy
Recommend: Walking shoes/sneakers, shorts or lightweight long pants, lightweight waterproof jacket during green season, water bottle, camera, binoculars
Birdwatchers rave about the Carara National Park area — as the convergence point of two distinctive bio-zones, its bird population diversity is significant. Each zone hosts a stunning variety of birds, including one of the largest remaining wild populations of Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica. Your Greentique Certified Guide will lead you through the national park, a transitional rainforest between the dry North Pacific Coast and the wet South Pacific Coast. Besides the impressive array of bird species, you’ll also be spotting White-throated Capuchin, Spider and Howler monkeys, sloths, and dozens of other plant and animal species. (This tour also originates from Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Nature Reserve in San Ramón.)
Includes: Greentique Certified Guide/Bird Specialist, ground transportation, park entry fees, and lunch
Departure Time/Place: 6:15 a.m.; hotel lobby
Duration: Full Day
Ages: 6+
Activity level: Moderate
Recommend: Hiking shoes/sneakers, long pants, extra pants and shirt, lightweight water proof jacket, hat, water bottle, camera with long lens, binoculars
Cost: $155 per person, minimum 2 adults; $73 per child 12 and under
"Our guide took us to find the much sought after Quetzal, and we were lucky enough to spot the female… our guide's knowledge about all manner of wildlife and the beautiful environment was exceptional. We would absolutely recommend this hotel - I would also urge first time visitors to Costa Rica to follow up this stay with the Osa Peninsula region."
– March 2015
Cultural Touring
Central Pacific – Canton de Quepos
Spice Plantation Tour & Gourmet Tasting
The Villa Vanilla / Rainforest Spice Tour is a gentle walk through a plantation consisting of 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary wet forest. The hands-on tour features sensory stops to learn about the plantation’s major crop, vanilla, plus true Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oil and medicinal plants. The winding trail showcases a unique collection of epiphytes (air plants) including orchids, bromeliads, and tilandsias.
Includes: Transportation from Manuel Antonio, bilingual guide, and gourmet spice tasting
Departure Time/Place: 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; hotel lobby
Duration: 3 hours
Ages: All ages
Activity level: Easy
Recommend: Walking shoes/sneakers, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera
Cost: $50 per person, $25 per child 12 and under; minimum 2 persons
"We took a trip, arranged by the hotel, to a vanilla plantation called Villa Vanilla, which was really good. They also grew cocoa, cinnamon, allspice, and pepper; and we got to try it all."
Each hotel has a Greentique Certified Master Guide (GCMG) and a team of Greentique Certified Guides (GCG), each a specialist in the flora and fauna of their respective regions. They work hand-in-hand with our Concierges to accommodate any special requirements you have, make the logistics clear and easy, and get you sorted on what you need to bring and wear.
Greentique Wildlife Refuge Sí Como No
Jimmy Mata, Resident Biologist Specialist, Central Pacific Coastal Wet Forest
Biologist and Herpetologist Greentique Wildlife Refuge, Sí Como No
Born in Cartago, Jimmy Mata joined the Greentique Wildlife Refuge (WLR) in 2002 as its resident biologist. Jimmy’s idea for the Wildlife Refuge was to create a natural habitat and living laboratory to help the native frog populations of the Manuel Antonio area recover without any requirements for enclosures. He subsequently assumed the management and development of the WLR Nature Exhibits, including the Butterfly Atrium, and the Amphibian Gardens and Reptile Lagoons adjacent to Si Como No Resort. Jimmy’s education includes a Masters in Natural Resources Management from the Institute of Technology of Costa Rica, plus a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the Latin University of Costa Rica. He is an official consultant for the research of the ecology of the frog species of Costa Rica, focusing on vanishing frog species over the last 25 yeas in Costa Rica. He also works in recording vocalizations of the frogs with Mark Wainwrith and Alexander Villegas, and works with Fabio Hidalgo photographing the herpetofauna of Costa Rica. Previously, Jimmy was the Advisor Biologist for tour projects in La Selavtura Park in Monteverde, Parque Arenal Natura, Arenal Oasis, ant the Botanical Garden of Monteverde and Veragua Rain Forest. Jimmy consultants for new conservation and research program on amphibians and reptiles and supports the Cloudmaker Nature Reserve in Santa Juana.
