Manuel Antonio Costa Rica

Hey, DAngelo and michael alan from the Costa Rica Travel Channel. We hadn't been in Manuel Antonio for about 4 years and decided it was time to repay it a visit. Things have changed. Manuel Antonio is still beautiful, but what happened? Check out this video to see our take on one of Costa Rica's top tourist destinations. And if you're ever in la Fortuna Costa Rica, by all means, stop in and say "Hey." But don't forget the bottle of Cacique...hehe

With a mere 682 ha. of land area, Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the smallest of Costa Rica's national parks, but probably the most visited park in Costa Rica. The park lies on the mid Pacific coast approximately 7 kms south of Quepos Harbour. White sandy beaches, cliffs, ravines, rivers, rainforest, mangrove swamps, lagoons, littoral woodland and island vegetation are the main components that make up this extraordinary park. Video: Manuel Antonio National Park

The forest habitat consists mostly of White-Faced Capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys, pacas, grey squirrels, raccoons, white-nosed coatis, and two- and three- toed sloths. The laughing falcon, black-colored hawk, white ibis, white-bellied chachalaca, blue-crowned manakin, fiery-billed aracari, green kingfisher, toucans, scarlet macaws are just some of the bird species that reside in the park. The islands and islets of Manuel Antonio afford an essential refuge for the various sea birds in the area, such as Brown Pelican, frigate birds and Ahingas. The lagoons in the park are home to caymans, boa constrictors, and grass snakes to name a few. In total, the park houses a total of 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds.

Part of the park's scenic beauty is provided by Cathedral Point, a 72 meter-high point of land that is covered by rain forest. The point was formerly an island just off the mainland, but ocean currents caused the deposition of sand between the two until eventually they were connected. The park's two most frequented beaches, Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur, are the sandy arcs on either side of the narrow strip of land that joins Cathedral Point with the mainland.

Due to the small size of the park and the massive amounts of visitors it receives, much of the wildlife that can be found here is quite acclimated to human presence and will allow close approach, especially the White-throated Capuchin Monkeys, Central American Squirrel Monkeys (This is also one of only two areas in the country where the endangered Central American Squirrel Monkey is found, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloths, White-nosed Coatis, Central American Agoutis and Ctenosaur Lizards. [Note: These are still wild animals and should be respected and treated as such, enjoy the opportunity for a close look, but do not attempt to touch or feed them!]

Butterflies, birds, and large colorful land crabs are more of the plentiful inhabitants that provide interest during a trail walk through the park. And, if the waters are clear enough, a variety of marine life can be seen by snorkeling around the rocky ends of either beach.

The three main beaches of the park are Playas Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio and Puerto Escondido.
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