Manuel Antonio National Park

The creation of Manuel Antonio National Park was definitely another goal for conservation. The public had always been allowed to use the beaches even though the area had been in private hands for a while. Nevertheless, in 1968, all changed when an American bought the property. Gates and fences were set up to keep people out, which obviously led to great discontent among the local population.

The local municipal government decreed that access to the beach could not be restricted (which is indeed a nationwide law). So the American ended up selling the land to a Frenchman. It seemed that the new owner had plans to develop the site into a tourism facility; however, before he could do so, the government expropriated the land, and  in November of 1972, Manuel Antonio National  Park was officially declared although the funds to pay for the land acquisition were not completely obtained until 1975. Manuel Antonio National Park was created by means of the Law Number 5100 on November 15,1972.

It is one of the smallest parks in Costa Rica. It is located in the Pacific coast, just south of the city of Quepos. It is one of the most visited protected areas by both local and international tourists. The park has as many as 150,000 tourists annually. Summer months are January, February and March; and the rainy months are August, September and October.  High temperatures average 81 °F  to 86 °F  year round. The park receives approximately 151 inches of precipitation a year. October is the rainiest month.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classified it as a Category II National Park, which means that the park is a natural area of land and sea designated to protect ecosytems for present and future generations. It also excludes exploitation and provides spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational, and visitor opportunities. All of the activities are enviromentally and culturally compatible. 
 Getting to the park will be your first adventure. Visitors walk across an estuary to get to the entrance at low tide, and small boats ferry tourists from opposite riverbanks at high tide. Once inside the park, a lush, wildlife- filled jungle gives way to clearings, where trees and palms decorate the white-sand beaches. The trees, the animals, the blue sky, and the turquoise sea are all perfect for a postcard setting. However, its beaches steal the show. They are undeveloped and among the loveliest beaches you have ever seen! There are four breathtaking beaches in the park: Playa Espadilla Sur (also known as the Second Beach), Playa Manuel Antonio (Manuel Antonio Beach), Playa Escondida (Hidden Beach) and Playita (Little Beach). All surrounded by flora and fauna.  Manuel Antonio Beach is one of the best swimming beaches. It is a small beach of coral-white sand and a small coral reef.  In fact,  Manuel Antonio has been rated as one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world! Its amazing beauty and wildlife diversity are definitely unequaled. Some beaches are good for surfing and boogie boarding. All are great for swimming. Snorkeling is excellent, too:  blue waters with stunning visibility make a great place to view a wide variety of marine life.  
                              
Punta Catedral (Cathedral Point), a 72 meter-high point of land that is covered by rain forest,  gives to the park even more beauty. The point was an island, but ocean currents caused the deposition of sand between the two until eventually they were connected, forming a geological feature known as tómbolo (a narrow strip of land). The park's two most frequented beaches, Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur, are the sandy arcs on either side of this narrow strip of land  that joins Cathedral Point with the mainland.  Visitors may hike to the top of Punta Catedral. They may enjoy an approximately hour long hike from Playa Espadilla Sur to the top.
At the entrance to the park, it is a good idea to hire a naturalist guide to help you see all the marvelous wildlife. The guides have spotting scopes and know where to find all those camouflaged animals. There are many hiking trails through the park’s 1,600 acres, and incredible ocean views are plentiful.  Visitors can explore the beaches, enjoy the sun, feel the sea breeze, and leave their concerns behind.  One of these trials is Sendero Catarata (Waterfall Trail), which is a narrow and muddy trial that leads to a small waterfall in the park. The trails through the park are easy, and you can explore them on your own.

Manuel Antonio National Park has five habitats: primary and secondary marine forests, mangrove swamps, lagoons, and beach vegetation. There is quite a varied fauna with 109 species of mammals. The best time to look at these animals is very early in the morning. You are almost guaranteed to see monkeys. It is possible to see black and basilisk iguanas, white faced- capuchin and howler monkeys, white-nosed coatis, peccaries, armadillos, quatamundis, agoutis, two-toed and three-toed sloths, toucans, ocelots, tapirs, anteaters…  About 350 squirrel monkeys live in the park and another 500 live in its surroundings. Do not leave food lying around.  It is illegal to feed the monkeys. Scientific researchers have found an increase in heart disease and heart problems among the local monkeys attributed to human foods. This is also one of the only two areas in Costa Rica where the endangered Central American squirrel monkey is found. These are the smallest of the four monkey species in Costa Rica, and the only ones without a prehensile tail. They search actively for insects and fruit in large groups of 30 or more individuals.  It is also possible to observe ctenosaur  lizards, snakes and an infinity of insects. (Note: All of these animals are still wild animals and should be respected and treated as such. You may enjoy the opportunity for a close look, but do not try to touch or feed them!)

You might also see  marmosets, ocelots, river otters, and spectacled caimans in more remote riverine areas.
You can distinguish 184 species of  birds. In the area is frequently to observe birds species like the rare white ibis, toucans and scarlet macaws, laughing falcons, water roosters, green kingfishers, brown pelicans, magnificent frigate birds,  brown boobies, iridescent hummingbirds, parrots, Baird’s trogons, golden-masked tanagers, porcupines, black-collared hawks, tent bats, tiny little proboscis bats, raccoons, and the northern jacanas. Among the flora species, there are many interesting trees: the eucalyptus, the black locust (an endangered timber-yielding tree), the balsa, the monkey’s comb, the bastard cedar, the silk cotton, the coco, the bully, and the cow tree, which exudes a thick white latex that has medicinal properties.  You can notice  the manchineel tree, or “beach apple”—a very common species along the beaches. The manchineel tree is very toxic and has a sap that irritates the skin. Its tempting apple-like fruits are also poisonous. Avoid touching any part of the tree.

 There is a wide range of marine flora and fauna. So far, scientists and researchers have identified 10 species of sponge, 17 of algae, 19 of corals, 24 of crustaceans,  and 78 of fish. The park includes 12 little islands just off the coast. Sometimes there can be observed a  number of dolphins and humpback whales.

There are poisonous berries, almond trees, mayflowers and coconuts, too. The mangrove swamp covers 44.5 acres. It is composed of three species: red mangrove, buttonwood mangrove and white mangrove.

Because it is so popular, Manuel Antonio can get crowded. The high season is from December/ January to April.  May or June is a good time to visit the park, as it is not all that crowded, and it is just the beginning of the rainy season.General information: Manuel Antonio National Park opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park is closed on Mondays. The entrance fee is US$ 6.         There are bathrooms and showers to rinse off after swimming.