Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio simply put is paradise discovered and the epitome of pura vida. This is the most popular national park and beach area in Costa Rica. There is nowhere else in the world where you will find such beautiful white sand palm studded beaches backed by rolling rainforest covered hills which are just loaded with wildlife. All of this adds up to making it an absolute must for any first time visitor to Costa Rica!
Manuel Antonio can only be accessed by passing through the port town of Quepos. This is a typical Costa Rican fishing village, but do not be dismayed as you are passing through. Once past the village, you will take a winding road which snakes its way through the hillsides and rainforest some 7 kilometers until you reach the Manuel Antonio beach area, town center and national park entrance.
There are 3 main beaches in the Manuel Antonio area. Playa Biesanz is the northern most beach and is excellent for snorkeling. Playa Espadilla is the main beach area and offers small waves for surfing at the north end and even smaller waves ideal for swimming and body surfing at the southern end. Manuel Antonio Beach is located within the park and only accessible via a trail through the national park which requires paid entrance.
Anybody visiting Manuel Antonio should be prepared for a mixture of jungle and beaches. The vast majority of hotels are located up on the hill, making a walk to the beach practically impossible in most cases. This is due to the 200 meter maritime zone which is enforced to protect beach areas keeping them open to the public and protecting the natural coastal zone. Though this is a different concept than other beach areas in other countries just imagine going to the beach and listening to the squawking of parrots and bellows of Howler Monkeys as the waves gently roll in.
The Manuel Antonio village center is a small area with only a few streets. There are small shops, restaurants a few small bars and a lot of street side vendors selling souvenirs. There is little public parking in the area and certainly not enough for the number of visitors. Most tourists rely on provided transportation through their tour operator or travel agency to reach the area and then utilize the local beach bus or taxis to get around. This has the advantage of not worrying about where to leave your car as well as the safety of it. Anybody requiring a little more action can skip over to Quepos where you will find a casino, shops, restaurants, bars, and a lot more night life.
There are more activities available from Manuel Antonio than any other beach area in Costa Rica. Guided hikes through the national park or riverboat safaris through the Damas Island Estuary are excellent for wildlife observation. Adventurers can zipline through the canopy of the rainforest, whitewater raft through raging tropical rivers, or rappel down waterfalls in the middle of the jungle. This is just a sampling of the many activities that are available.
Central Pacific temperatures remain the same nearly year round with average day time highs in the upper 80s to low 90s and night time lows in the upper 70s. Precipitation varies by month with the months of December through April being the driest.
Visitors should pack a bathing suit, towel, shorts, tee shirts, appropriate shoes, rain gear, sun block, and insect repellent.
Fun Fact: Manuel Antonio Beach is located within the national park and can only be visited with a paid entrance. This is the most deserted of the beaches and an absolute tropical paradise. Save your ticket from the hike and you will be able to go back afterwards and enjoy the secluded beach in the afternoon.
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