Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica's smallest national park at only 682 hectares (1,685 acres). It is however, one of the largest in terms of biodiversity. The park was created in 1972, later being expanded in 1980 to protect the many species of wildlife that inhabit this coastal treasure.

Manuel Antonio National Park is among Costa Rica's top tourist destinations. The park borders one of Costa Rica's most popular beaches, Esterillos Beach. This beautiful, white sand beach is protected by an island and peninsulas on both sides, making it perfect for swimming.

Visitors to Manuel Antonio National Park have their choice of exploring by land or by sea. The park does have a groomed trail which begins at the end of the main road in Manuel Antonio. Visitors should arrive early as the park limits visitors to 600 per day to protect the environment. Manuel Antonio National Park visitors can also explore by sea. From a boat you will have possibility of seeing dolphins, sea turtles and the outside chance of spotting whales.

The entrance fee to Manuel Antonio National Park was recently raised to $10 for foreign visitors. It is however, highly recommended to go with a professional guide, as the animals that inhabit the Costa Rica rainforests camoflauge very well to their surroundings.