Manuel Antonio Costa Rica
by Andres Marchevsky
Introduction There are very few places on earth that have the dazzling beauty Manuel Antonio National Park has. The Manuel Antonio Beach was declared recently one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. Lush jungles enfolding beautiful small bays with turquoise water, the area offers travelers many nature attractions, adventure activities and a few of the best Hotels and restaurants Costa Rica has to offer! Manuel Antonio National Park Despite its relatively tiny size, Manuel Antonio National Park holds an incredible biodiversity. Visitors can expect to see Families of White Face monkeys (Squirrel Monkeys) playing and feeding on swarms of green and black grasshoppers. On a short stroll through the jungle, on the way to one of the three spectacular beaches, you will probably see three-toed sloths, occasionally, even a mom and her baby, hanging on a branch taking an afternoon nap. Many birds, parrots and iguanas inhabit the Manuel Antonio National Park and its surrounding area. Manuel Antonio National park is one of the most popular parks among Costa Ricans and tourists, its proximity to San Jose together with the easy access to the beaches, to all age groups, makes Manuel Antonio a very good place to start your vacation in Costa Rica. Location: 35 miles (56 km) in a straight line south of San José on the Pacific coast. 53 miles (86 km) by the shortest overland route (4WD required). Entrance fees—$US 6HoursThe Manuel Antonio National Park is closed on Mondays. On other days the park is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Make sure you arrive early to avoid the crowed; the park service has limited the number of visitors to 600 per day to reduce impact on the ecosystems. Hiking trails—a trail map, route descriptions and highlights are provided at the entrance to the park. Camping—Camping is no longer allowed. Around Manuel Antonio National Park The community in Manuel Antonio bases its leaving on tourism. Locals and foreigners are working together to preserve nature and develop a strong sense of commitment to the fragile eco-system. Lodging and tours The Manuel Antonio area offers some of the best Hotels in Costa Rica. Names such as Hotel Si Como No, Hotel La Mariposa, Hotel El Parador and La Mansion Inn are famous around the world for their quality of service and beautiful locations. Canopy tours, sea kayaking, and sport fishing are offered year around. During the months of February and March there are groups of whales can be seen with the special cruises and dolphins can be found year around. There are ATV 4X4 and Rafting tours for those who are looking for adventure and a beautiful butterfly farm, adjacent to hotel Si Como No, for families to enjoy a nature-learning experience. We will be happy to make arrangements for these attractions – or you can ask for information at your hotel desk. We highly recommend on Sea Glass Spa for your spa treatments. We tried their Hot Stone Combination massage package – there is nothing better! Dinning There are many food venues in Manuel Antonio and you can be sure to find a restaurant that will satisfy your taste.We recommend on the best restaurants in the area, after checking them personally. Karola’s restaurant offers great sea food in a garden setting, evenings are always pleasant. With soft music in the background and an evening breeze, sitting on their porch and relaxing after a day in the Manuel Antonio National Park.Restaurant B.S Bar and Grill is the perfect place to watch the sunset. The restaurant is set high up on a hill, on the road from Quepos leading to Manuel Antonio. Very good casual dinning.Restaurant El Grand Escape is another sea food restaurant. They are praised for their food, and their chef can always cook what you catch after your sport fishing day.Restaurant Dos Locos offer great live music on Wednesday nights with delicious Mexican Food. Bring our coupon and get a free margarita on every meal! Restaurant Mar y Luna – another perfect spot to see the amazing Pacific Sunsets. Call and ask when they have live music nights. Good fusion of seafood and Mexican cuisine.For shopping purposes go to Laventura Souvenir and Art Shop, located in downtown Quepos, they offer great savings with our coupons. Beautiful art and very kind owners.Mot mot Souvenir Shop offers beautiful art for reasonable prices You can click on the links and find out more information about dinning and shopping in Manuel Antonio. Getting there Driving directions Depending on what you'd like to see along the way there are three main routes. Route one is the most direct and reliable.Route One: From San José, the easiest, paved route (see below for most direct 4WD) is to follow Avenida 10 to Parque La Sabana where it becomes highway 27 which you will follow west for 34 miles (56 km) to the town of Orotina. 3 miles (5 km) past Orotina, turn left (south) on 34, the coastal highway which takes you 11 miles (18 km) to the bridge over the Tárcoles River where you enter Carara National Park (stop and take a walk). Quepos is 54 miles (87 km) south and east on 34. Turn left on the outskirts of Quepos (signed) and head up and over the hills another 3 miles (7 km) to Manuel Antonio.Route Two: From San José, you can also drive south on the Interamerican Highway (Pan American) 81 miles (135 km) to San Isidro, where you turn southwest on 22, which becomes 243 to Dominical (16 miles, 26 km). In Dominical turn northwest on 34 for about 24 miles (38 km) (the middle section of this leg is unpaved, but passable in a car) to the left turn (south) to Quepos. Turn left on the outskirts of Quepos (signed) and head up and over the hills another 3 miles (7 km) to Manuel Antonio.Route Three: The most direct route is the most beautiful, but requires 4WD, a good map, and a sense of adventure. From San José head south to San Pablo, continue to Nápoles where you'll shift into 4 wheel low and drop down to the coast.Detailed roadmaps are available in acrobat pdf format or printed on waterproof tear proof synthetic paper. Bus613 Quepos
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