Greentique Certified Master Guide (GCMG) Osa Peninsula, Águila de Osa
Carlos is a bilingual naturalist guide and the resident Greentique Certified Master Gudie for Aguila de Osa. Born on the Osa Peninsula, he’s been guiding across the region for 18 years. During his career, Carlos has earned a combined 12 certificates from the Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA), Instituto de Biodiversidad (Inbio), the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), and the Asociacion Ornitológica de Costa Rica (AOCR). Working with Aguila de Osa since 2005, he is the lead guide for Osa birding, the Mangrove Estuary Tour, and the Night Walk. His deep knowledge, incredible passion, and amazing eagle eyes make every tour an exceptional experience in the coastal lowland rainforests of the Osa Peninsula.
Greentique Certified Master Guide (GCMG) Los Angeles Cloud Forest Private Reserve, Villa Blanca
Born in San José, Costa Rica. Roy was raised in San Ramón, surrounded by nature, rolling farmland, and the mountain cloud forest. Working at the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel & Nature Reserve for more than seven years, he is the resident Greentique Certified Master Guide and the Director of the José Miguel Alfaro Research Station, guiding and conducting research in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. A bilingual naturalist guide, Roy specializes in birding, amphibians and reptiles, and tours that focus on the natural history of the different ecosystems, particularly the nightlife of the mountain cloud forest. His education includes the National Technical University in Alajuela, where he studied Tour Guiding. In addition, he studies Sustainable Tourism at the State University, and over the past several years, has completed courses in Volcanology, Biology for the Conservation of Ecosystems, Birds of Costa Rica, and Photography. Roy is a skilled photographer and his nature photography is exceptional.
Greentique Certified Guide (GCG) Greentique Wildlife Refuge, Sí Como No; Cloudmaker Nature Reserve, Santa Juana
Henry Sequeirach grew up in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Region in the pueblo of Esperanza, which means “hope.” There that he began his quest for a deeper understanding of the extraordinary range of the species that were so much a part of his childhood. That intellectual curiosity sparked Henry’s to become a naturalist guide. He studied in Canada to learn English, part of his preparation to fulfill that dream, and later returned to Costa Rica to the National Learning Academy (INA) to become a licensed guide. After six years guiding in the Monteverde cloud forest, he joined Greentique Hotels in 2013, quickly advancing to become a Greentique Certified Guide. An expert in the flora and fauna of the Central Pacific Coastal and Mountain Wet Forests, Henry leads day and night tours in the Wildlife Refuge, tours into Manuel Antonio National Park, as well as into Greentique’s Cloudmaker Nature Reserve at Santa Juana. He is the senior Greentique guide for the Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure Tour, and Wet Forest birding tours.
Executive Chef, Greentique Hotels Executive Chef, El Sendero Restaurant, Villa Blanca Could Forest Hotel
Chef Hannia Campos Orozco, affectionately known as Hannita, was born in Costa Rica’s Central Highlands in Piedades Sur, just outside of San Ramón. Trained in French and Italian cuisine at the Escoffier Gastronomic Institute in Alajuela City, and the Culinary Pan-American Forum, her culinary career began its meteoric rise working with some of the great chefs at the National Association of Chefs in San José. In Korea and Guatemala, she won critical international young chef challenges in 2013, as well as silver and bronze medals at the 2015 Culinary Championship Cup in Costa Rica.
Hannia’s exquisite creations reflect a keen understanding of the extraordinary quality of food and ingredients produced by local farms across the region, as well as in Villa Blanca’s own organic gardens. The essence that these locally sourced essentials add to the dishes she prepares can be tasted in every meal she creates. One of the country’s new generation of culinary professionals, Hannia was recently named the Executive Chef for Greentique Hotels, as well as the Executive Chef at El Sendero Restaurant at Villa Blanca. She is already delighting guests from around the world with truly inspired food that is taking Costa Rican cuisine to a new level of excellence.
