Last Updated: May 20, 2024
Everyone knows about Manuel Antonio’s famed national park, but if you’re looking for something more off-the-beaten path, there’s another great option. Rainmaker Conservation Park located just outside Quepos is a private nature reserve with hiking trails, hanging bridges, and waterfalls. Below are our tips for exploring Rainmaker on a day trip from Manuel Antonio or Quepos.
History of Rainmaker Conservation Park
Before we share the details of planning your visit to Rainmaker Conservation Park, it is worth hearing about the park’s fascinating history.
Sometime around 1990, a farmer named Don Victor Fallas needed some cash so was looking to sell a portion of his land near Parrita on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. A Costa Rican man named Mauricio Gutierrez entered the picture. He agreed to purchase 200 hectares (500 acres) on behalf of the company the Body Shop, which wanted the farmland to grow products for use in their cosmetics.
Don Victor also owned a large amount of primary rainforest on a nearby mountain. Though he needed to sell it because of his debt, he wanted to find someone who would keep it preserved. Mauricio shared a similar vision and agreed to buy 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of the forest in his own name, thinking the pristine land could be valuable in a future tourism business.
Just as the paperwork was being finalized, Mauricio died tragically in an accident when he fell into a waterfall on the property while trying to save a child. With no buyer, the deal was about to fall through when Mauricio’s wife, Ann Gutierrez from the United States, stepped in.
Ann didn’t have the cash upfront but managed to get Don Victor to agree to a five-year mortgage. The only problem was that Don Victor wanted $100,000 as a down payment—and he wanted it in a week.
The story then goes back to the Body Shop. Ann contacted Gordon Roddick, co-founder of the cosmetics giant, who agreed to lend her $100,000 for the down payment. The deal went then through.
Today, the land is completely paid off and preserved.
If it hadn’t been for Ann and her children Alessandra and Mick stepping in, the land probably would have been turned into a lumberyard. Apparently the bank that owned the property was in talks with a Japanese lumber company that was set to buy the land if Don Victor defaulted on his loan.
After visiting the property several times and seeing for ourselves how special it is, we can really appreciate Ann, Alessandra, and Mick’s efforts to keep Mauricio’s vision of conservation alive.
What to Expect on Your Visit to Rainmaker Conservation Park
The Trails
Rainmaker Conservation Park has a 2.5 km (1.5 mile) trail system that passes waterfalls and runs alongside a beautiful winding river.
Most of the land (about 80%) is primary rainforest, meaning that it has never been cut down.
The old growth trees and topography of the reserve create spectacular, majestic views that are hard to match. We’ve done a lot of hiking in Costa Rica, and for us, Rainmaker has some of the best views around. The way the trees tower along the mountain creates almost a wall of rich, green forest.
Difficulty of Hike
In terms of difficulty, the main loop is easy to moderate and suitable for most people. However, there are some areas that are steep and can be slippery if it has rained lately.
The short loop off the main trail is more difficult and climbs up the mountain to a lookout and series of suspension bridges. There are some steep steps getting up. We have done the hike with our young children several times, though, and they have been able to do it on their own starting around age 3.
Note: If you have young children, keep a close eye on them. Although the trail has well-maintained railings throughout, there are some steep drop offs.
Hanging Bridges
The four hanging bridges are suspended high above the ground, giving you a unique vantage point from which to observe the rainforest.
They are really fun but also narrow and a bit rickety. If you’re afraid of heights, you may want to skip them. The park is still really nice even if you only do the main loop.
Waterfalls and Swimming Holes
Right on the main loop is a nice waterfall where you can take a dip in the refreshing pool. If you do the hanging bridges, this is just after you come down the stairs from the bridges.
Rainmaker has built a concrete bench near the small waterfall for people to sit or put their belongings. You can swim over to the waterfall and take a dip or explore the gentle river.
If the main waterfall is busy, you can continue on the trail to other swimming spots. Some are a little harder to access, but still possible for most people. On our last visit, we saw another family with young kids enjoying one of the less busy pools.
Trail Map
Just outside the reception area is a large sign with a trail map showing the hanging bridges and best swimming spots. Click here for a photo we have taken of the map.
