Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park

About 4 hours from the capital San José, on the Central Pacific Coast, is the fantastic Manuel Antonio National Park. The enchanting combination of rainforest, beaches, mountains and coral reefs makes Manuel Antonio one of the most diverse areas of wildlife in the world and one of the most popular places to visit in Costa Rica. Although it is one of Costa Rica's smaller national parks, the park is home to 184 species of birds and 109 species of mammals, and the surrounding waters are home to nearly 80 species of fish. You'll see Capuchin, Howler and Squirrel Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, agoutis, and hundreds of species of birds, like toucans, woodpeckers, potoos, motmots, tanagers, Turkey Vulture, parakeets and hawks. The diversity of rainforest plants and animals is unmatched elsewhere in Costa Rica. Within the Manuel Antonio National Park are some of the best beaches in the region. Escondido Beach, Manuel Antonio Beach and Espadilla Sur are all accessible by low-intensity trails. The park also protects 12 islands that provide excellent shelter for many seabird species. It also has a 14-hectare lagoon and mangrove forests. Dolphins can be seen along the coast, as well as the occasional migrating whale. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, mountain biking and hiking offer opportunities to discover the tropical wildlife that makes Manuel Antonio so rich.