José Miguel is proudly 100% Quepeño, which explains something of his commitment to using the best ingredients, sourced as close to his kitchen at the Rico Tico Grill as possible. His commitment to authenticity in traditional Costa Rican recipes, and in expanding relationships with local sustainable sources, makes his food a vital extension of the culture and heritage of the Quepos and greater Central Pacific Coastal Region. For over 18 years, José Miguel and his teams have been the vanguard for sustainability and customer satisfaction, continuously elevating the dining experience at the Rico Tico, Sí Como No’s original restaurant. A graduate of the Professional Technical College of Quepos, José Miguel earned his “A” Cook Certification at INA, and continues his culinary education with INA courses, and in concert with Greentique Executive Chef Daniel Rodriquez and with Reimy Cruz of the Claro Que Sí. Under José Miguel’s leadership, the Rico Tico has made lasting impressions on tens of thousands of guest palates, recognized year after year through top customer ratings and Awards of Excellence from TripAdvisor.
Reimy Cruz was born in Cartago, Costa Rica and has lived in the Manuel Antonio area for over 12 years. A key member of the culinary team at Greentique’s Sí Como No Resort, he spent his first year at the Rico Tico Jungle Grill and the past three years at Claro Que Sí. He achieved the senior cook position in 2015. Reimy is a graduate of the Professional Technical College in Quepos, where he studied food and beverage before continuing his culinary education, receiving his Class A certification from INA. His passion for cooking focuses on becoming one of the leaders of the emerging Costa Rican style of “sustainable gastronomy,” with its commitment to healthy, fresh, locally sourced products shaped by a combination of traditional technics and bold, inventive new approaches and recipes that are already transforming the Manuel Antonio restaurants experience for guests at Claro Que Sí.
Greentique Chef Olmos Dixon Cererino, affectionately known as Chef Dixon, was born in Panama into a family that came over from England and France. Trained at the Culinary School Academy in Panama City and at the Culinary Institute of America, he began his now 20-plus-year cooking career working for some of the great chefs in San Francisco and Seattle. In the Caribbean, he worked at restaurants in Barbados, St. Lucia, Antiqua, and St. Martin. As Executive Chef of The Great Room at Águila de Osa for the past seven years, Dixon has created a truly exceptional Costa Rica dining experience for guests from around the world. His passion for vibrant and flavorful food reflects his love of Caribbean, Indian, Italian, Thai, and vegetarian food, each an influence on his cooking style. A fierce advocate of the “closer is better” Greentique Sustainable Gastronomy philosophy, Dixon’s great tasting food starts with his hand selecting the freshest ingredients from farms around the Osa. He and his staff grow vegetables, herbs, and pinto beans in a hydroponic garden. They also make farmer’s white cheese and bake the breads and pastries on premise. And then there’s the seafood — caught locally by artisan fisherman, as well as hotel guest sport fishermen. Incredible fish make their way from the boat to your plate – with just a brief stop in Chef Dixon’s amazing kitchen in between.
Julia Solis is a member of one of the areas first families, her grandparents having settled in the Fila Chonta region when she was a young girl. She raised two sons, putting both of them through high school, then moved to Santa Juana where she joined Roxana as a Greentique Hotels employee in 2010. She is now the second cook at El Mirador and Head Housekeeper for Lodge operations. Her eldest son, Allan, also works for Greentique and helps with the family farm chores, which include raising much of the produce and other ingredients used in Julia’s recipes.
Roxana Vindas was born in San Marcos de Terrazu, and moved to Santa Juana as young girl to help her brothers and sisters run the family farm. It was there that she learned traditional cooking on a wood-burning stove. In 2008, she became the head cook at El Mirador, using local ingredients to create amazing “platos typicos” for the lunches on the Santa Juana Rural Mountain Adventure Tour. Roxana raises her own hens and chickens, which she uses in many of the authentic Campesino meals that delight tour and lodging guests alike. She teaches the Campesino cooking class, making tortillas from scratch, along with other guest favorites, including her pumpkin squash deserts, which are flavored with local sugar cane and seasonal tropical fruit juices.