Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica – A mini paradise in Central America

Manuel Antonio National Park is home to 109 species of mammals, 184 species of birds, and an uncountable variety of reptiles, insects, and plants. It is difficult to walk very far in the park without encountering its fascinating wildlife. Additionally, Manuel Antonio National Park offers spectacular views of the ocean and nearby islands. We are far from the only ones to consider it one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Just outside the park is a huge white sand beach popular with surfers, swimmers, and sun worshipers. The beach offers a variety of activities, including jet ski rentals, banana boat rides, and mangrove tours.

From the northern end of the beach, the area’s curvy but well-maintained main road leads up a steep hill. About two and a half kilometers (about 1.6 miles) uphill, several restaurants offer a view of one of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet. This whole area is full of hotels, restaurants and bars and casinos that offer an active nightlife to those who want it.

Even further north is the city of Quepos, famous mainly for its sport fishing. The cheapest accommodations in the area are available here, along with several local restaurants and numerous tourist operations.

The buses circulate along the main road from the town of Quepos to the Park every half hour between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and every hour between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The trip costs approximately 100 colones (about .20 -.25 US cents).

Things you should know about Manuel Antonio National Park:

Manuel Antonio National Park is home to 109 species of mammals, 184 species of birds, and an uncountable variety of reptiles, insects, and plants. It is difficult to walk very far in the park without encountering its fascinating wildlife. Additionally, Manuel Antonio National Park offers spectacular views of the ocean and nearby islands. We are far from the only ones to consider it one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Just outside the park is a huge white sand beach popular with surfers, swimmers, and sun worshipers. The beach offers a variety of activities, including jet ski rental. [http://majetskis.com], Banana boat rides and tours through the mangroves.

From the northern end of the beach, the area’s curvy but well-maintained main road leads up a steep hill. About two and a half kilometers (about 1.6 miles) uphill, several restaurants offer a view of one of the most spectacular sunsets on the planet. This whole area is full of hotels, restaurants and bars and casinos that offer an active nightlife to those who want it.

Even further north is the city of Quepos, famous mainly for its sport fishing. The cheapest accommodations in the area are available here, along with several local restaurants and numerous tourist operations.

The buses circulate along the main road from the town of Quepos to the Park every half hour between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and every hour between 7:00 PM and 10:00 PM. The trip costs approximately 100 colones (about .20 -.25 US cents).

Things you should know about Manuel Antonio National Park:

• The most secluded and beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio are found in the Park itself. There are two and both are easily accessible from the entrance of the Park. The one closest to the entrance is usually emptier, but the most crowded and furthest beach, still only a five-minute walk from the entrance, surrounds a cove, which provides remarkably calm water.
• The park is closed on Mondays and as a result, the beach outside the park tends to be quite empty on Mondays. So if the Park is on your agenda, you may not want to include a Monday stay in Manuel Antonio. But if you want to enjoy the beach with a much smaller crowd, you may want to go out of your way to make sure you are there on Monday.
• If you’re in moderately good shape, you should be able to cover all of the park’s main trails in about two days. However, if you are not in such good shape, you will want to avoid some of the longer trails as they all tend to be somewhat difficult at some point.
• The park has several bathrooms and even cold water, low pressure showers. However, there is no food available inside the park. However, there are several restaurants on the beach within a 5-minute walk of the park entrance, and your ticket entitles you to re-enter the park for the entire day. We suggest that if you plan to spend the day in the park, we recommend that you bring some lunch. But be sure to keep an eye out, as monkeys are always looking for something to eat.

Things to know about the areas outside the park:

• The sunset from the top of the hill between Quepos and the Park is one of the most spectacular we have ever seen. The two best places to see it are Barba Roja, a restaurant / bar, and the pool at Hotel Mariposa. If you are not staying at the Mariposa, however, you can enjoy the sunset by its pool while ordering a cocktail from the pool bar.
• Manuel Antonio has become a very visited area. The area has dozens of hotels and resorts that are frequently sold out. As a result, prices are higher here than in most of the country. However, there are still cheap meals, especially in Quepos. Our recommendation: “Bar Restaurante Quepoa”, a great local restaurant and pizzeria in front of the Quepos bus station.
• Another consequence of the large tourist presence in Manuel Antonio is the existence of prostitution (legal in all of Costa Rica), drugs (not legal in Costa Rica) and crime. The first two are only shown at night, and mostly in the town of Quepos. However, crime is a very real danger, so keep an eye on your possessions at all times.

How to get to Manuel Antonio from the Santa María airport in San José:

• By air: Two airlines will fly it from San José to Manuel Antonio: Sansa (011-506-290-4100) and Nature Air (800-235-9272). The flight takes about half an hour and costs about $ 53 USD one way. Keep in mind that luggage restrictions on these airlines are around 25 pounds, making them a non-option for those traveling with a lot of luggage.
• In private or semi-private transport: There are many private and semi-private transfers and taxis from the airport to Manuel Antonio. You can usually hire them at the airport. The trip takes 3 to 4 hours depending on road conditions and costs around $ 215 USD for a private transport (regardless of the number of people) and $ 30 per person for a semi-private.
• By public bus: There are direct buses that leave from the main bus terminal (called “Coca Cola”) in San José three times a day. In addition to the direct buses, there are also indirect buses that make numerous stops along the way. An advantage of this bus is that you can also pick it up on the way, in case you are not starting in San José. Keep in mind that this is a much longer trip and can take more than 4 to 4 1/2 hours. You should know that Coca Cola is the pickpocket capital of Costa Rica. It is important to be aware of your things at all times, both when you are waiting for the bus and when you are on it. Make sure to keep all your relevant documents (i.e. passport, license, money, etc.) on your person at all times and do not keep them with your luggage under the bus.
• By car: If you rent a car at the airport, you can get to Manuel Antonio in about 3-4 hours, as can private shuttles. From the airport, take the Pan-American Highway west approximately 10KM to the Atenas exit. Exit to the right of the road at the sign Atenas – Orotina and turn left crossing the road continuing through the picturesque mountains through La Garita, Atentas and past Orotina. You will drive through the mountains for about an hour; once you get to the city of San Mateo, follow the signs for Jaco, Parrita and then Quepos (the city north of Manuel Antonio)