Manuel Antonio is a city on the Pacific coast with a particularly warm climate, with temperatures of around 30 degrees all year round. To cool off, you can enjoy the beautiful white sandy beach that runs alongside the town, with its many bars, restaurants and souvenir stores. The sea is ideal for both swimmers and surfers.
Manuel Antonio's main attraction is the national park of the same name. It is one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica. It is open every day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Mondays. Admission costs 16$ per person and is free for children under 11. Guides are available for 20$ per person, and you can take advantage of their binoculars and spotting scopes to admire the animals, although you can also visit the park on your own. It's best to start your visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds and protect yourself from the heat. Along the trails in the heart of the forest you'll spot many animals, including lizards, iguanas, deer, monkeys and even sloths, which are usually found high up in the trees. The main trail leads to a beach, ideal for spending time with family and friends. You'll need to keep a close eye on your belongings, however, as it's not uncommon for monkeys and raccoons to try and steal visitors' picnics while they're swimming. If you're looking for a little more peace and quiet, you can take the side trails that lead to other beaches, just as beautiful as the first. The waters of the beaches in Manuel Antonio Park are of a magnificent blue and make for excellent fish-watching if you have flippers and a snorkel. During the rainy season, it's also possible to take a trail close to the park entrance that will lead you to a waterfall. During the dry season, the walk along this path is still very pleasant, but there will be no waterfall due to the lack of water.
CITY OF QUEPOS
Quepos is the main town in the Aguirre canton. The town is strongly linked to the development of the banana industry in this region, and still boasts some of the old infrastructures that once belonged to the Company. Tourists will find a wide range of services, including accommodation, restaurants and leisure facilities. Quepos also offers panoramic views of the coastal area. Its quay is used by pleasure craft and sport fishing boats. Quepos beach is not suitable for swimming.
MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
Manuel Antonio Park covers an area of 683 hectares. It boasts the most varied and splendid landscapes. It is surrounded by an exuberant tropical rainforest. Its trails are visited by white-faced monkeys, sloths, badgers, raccoons, iguanas and numerous species of birds, as well as the squirrel monkey (Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus), a breed endemic to Manuel Antonio and found nowhere else in the world. The species is increasingly threatened; according to the last census, there were only 1,500 left.
The Park also protects 12 islands that serve as excellent refuges for many species of seabird. There are three excellent beaches: Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio and Puerto Escondido. It also boasts a 14-hectare lagoon and mangrove swamp. Punta Catedral, which links the beaches of Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur, is a charming spot. Facilities include an information office, a park ranger station, trails, sanitary facilities, drinking water, signage and several natural lookouts.
Apart from Manuel Antonio Park, there are many other activities on offer. For example, you can kayak on the sea, both during the day and at night, or in the mangroves of Isla Damas, not far from the town of Manuel Antonio. Another water activity is catamaran sailing. Climb aboard one of these boats and discover the bay while relaxing, drinking cocktails made with local spirits and listening to music. Such a trip will also allow you to enjoy the sunset, which is always incredible in this region.
