Manuel Antonio National Park Costa Rica

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Manuel Antonio National Park is perhaps the most visited park in Costa Rica. The picturesque Punta Catedral was once an island off the coast. Over the years, sedimentation filled in a bar of sand, connecting it to the mainland. The locals call this stretch of white sand beach Tombolo.

Manuel Antonio National Park Quepos Costa Rica

The volcanic-sedimentary cliffs rise steeply from the shoreline, providing scenic vistas and hiking trails. The forested hillsides are home to many of the animals, plants and flowers that are Costa Rica's unique attractions: Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans and scarlet macaws,

The islands and islets of Manuel Antonio provide an important refuge for a variety of sea birds. Olocuita and Mogote Islands are mating and nesting sites for brown pelicans, frigate birds and ahingas.

The three primary beaches of the park are Playas Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio and Puerto Escondido Costa Rica. The mouth of the Rio Naranjo forms the southern border of the park.

Quepos Manuel Antonio is about four hours from San Jose, Costa Rica, by car. Taking the Pan American Highway west to the Atenas exit, and following the old highway through the mountains to the town of Orotina where you rejoin a more modern highway. Take the Jaco turnoff and follow this coastal highway south to the city of Quepos Costa Rica . From here it's 5 miles to Manuel Antonio National Park.

Near Quepos Costa Rica, the Manuel Antonio Ranger Station is open for visitor attention from 8am to 4 pm, and has drinking water and restrooms.

Costa Rica National Parks

An extensive trail system winds through the Manuel Antonio Park, see the trail map above. The Sendero Serrucho offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.