One of the many reasons I love Costa Rica is that 25% of its territory is preserved as national park, refuge or some other protected classification. The smallest, yet most popular, of the national parks is Manuel Antonio. This park is really cool on a number of levels. While it is small, one could nevertheless spend a day hiking all of its trails. The park is full of wildlife, birds, monkeys, reptiles, marine life and insects. The most popular with the tourists are, of course, the monkeys. The most prevalent are the white-faced monkeys like the one pictured at the left. These guys are fearless and will pose for great pictures, like this fellow did for me. However, keep a close eye on your belongings because they are also notorious pick pockets. Another really cool aspect are the beaches. The park is a narrow peninsula and on both sides one can find gorgeous white sand beaches. In fact, I would rate them some of the cleanest and most beautiful in the country. And then there is getting to the park. It is not like most parks where you drive up to a parking lot. For this park you have to enter from the beach and cross a river that runs into the ocean right at the entrance. When the river is high the locals will park their boats and make a little bridge for the tourists to get into the park without getting wet. Manuel Antonio National Park is really Pura Vida and I have spent some of my most relaxing days just hanging out on the beach, swimming in the crystal clear waters and watching the monkeys, iguanas and other animals that make the park their home.
- Location: Just south of the town of Quepos in the province of Puntarenas.
- Park Size: 4014 acres (the smallest in Costa Rica).
- Highest Point: Punta Catedral (100 meters).
- Biodiversity: 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds.
- Parks beaches: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondito and Playita
Manuel Antonio National Park Photos
Google Map
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