The Rainmaker Conservation Project is an environmental initiative near Manuel Antonio, which lies just after the town of Pocares, approximately 20 kilometers from Quepos. The 1,500-acre protected primary forest reserve boasts an exceptional landscape, surrounded by a beautiful primary rainforest. Rainmaker Park offers a tour solely focused on environmental education.
Rainmaker Conservation Project is an excursion suitable for families with children, but it’s mostly considered an ideal option for hikers and those looking for adventure tours. Bear in mind that you must ascend and descend several staircases in the trails, which requires reasonably good physical condition, especially if you go through the hanging bridges.
The reception building has a restaurant, an option to consider to have lunch after the tour. The restaurant also serves artisan beer for events or special occasions. Nearby this reception and parking area, there’s an attractive green lagoon serving as a great food source for different species of snakes.
About the swimming ponds:
As you walk the first part into the forest, you can choose between going directly to the natural swimming ponds in the river or climbing up some steps leading to a separate trail heading to the hanging bridges before going back down through an alternate path towards the river.
You can observe numerous waterfalls while strolling along the trails. There are about five natural swimming ponds on the river. Most of them have natural water pressure with waterfalls. Some points are deep and optimal for swimming, while some sections are more shallow and suitable for small children.
There are no towels in reception for visitors, so bring your towel!
Where is the Rainmaker Conservation Project?
Rainmaker Park is located in the Puntarenas province, in the village of San Rafael Norte near the town of Parrita. It’s around 30 minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park.
The expert tour guides from Epic Adventures can securely guide you through the available tour options:
Click here to book this guided tour!
Rules and Map:
About the hanging bridges:
As you enter the dense forest, you will become one with the path, the rain may be shallow, but the place is not called Rainmaker for nothing, Wearing waterproof shoes during a visit might help; however, wearing hiking boots would be more appropriate. The traction will make you feel safe as you start climbing the muddy steps to the hanging bridges, and it might save you some extra energy as well.
Hanging bridges is an experience rapidly growing around the country; there are popular locations in Arenal and Monteverde. These sites typically have bridges big enough to carry two lines of people walking on both sides simultaneously, with more sophisticated structures. Rainmaker Park has about six hanging bridges, and some lead to platforms on large trees to serve as watchpoints. These, unlike other hanging bridges you can cross, feel like hanging above the magnificent rainforest; you need to hold on to the handrail strong enough to keep balance, as some only carry one line of people at a time.
Remember that hanging bridges is the best way to admire an outstanding forest like this one; they reduce human impact and provide privileged views. Halfway through the hanging bridges, you reach the highest observation point, where you can see the forest coverage around the property and Manuel Antonio Beaches in the background when it’s not cloudy. If you want to embark on a hanging bridge adventure in the primary rainforest, this is an ideal place to visit, probably one of the best for this matter.
Overview of the guided tour:
It is also possible to spot wildlife, but it is not even close to Manuel Antonio National Park; consider hiring a local guide if you seek to capture views of animals in this place. This location, unlike the National Park, boasts a genuine primary forest, with Corcovado being the closest in the area. It is improbable that you observe wildlife without a guide, but even without it, the forest itself is the highlight; it is a breathtaking place, yet overwhelmingly beautiful. No wonder, many travelers go across the world and visit Costa Rica to experience this kind of forest, which some consider the most balanced environment for life in the world.
You will find many exotic plants and huge trees in the mountains. As far as the wildlife, if you are lucky, you can see monkeys, bats, butterflies, frogs, snakes, and some more. The forest provides habitat to endemic species like the Harlequin Toad, which supposedly went extinct in Costa Rica.
We recommend being cautious if you plan to do a self-guided visit, consider asking for the safety cautions at the park. The river is somewhat secluded, and considering the mountain in the park is quite stepped, most of the stairs have handrails, but the steps get very muddy after rain falls at the Rainmaker project and surroundings.
In conclusion:
This property has one of the best rainforest experiences you can have in Costa Rica; as soon as you step inside the forest, you can realize how the magic of nature is just present and all around. It is an absolute pleasure that the whole ecosystem is under protection. Rainmaker could serve as a relaxing option for your itinerary if you have kids, as well as a total thrill for nature lovers.
Some visitors do not hire a local guide and stay at the swimming ponds. But it turns out that this is one of those tours where a guided tour will make it a more fulfilling activity if accompanied by a guide familiar with the area. Book The Rainmaker Conservation shared or private tour with Epic Adventures now to take full advantage of your time in Rainmaker’s breathtaking forest.
