Manuel Antonio National Park

If you need just one reason to choose Costa Rica as your next vacation destination, look no further than the natural beauty of the country's national parks. These sweeping expanses of lush, tropical landscape are well worth the cost of any plane ticket or Costa Rica car rental. Take the Manuel Antonio National Park. Located in the Central Pacific Conservation area on the Pacific coast, this stunning park boasts over 4,014 acres of protected land and crystal-clear beaches. Established back in 1972, Manuel Antonio National Park welcomes some 150,000 annual visitors, and is well-known for its hiking trails and picture perfect natural attractions.

Beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park

Costa Rica car rental travelers will find four magnificent beaches at the Manuel Antonio National Park: the Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondido, and Playita. The first beach is separate from the second by a tombolo, or a natural land bridge formed by san accumulations, and both the Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur contain popular snorkeling tidal pools. Costa Rica car rental travelers are welcome to swim in the beaches daily, however it is important to note that there are no lifeguards on duty. Please swim at your own risk as riptides are known to occur. Furthermore, Costa Rica car rental travelers are asked to vacate the waters before 4pm every day, on the basis that the incoming tide cuts off the park's exits and also allows the entry of crocodiles into the beach areas.

Meet the locals

Although Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest park in the nation, the diversity of wildlife is simply unparalleled. Inside the park's 6.83 square kilometers, Costa Rica car rental travelers can expect to find more than 109 different species of mammals and nearly 184 species of birds. Some mammals to keep an eye out for include the brown-throated three-toed sloth, the mantled howler monkey and the white-headed capuchin monkey. A number of lizard and snake species can also be spotted in the park, including the black spiny-tailed iguana, the common basilisk and the white-nosed coati. Included in the 184 bird species are toucans, potoos, motmots, tanagers and parakeets. Costa Rica car rental travelers can also see dolphins along the coast, as well as migrating whales. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and hiking provide visitors with plenty of opportunities to experience the tropical wildlife that enriches Manuel Antonio Park.

Getting to the park

Costa Rica car rental travelers can make their way to Manuel Antonio National Park in a variety of ways. If you'd prefer to drive, the trip will take about three and a half hours from San Jose, depending on the weather and the traffic. If you're going to drive, Avanti Costa Rica Car Rentals recommends renting a 4x4 vehicle as certain sections of the road can be difficult to traverse in a regular car. Direct flights are also available on Sansa Airlines; flights take just 20 minutes. The entrance fee to the Manuel Antonio National Park is US $10 per person. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free of charge. The park is open to the public at 7am; remember, all visitors are required to vacate the park at 4pm due to the tides. The park is closed on Mondays. If you're looking to escape the hubbub of San Jose, there's no better place to go than the Manuel Antonio National Park. Simply dig your feet into the sand and watch the waves crash into the lagoon. This is how nature intended Costa Rica to be.

For more information on the Manuel Antonio National Park, visit www.manuelantoniopark.com or contact a local travel agent for more details.