Wildlife
Because it is a bit out of the way, Rainmaker sees a lot less foot traffic than the often busy Manuel Antonio National Park. This means that you’re more likely to have the trails all to yourself and potentially see some unique wildlife.
More than half the plants and animals that live in Costa Rica can be found at Rainmaker. On our visits, we have seen a green and black poison dart frog, whiptail lizards, and several kinds of butterflies including a glass-winged variety.
We’ve also seen lots of birds, including the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Blue-crowned Manakin, Black-throated Trogon, and Baird’s Trogon.
In our experience, it is harder overall to see wildlife at Rainmaker than at Manuel Antonio National Park. But you can still see some and it’s a worthwhile stop for the views and waterfalls alone.
Planning Your Visit to Rainmaker Conservation Park
Tickets
Admission is $20 per person. Free for children under 6.
You don’t need to buy tickets in advance.
Self-Guided vs. Guided Tours
You can easily just show up, pay the admission fee, and do a self-guided hike of the reserve.
Going with a knowledgeable guide can be beneficial, though, so that you learn more about the rainforest and see more wildlife. The jungle at Rainmaker is really thick so it can be hard to spot much on your own.
If you’d like to go with a guide, we would be happy to help you arrange a tour through a local company in Quepos that has knowledgeable, certified naturalist guides.
Just use the links below to request a reservation. You won’t pay until it is confirmed, and we’ll get back to you by email along the way. Booking through us costs the same and helps support our website!
Information About Guided Tours
Cost of Group Tour (8-10 people)
$60 per person plus 13% tax
Cost of Private Tour (only your family/group)
$124 per person plus 13% tax
Includes
Bilingual naturalist guide, round-trip transportation from your hotel or vacation rental home in the Manuel Antonio-Quepos area, and entrance fee.
Offered
7:50 a.m., 10:00 a.m., or 1:00 p.m.
Duration
3 hours (approximate)
What to Wear/Bring
Hiking boots or sturdy sneakers. We don’t recommend flip-flops because the terrain is uneven and you may come across biting insects.
Bathing suit and towel for swimming in the natural pools (it’s best to wear your bathing suit under your clothes)
Change of clothes
Plenty of water
Insect repellent, especially if you’re visiting during the rainy season (May through November)
Hours
Rainmaker is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Avoiding Rain
Rainmaker is so named for a reason. The property sits near the mountains where rain is more frequent. If you’re visiting during the rainier months (May through November), try to arrive in the morning to lessen the likelihood of rain during your visit.
Lunch
Lunch can be purchased at the small restaurant onsite for $7 per person. It’s a typical Costa Rican casado. This service is available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Directions to Rainmaker Conservation Park
Rainmaker is located about 30 minutes from Manuel Antonio/Quepos. It’s about 15-20 minutes off the Costanera highway, Route 34, in the village of San Rafael Norte near the town of Parrita. There is a sign for Rainmaker at the turnoff on Route 34.
The road leading to the reserve is mostly rough dirt, with some paved sections. Four-wheel drive is not required. You’ll pass through some towns along the way to the reserve.
Because Rainmaker is quite far off the main road (about 7 km/4.3 miles), we don’t recommend taking the bus and walking the rest of the way from the highway.
Conclusion
Rainmaker Conservation Park is a great place to spend a few hours if you’re visiting the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area. Not only will you take in some beautiful scenery and see interesting plants and animals, but you’ll get to experience a special part of Costa Rica that was almost lost.
Last Updated: May 20, 2024
Have you visited Rainmaker? What did you think?
Looking for more information to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
7 Off-the-Beaten-Path Things to Do Near Manuel Antonio: Check out these ideas for more lesser known activities in the Manuel Antonio area.
Manuel Antonio Restaurant Guide: With over 75 restaurants, it can be hard to sort through the options. Read our updated guide to get the best meals in town.
Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge: Another great nature reserve is Hacienda Baru, about 45 minutes south of Manuel Antonio in Dominical. This private reserve never gets too busy and has lots of wildlife and excellent birding.
Hi Jenn and Matt,
What an awesome capture of the Glass-Winged Butterfly. That’s a shot worthy of a NatGeo Magazine cover. Do you suggest going with a Guide or go self-guided?
Great post.
