Manuel Antonio National Park
Manuel Antonio is a national park on the mid-Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just south of the city of Quepos. The park is open 7 AM until 4 PM every day except Monday. Visit early, because it is a very popular park and can get very crowded.
Culture and History
History
The park was created in November 1972, to an extent to protect it from development as the area's tourist industry began to boom.
Landscape
The park is 682.7 Hectares in size; partly land, partly sea and mostly known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife. It is Costa Rica's smallest park. There are four primary beaches in Costa Rica: Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio, Escondido and Playita. This national park is located on the pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas.
Flora and fauna
In the park there is a lot of wildlife to be seen, for instance: Squirrel monkeys, white-faced monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crabs, toucans, bats, birds.
Please DO NOT feed the monkeys As tempting as it may seem and even if others are doing it, please do not feed the monkeys. The reasons to avoid this are endless and doing so contributes to the endangerment of the animals in and around the park.
Climate
The dry season lasts from December through March, but it is commonly rather humid year-round. In rainy season the paths can get extremely muddy, on the other hand you have the chance to experience the park rather empty. Climate: Dry Dec-Apr, Wet May-Nov, Wettest Sep/Oct Temp: Avg. high 92°
Travel to Manuel Antonio, visa requirements
By car
About 3 hours by car from San José.
If you go by car or shuttle service you should really stop at Puente RÃo Tarcoles (the bridge over Tarcoles river) about halfway between San José and Manuel Antonio. This is a favorite spot for crocodiles that come here to warm up before hunting at night. You will normally be able to see at least 30 crocodiles here. The reptiles pose no threat (unless you plan to jump down to them), but you should pay attention to the traffic, especially when you cross the road to see the crocodiles on the other side.
Buses to Manuel Antonio
There is a bus driving the route Quepos-Manuel Antonio that leaves every 30 minutes. You can catch the bus at any of the many stops along the way. Fare 200 colones (US $0.50) each way (tel.777-03-18).
Fees/Permits
Entrance fee $7. There is a limit of 600 allowed (simultaneous) visitors on weekdays and 800 on weekends, but this tends only to be a problem in the Easter week and the last week of the year. At these times you might have to stand in queue and wait for someone to leave before you are let in if you arrive late.
You can also pay for a guide to show you around, and point animals. It is worth the money, as some animals are right in front of you, but you do not see them until they are pointed out to you. They carry lenses and you can see through them and even take pictures.
Get around
Once close to Manuel Antonio, it is possible to walk from most hotels to the beach and to any restaurants/attractions in between. Take care to carry a flashlight at night, though, for the dark and windy roads can spell disaster for pedestrians after hours. The Parque Nacional de Manuel Antonio is discovered quite easily by foot, but at high tide a ferry is (often) required to reach it, costing a nominal fee. The intrepid traveler could, of course, ford the waters by swimming it...
Manuel Antonio attractions and sightseeing
City tours
- Hiking in the national park. There are 4 short trails in the park (1-3 km). You can do the most common one with a guide and then once your tour is over, take time to follow one of the other trails, and also go swim.
- Wildlife watching with guide. $20 per person.
- Relax at the beautiful beaches inside the park. Water is normally clear-blue in color.
- Park tour with guide (http://www.nature-adventures-tours.com Nature Adventures is one of them) 39$ per person.
Shopping, Manuel Antonio souvenirs
Good restaurants and cheap meals
It is not possible to buy food or drinks inside the park, although just outside the park there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Take care not to allow your lunches to be infiltrated or stolen by the Park's resident thieves, the coatimundi. While swimming in the ocean, make sure your backpack does not have food in it. If it does coatimundi will try to open it (and they don't know how zippers work).
Manuel Antonio nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Lodging
Because camping is prohibited within the park, a number of lodging choices have sprung up around the perimeter of the park. One of the popular local lodging offerings consists of "cabinas" (cabins) which vary in price ($20-$30/night) and quality. Cabinas Pedro Miguel (tel.777-00-35) and Cabinas Piscis (tel.777-00-46) are two popular choices for this type of lodging. The Manuel Antonio Park area also has a number of hotels which average about $50-$60/night. There are also a few upscale hotel/resort style properties in the area such as the Makanda by the Sea (tel.777-04-42) and the ancient Spanish style Hotel El Parador (tel.290-76-82).
Costa Verde, Situated in the center of an exuberant tropical jungle, with a view of the Pacific Ocean, this hotel provides easy access to the wildlife of the jungle and a sense of balance between serenity and adventure. Comfortable and nice rooms are complemented by the restaurant, bar and swimming pool to make this hotel a very good option in the area.
Camping
Unfortunately, camping is prohibited in the park, as it is small and the impact of even a few people could possibly damage the fragile natural environment that the park is attempting to maintain.
Backcountry
Stay safe
Manuel Antonio gets a rough, mainly US-American-party town at night, pickpocketing etc. are common.
Get out
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