Manuel Antonio National Park - Vacation in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio National Park, on the Pacific Coast, is a great spot for bird watching and hiking. Guests will find excellent surfing and windsurfing at Playa Espadilla Sur, while Playa Blanca boasts a protected beach that's perfect for families. Experienced scuba divers enjoy exploring the Bat Islands and Catalina Island, about half an hour offshore.

There is quite a variety of flora fauna, with 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds. The park includes 12 little isles just off the coast; these are a number of dolphins and, at times, migrating whales can be observed.

Manuel Antonio's Hidden History

Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer, whose futile search for the Fountain of Youth became his signature expedition, is rarely recognized for one of his greatest discoveries - Quepos and Manuel Antonio - which he put on the charts in 1519.

So abundant are the riches of Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast, that he might have found his fabled fountain had he gone ashore and explored the region's. The park is easy to reach, south of the town of Quepos, and is near a good selection of hotels and restaurants. Manuel Antonio National Park attracts over 160,000 people each year to its wide beaches.

Getting There

Travel to the area is easy and can be done in a number of different ways. Regularly scheduled air service is available through Sansa Airlines, the flight takes 20 minutes. It is a three and a half hour or more, drive by car or bus from San José depending on the weather and traffic.

By Car - Taking the Pan American Highway west to the Atenas exit, and following the old highway through the mountains to the town of Orotina where you rejoin a more modern highway. Take the Jaco turnoff and follow this coastal highway south to the city of Quepos Costa Rica . From here it's 5 miles to Manuel Antonio National Park.

The Manuel Antonio National Park entrance fee is US$10 per person. Children under 12 free. Hours: 7am. to 4pm.
Closed on Monday.

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