Wow, thanks Carey. Not sure it’s that good but we’ll take it 🙂 Most people do the hike self-guided. The trail is well marked so you can’t really get lost. They don’t give out trail maps but you can take a photo of it when you get there or print out this one we took if you want to be safe. Of course, some people prefer a guide so that they can learn more about the plants and animals, but it’s not a necessity.
Great post! The Rainmaker Conservation Project and Perro Vida Brewery are being added to my list of things to experience when we head down to Manuel Antonio area. Do you guys recommend a self guided or guided tour?
Hi Valerie, you guys have been in CR for a while so I’d say you don’t need one. There are some fun ATV tours that stop there though if you wanted to get a couple of activities in at once. It’s beautiful backcountry- would be fun to explore on an ATV. Have fun if you go and make sure to message the guys at Perro Vida beforehand (Facebook worked for us) to make sure they’re around.
I never hear about this place. Thanks for writing about it. Next time I head down that way, I’m definitely checking it out!
It’s well worth a stop, Nadine. Enjoy!
Jenn and Matt how’d we miss this??? We did Quepos for 1 month and loved it! Cool to know Rainmaker is just around the block because if it’s like MA but with less folks it is paradise indeed. MA was amazing since you saw wildlife everywhere; we spotted 7 sloths during our few hours there. I mean the tour guides with telescopes spotted 7 sloths 😉
Keep on inspiring guys!
Ryan
It’s easy to miss, Ryan. Not a ton of people know about it, which is a big part of why it’s so awesome. Rainmaker doesn’t see as many monkeys as Manuel Antonio for some reason and we didn’t see any sloths, but it had some other really interesting wildlife that we’ve never run into during our many visits to MA National Park…the poison dart frog, glass-winged butterfly and Blue Morpo butterfly, and rarer birds like manakins and trogons that you can only find in Costa Rica’s S. Pacific Coast and in Panama.
Gracias!
The information is appreciated and I will save it when preparing for my trip to Costa Rica. I would appreciate some information on how the natives live in Costa Rica since I might be interested in spending many months there being a retired person.
Buenos dias
Hi Louise, you can find lots of information about what it’s like to live here in our Life in Costa Rica section. We also just came out with a post that answers the most frequently asked questions of people moving to Costa Rica: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/faqs-moving-to-costa-rica/.
Hi – this sounds great! Are you able to get there by local bus or do you need to take a txi or shuttle? We do not have a car and are staying at Hostel Plinio near MA.
Hi Taryn, It would be tough to take a bus the whole way because Rainmaker is a little off the beaten path. You would have to go from Manuel Antonio to the bus station in Quepos then take a bus going towards Parrita. Rainmaker is quite far off the main road so the bus could drop you off at the end and you could try and grab a ride from someone, but this road is a small dirt road that isn’t very busy. A taxi from Manuel Antonio is definitely easier.
Hi Matt and Jenn,
We won’t have a car when we stay in Quepos coming May. What bus number to take to get close to the Rainmaker Project and where to get off? How far of a walk on the unnamed road once getting off the bus? How much will it cost to take a taxi from Quepos? Sounds like a nice place off the beaten path.
Thanks for all the great info,
Shan
Hi Shan, You would be better off getting a cab because it’s too long to walk from the main road, even if you like walking. Not sure of the exact price, but if the cab waited for you while you hiked so that you could get a ride back, it would probably cost around $50. If you go by bus, you would need one going north. The Parrita bus runs regularly (Parrita is the town just north of Rainmaker). The buses don’t always have numbers. They go more by destination name- you will see signs on the front of the bus. Just ask the driver to let you off at the road for Rainmaker/San Rafael Norte. Another idea is to head south to Hacienda Baru. This is a little farther (near Dominical) but it’s still off the beaten path and the bus ride is much more direct. Here’s a blog post we wrote with more info: https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/hacienda-baru-wildlife-refuge/
My wife and I have been admiring all of your posts so I thought it only fitting we make a comment on one of them. We’re staying in Quepos and have a car rented. We’re just curious how long would you give yourself, including driving there, to do the full hike, pools, etc.? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kirsten, We’d say to give yourselves half a day just so you’re not rushed. You can do it faster, but that will give you plenty of time for the hike and to relax in the pools for as long as you want. We appreciate you reading our site. Hope you both enjoy your visit!
