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Manuel Antonio
National Park
Manuel Antonio National Park contains several
short trails , all of which are easily accessible
and well maintained; most trails are either
sand, or cement. These trails provide the
best opportunity in Costa Rica to see both
white-faced and squirrel monkeys. The trails
tend to follow the coastline, supplying beautiful
views and easy access to the white sand beaches.
Some of Costa Rica's most beautiful white
sand beaches, in particular Playa Espadilla
Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio are located in
Manuel Antonio National Park. One particular
trail, the Punta Cathedral, heads up to the
tip of the point providing beautiful vistas
of the ocean and islands which are situtated
of the rugged coastline. This particular trail,
while not very demanding, has a short quick
incline to the top of the peninsula.
In
addition, Manuel Antonio includes 12 islands
located a short distance from shore. Most
of them lack vegetation and serve as excellent
seabird sanctuaries; they are an especially
important nesting site for the brown booby.
The pacific waters contain numerous dolphins
and, at times, migrating whales are sighted.
There is a wide range of marine flora and
fauna. So far, 10 species of sponge, 19 corals,
24 crustaceans, 17 algaes and 78 fish species
have been identified.
The
parks flora and fauna is impressive, with
the dominant trees being the black locust,
balsa, monkey comb, bastard cedar and mayflower.
Some 109 mammals species, inlcuding two-toed
sloths, raccoons, white-nosed coatis, and
all three species of monkey, and 184 species
of birds have been spotted within the park.
Of particular interest is the beautiful and
delightful squirrel monkey, an endangered
species now restricted to a very small territory
in Costa Rica.
Special
Considerations
Just outside the park, several local vendors
offer a wide range of activities, i.e. scuba
diving, kayaking, surfing and more. In addition,
rafting, dolphin and sailing excursions can
all be booked through local travel agencies,
or by your hotel. Short day trips to Caño
Island are available, which is popular for
those interested in scuba diving. Several
eateries, bars, souvenir shops and fruit stands
are also situated along the beachfront. One
could easily go to the beach for the day and
not need to return to the hotel room until
the day is over.
How
To Get There
Perhaps the most frequently visited beach
in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is just miles
from the small port town of Quepos. Buses
between Quepos and Manuel Antonio National
Park run throughout the day, covering the
8 km distance. Taxis are available and usually
charge by the distance, not by the number
of passengers. Therefore, it is much more
economical to share the taxi with other passengers.
Walking to the park from Quepos, or visa versa,
is challenging, as there are several steep
climbs, not to mention the tropical sun and
heat.
Direct
public buses depart daily from San Jose to
and from Manuel Antonio / Quepos. Depending
on the time of season, additional buses returning
from Quepos / Manuel Antonio depart on weekends.
Sansa
and Travel Air both have daily flights between
San Jose and Manueal Antonio/Quepos. The flight
takes approximately 20 minutes and provides
spectacular views of the mountain range separating
the Manuela Antonio area and the central valley.
Sansa offers a shuttle to and from your hotel
to the airport for a minimal fee. A similar
service can be arranged by Travel Air, however,
the costs tend to be a bit higher. |
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Surfing
Snorkeling
