Manuel Antonio National Park contains several short trails ( see map below ), all of which are easily accessible and well maintained; most trails are either sand, or cement. These trails provide the best opportunity in Costa Rica to see both white-faced and squirrel monkeys. The trails tend to follow the coastline, supplying beautiful views and easy access to the white sand beaches. Some of Costa Rica's most beautiful white sand beaches, in particular Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio are located in Manuel Antonio National Park. One particular trail, the Punta Cathedral, heads up to the tip of the point providing beautiful vistas of the ocean and islands which are situtated of the rugged coastline. This particular trail, while not very demanding, has a short quick incline to the top of the peninsula.
In addition, Manuel Antonio includes 12 islands located a short distance from shore. Most of them lack vegetation and serve as excellent seabird sanctuaries; they are an especially important nesting site for the brown booby. The pacific waters contain numerous dolphins and, at times, migrating whales are sighted. There is a wide range of marine flora and fauna. So far, 10 species of sponge, 19 corals, 24 crustaceans, 17 algaes and 78 fish species have been identified.
The parks flora and fauna is impressive, with the dominant trees being the black locust, balsa, monkey comb, bastard cedar and mayflower. Some 109 mammals species, inlcuding two-toed sloths, raccoons, white-nosed coatis, and all three species of monkey, and 184 species of birds have been spotted within the park. Of particular interest is the beautiful and delightful squirrel monkey, an endangered species now restricted to a very small territory in Costa Rica.
Special Considerations
Just outside the park, several local vendors
offer a wide range of activities, i.e. scuba
diving, kayaking, surfing and more. In addition,
rafting, dolphin and sailing excursions can
all be booked through local travel agencies,
or by your hotel. Short day trips to Caño
Island are available, which is popular for
those interested in scuba diving. Several
eateries, bars, souvenir shops and fruit stands
are also situated along the beachfront. One
could easily go to the beach for the day and
not need to return to the hotel room until
the day is over.
How To Get There
Perhaps the most frequently visited beach
in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is just miles
from the small port town of Quepos. Buses
between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National
Park run throughout the day, covering the
8 km distance. Taxis are available and usually
charge by the distance, not by the number
of passengers. Therefore, it is much more
economical to share the taxi with other passengers.
Walking to the park from Quepos, or visa versa,
is challenging, as there are several steep
climbs, not to mention the tropical sun and
heat.
Direct public buses depart daily from San Jose to and from Manuel Antonio / Quepos. Depending on the time of season, additional buses returning from Quepos / Manuel Antonio depart on weekends.
Sansa and Travel Air both have daily flights between San Jose and Manueal Antonio/Quepos. The flight takes approximately 20 minutes and provides spectacular views of the mountain range separating the Manuela Antonio area and the central valley. Sansa offers a shuttle to and from your hotel to the airport for a minimal fee. A similar service can be arranged by Travel Air, however, the costs tend to be a bit higher.
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