Hi
Love your site.
Heading to CR in ’17 February.
We will be leaving the Lake Arenal area and heading ?
That’s just it, there are sooo many places.
Would you recommend the Rainmaker over say the San Gerardo de Dota area?
Interested in seeing the most wildlife I can!
Thanks
Hi Kelly, We hear you on there being so many choices. Here are some differences to help narrow things. San Gerardo de Dota is really unique because it’s the cloud forest, but you’re more likely to see birds there than animals, which are harder to spot. San Gerardo is remote, and if you went to Rainmaker, you would probably stay in Manuel Antonio, which will be busy in February. Manuel Antonio does have a lot of wildlife though. If you’re looking for something less busy but still with wildlife, you could look at Dominical or Uvita. Follow the links we gave for more info about each place. Good luck with the planning and if you want any help, feel free to contact us about our itinerary service.
To add to this reply, we’ve stayed in the Dominical/Uvita/Ojochal area for 4 of our 5 visits to Costa Rica. Dominical is our favorite place to stay and explore from. As to birds and wildlife, the airbnb in Savegre has had over 50 bird species at the house over a 9-day stay! We’ve also seen a Tayra there, but no monkeys yet. The local property manager says there has been a monkey sighted at a neighbors house this year.
Hello!
I am currently living in Costa Rica and I have found this wonderful post. I am interested in going to Rainmaker Conservation but do not have a car. I am wondering if you know of a way for me to get there through public transportation.
Thank you,
Morgan
Hi Morgan, We recently answered this question. Please see our responses to the comments from Taryn on Jan. 12, 2016 and Shan on April 10.
Hi Jenn and Matt! Love your blog, and have been referring to it for a lot of trip planning. We are flying out to Costa Rican on January 7th, and heading down to Manuel Antonio for the week! I am very interested in visiting Rainmaker Park. The only thing is we won’t have a car. Can you give insight on the cheapest ways for two people to get there and back? Is there any public transportation we could utilize or only taxis? Are you familiar with costs roundtrip?
Thank you!
Hi Carley, That’s exciting that you’re coming to Manuel Antonio so soon! Hope you enjoy it. We answered your question about inexpensive ways to get to Rainmaker for someone already. Please go back to the comment section of the post and look for the thread starting with Taryn on January 12, 2016. That should tell you everything you need.
Hi Jenn and Matt! So happy I found your website, it is packed with great information about CR. We are planning a honeymoon/adventure 7 day trip in Oct ’17. On our list of things to do are: hiking, wildlife spotting, whitewater rafting, beaches. Is this a busy month for tourists? Any recommendations re: rafting (the more adventurous the better!)? Thanks! ~P&S
Hi Priya, October is one of the slowest months of the year for tourism because of rainy season. Not sure where you are planning to visit, but there is really good whitewater rafting out of Manuel Antonio. The Savegre River has fun Class II-III rapids and the scenery is beautiful tropical rainforest. We work with an awesome rafting company out of Manuel Antonio. Let us know if you would like us to help book a rafting trip when you have figured out your itinerary.
Hi Jenn and Matt! Quick question. My fiance and I are staying in Manual Antonio for four days this upcoming week and wanted to visit both Rainmaker and Nuayaca Waterfalls. I read in the comment section of your Nuayaca Waterfall blog that you recommend renting a 4×4 for a day trip to Nuayaca from Manuel Antonio. Would it be a good idea for us to rent the car for two days, one for Nuayaca and the other for Rainmaker?
Thanks!
Hi Anastassia, Yes, that would make a lot of sense as these attractions are more off-the-beaten path and easier to access from Manuel Antonio with a rental car. We do recommend 4×4 for reaching the trailhead at the Nauyaca. Be sure to check out our rental car discount for the car. Adobe Rent a Car does have an office in Quepos, near Manuel Antonio.
I’m definitely adding this to our stay! I don’t think we can do only beaches for 3 days. Thanks for the tips.
