Manuel Antonio: Costa Rica's Premier Destination By Staff Writer (www.manuelantonio.com)

Why is it that one out of every four tourists who come to Costa Rica visits Manuel Antonio National Park and its surroundings? Is it because of the breathtaking landscapes that combine bright greens with deep blues? Is it because of the sportfishing, the kayaking, the sailing, the horseback-riding and many other fun-filled activities? Or is it perhaps because of the exuberant flora and fauna? The answer: all of the above.

Within a relatively small corner of Costa Rica, tourists can find the excitement and adventure of a vacation in the tropical forest, surrounded by one of the country’s most beautiful natural environments, without sacrificing life’s modern conveniences. There’s a magic to Manuel Antonio that is hard to explain. One thing, however, is absolutely certain: once you’ve been here you’ll want to come back again.

Manuel Antonio, with its 1700 acres of land mass and 135,906 acres of marine reserve, is the smallest of the 20 national parks Costa Rica has put aside for total protection. Even so, it is the country’s second most visited conservation area, after the Poas Volcano.

Last year alone, 143,520 tourists visited the park. Conservation officials have fixed the park’s carrying capacity at 600 people per day from Tuesdays to Fridays, and 800 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. On Mondays the park is closed to the public. “If there are already 600 visitors at 10 a.m., we close it right then”, said Javier Herrera, in charge of environmental education at the park, which is usually open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Located 100 miles south of San José on the Pacific Coast (a pleasant three-hour drive, or a short 20 minutes by plane), Manuel Antonio, which was declared a national park in 1972, is the natural habitat of species such as the endangered squirrel monkey (endemic to the area), white faced capuchin monkey, raccoons, three and two-toed sloths, white-nosed coaties, brown pelicans, black-collared hawks and green kingfishers. They share the space with primary and secondary forests, bursting with cedars, bully trees, locust “surás”, black locusts and silk cotton trees. A mangrove swamp covers about 44.5 acres, adding to the biodiversity of the region. Three different species: red mangrove, buttonwood mangrove and white mangrove - abound.

After a day of hiking in the park or sunbathing on one of the surrounding beaches, like Espadilla Sur or Playa Escondida, travelers can find a wide range of restaurants and hotels to enjoy a bit of night-life. A lot about the attractions of the area where to stay, and what to do, can be found at www.manuelantonio.com.

Among our choices for lodging in Manuel Antonio are:
Hotel Parador, Costa Verde, Casitas Eclipse, La Mariposa, Karahe, Mimo’s Aparthotel and the Best Western Kamuk, all of which feature one or more swimming pools and restaurants.

Currently, one of the hottest after-dark spots is “La Cantina” bar, right across from Costa Verde Hotel, which offers e-mail and Internet service during the day, and at night features the popular afrocaribbean music of the “Jungle Boys”.

We also suggest “El Gran Escape” (pronounced es-cap-ay), in downtown Quepos, across from the beach, for freshly caught seafood cuisine. There the menu starts with “the hook”: taquitos, super nachos, chicken fingers and 100% Costa Rican ceviche - raw fish marinated in lemon juice, onions and herbs, decidedly delicious. The specialties are the “Catch of the Day” and the popular “Escape Burgers”, which you can wash down with one (or many) of the exotic drinks offered at the Bar Tab: names like Guaro Sour, Monkey Punch or Dirty Banana. “El Gran Escape” is open from Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. If Italian cuisine is what tickles your palate, “El Gato Negro” offers a wide variety of pasta, accompanied by your favorite wine in luxurious surroundings.

Other dining spots you’ll certainly not want to miss are “Mar y Sombra”, right on the beach, near to the entrance to the park; and “Barba Roja”, perched on a cliff, which offers breakfast, lunch and cold drinks at affordable prices. When you’re ready to enjoy another day in Manuel Antonio, you can choose from the varied list of excursions most hotels will arrange.

Some of the most popular are Sunset Sails - an adventure aboard a classic yacht sailing down the scenic coast at sunset, where dolphins can usually be spotted. Other favorites are the Rainmaker tour - a trip through the forest canopy and waterfalls; and river rafting on Río Naranjo, on the border of the park.

If sportfishing is on your agenda, be sure to check out “Fishing on the Mangrove” (offered by the Parador tour desk), while thrilling blue water excursions can be arranged on the many boats out of Quepos.

To ensure that visitors to Manuel Antonio fish with professional, experienced captains and well maintained boats, www.fishcostarica.com organizes sportfishing charters for blue marlin, sailfish, tuna and a host of other fish with the area’s best captains and boats.

Whatever your tastes and interests, Manuel Antonio is certain to have something for you.

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