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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 Tu-Su 07:00-16:00.

History
Created in November of 1972, to an extent to protect it from development as the area's tourist industry began to boom.

Landscape
The park is 682 Hectares in size; partly land, partly sea. It is Costa Rica's smallest park.

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.

Get in

By car
About 3 hours by car from San Jose. If you go by car or shuttle service you should really stop at Puente R?o Tarcoles (the bridge over Tarcoles river) about halfway between San Jose 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.

By bus
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.
Fees/Permits
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.

Do
Hiking in the national park. There are 4 short trails in the park (1-3 km).
Wildlife watching with guide. $20 per person.
Relax at the beautiful beaches inside the park.
It is not possible to buy food or drinks inside the park.

Manuel Antonio Costa Rica, a community only 5 miles (8 km) from the port town of Quepos on the Central Pacific coast attracts many of the tourists that visit Costa Rica every year. Manuel Antonio`s most well known asset is Manuel Antonio National Park and Manuel Antonio Beach inside. Although this is one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica it is also the smallest. This National Park is 1,685 acres (682 hectares) in area but in it you will find amazing beaches, lush rainforest, abundant wildlife and a group of islands offshore. The four pristine beaches in the park live up to their reputation. White sands are bordered by lavish vegetation. Hotels on the mountainside overlooking the beaches offer breath taking views. The park also includes a network of trails that will guide you through an amazing humid tropical rain forest. Howler monkeys bounding from branch to branch, sloth peacefully hanging form branches and macaws flapping by make it a lovely hike.

From Quepos to Manuel Antonio the park buses run constantly along the 2.5 mile (4 km) paved road. Along the way you will find hotels strategically located on the hills offering breath taking views of the Pacific Ocean. International food restaurants stand along the road serving delicious dishes and offering ?cabinas?, or small apartment hotels for Costa Rican vacationers. You can also take a taxi; try to travel as a group to reduce the costs. Once you get to Manuel Antonio, at the park?s entrance you will find numerous activities available to you. Vendors offer different types of tours such as scuba diving tours, canopy tours, fishing tours, ATV rentals and local guides offer their professional services to walk you through the park. In addition, rafting, dolphin watching trips and sailing excursions are available here.

The land that today makes up the National Park was bought by an American in 1968. This person protected the entrance to his property but the locals objected to this measure. Since the law in the country grants beach access to all, the municipal council ruled that access to the Manuel Antonio beaches had to remain open. In 1972 an investor had the idea of constructing a resort in the area and this triggered the locals to lobby to create a national park. The government expropriated the land and created the National Park in November 1972. There are several signs warning you not to feed the monkeys since recent studies show that they are prone to high cholesterol levels when fed ?human? processed food like sandwiches or chips. Many hotels in this area have joined efforts to protect the wildlife that supports the tourist industry in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. View the different facilities we offer in this unique area of Costa Rica by clicking on the links above, and please don?t hesitate to contact one of our travel agents who can help you make all reservations online.