Hi, my boyfriend and I will be going to Costa Rica at the start of May and we are spending 3 days in Manuel Antonio. Prior to this we will be spending 1 and a half days at La Paz. So of the things we want to see/do while in the area are animals, waterfalls, hanging bridges, ziplining, and a boat tour. We have the boat tour and zip line picked out. And we plan to go to Manuel Antonio National Park (as well as La Paz animal sanctuary and water fall gardens). But we are tight on money and time and won’t have a rental car. So my question is… would you recommend Rainmakers or Los Campensionos in order for us to fufill what we’d like from our trip as well as save time and money.
Hi Dianna, You need a rental car for both Rainmaker and Los Campesinos so if you want to do either, renting a car for the day is best. You could arrange a guided tour instead, which would include transportation, or hire a taxi to take you, but this would still cost a lot more than just renting a car for the day out of Quepos/Manuel Antonio. Rainmaker seems like the experience you are looking for and it is accessible with a regular sedan (non-4×4), which would save you some money. Los Campesinos is much farther away and you need a 4×4 for that. If you decide to rent a car, the company that we work with, Adobe Rent a Car, has an office in Quepos and could deliver the car to your hotel for free the day that you need it. Here’s a link to our rental car discount page with more information.
We will be arriving in San Jose and staying in MA for 8 days. My grand daughter wants to see the hanging bridges. Would the Rainmaker be the best? Also, I was doing some research and saw a cable car that went over the trees holding about 10 people. I cant find the site and would like to know if you know about this? Thank you. Its our first time there and we have a ffriend that has been there several time that will be with us for the first couple of days.
Hi Jo, In the Manuel Antonio area, yes, Rainmaker is the best option for hanging bridges.
For the cable car, maybe you are thinking of the tram ride at Rainforeat Adventures near Jaco? Jaco is about 1 hour away so possible as a day trip.
The guy at the entrance ruined the experience . He was rude and arrogant with an attitude. He had to be quite motivated to do this with happy tourists on vacation that just want to pay and go on a hike!
We tried their draft local beer after the hike. He charged us 6usd per glass! What a fraud!
I would not recommend this place even if invited. They don’t deserve our business.
20usd for 2km of trails not maintained? Big tourist trap. We ´ve done hiking across all national parks in costa rica on this trip and on some private reserve as well… they were all cheaper and better maintained.
Great post, and I love your blog! How would you compare Rainmaker and Mistico Hanging Bridges in Arenal if you only have time for one? Thanks!
Hi Tricia, They are totally different. Místico is more touristy and has more hanging bridges. Rainmaker is much more off the beaten path and the hanging bridges are very rustic. Rainmaker has the river and waterfalls too. If we had to do one, we’d pick Rainmaker because it’s a more unique experience.
Thanks for reading our blog!
We recently found out that Manuel Antonio National Park changed from being closed on Mondays to being closed on Tuesdays. Our only free day to go is on a Tuesday. We are so bummed. Would Rainmaker be a fairly equivalent activity as far as seeing wildlife? We are not going to hire a guide. (We weren’t going to at the Nat’l Park either. ) We have lots of kids and teenagers in our group and they have short attention spans. Lol. So we want wildlife that you can easily see without a telescope. Also, any beach recommendations since we’re going to miss out on those in the National Park as well?
Hi Stacy, Rainmaker doesn’t have as much visible wildlife as Manuel Antonio National Park, unfortunately. Another option is to go south to Hacienda Baru. It doesn’t have as much wildlife as MA national park but still quite a bit. Usually you can see monkey, birds, butterflies, lizards, and cool bugs, and sometimes caimen and other things. Playa Biesanz is a really nice beach in Manuel Antonio. We have a write up about it in our post, 7 Off-the-Beaten Path Things to Do Near Manuel Antonio.
I am heading to Manuel Antonio in February. We have lots of tours planned but I would love to head off the beaten path to either Los Campesinos or Rainmaker for 4-6 hours. We won’t have a vehicle so is there a way to visit these sights without taking a tour from town? Do taxi’s go there? We will be a family of 6 with 4 boys (8-16)so don’t want to have to pay upward of 100 each for the “tour”. From Manuel Antonio. Any pointers would be much appreciated!
Hi Casey, You could easily take a taxi to Rainmaker. It will be expensive (maybe around $75 each way since you would need a larger vehicle), but still less than renting a car. Los Campesinos is much more remote so will be even more, so we would go with Rainmaker.