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Manuel
Antonio National Park is located on the pacific coast
in the province of Puntarenas. It
is 157 km south of San Jose and 7
km
south of the town of Quepos.
The
park is a small biological island and draws nature lovers from around the world. Its
tropical rainforest is the habitat
for many species of
trees, flowers and plants and some of Costa Rica's favorite wildlife.
One
of its main attractions is Punta
de Catedral, which in the past was
an island but due to the accumulation of sediment,
it was joined to the mass of land
forming a sand zone. The park also
includes 12 little isles just off
the coast where a number of dolphins
can be observed.
The
park protects areas of primary forest,
secondary forest, mangrove swamps,
beach vegetation and marine life.
The
distinctive species of flora in
the primary forest are “guacimo
colorado”, “pilon”, “Maria cedar”,
“black guapinol” (endangered wood
tree), “lechoso”, “cenizaro” and
“ceiba”.
Three
types of mangrove “colorado, botoncillo
and mariquita” constitute the mangrove
that covers approximately 18 hectares.
 About
109 species of mammals can be found
including the raccoon,
sloth, white face monkey, howler
monkey and the Mono Titi monkey,
which is endangered due to the destruction
of its habitat.
There
are 184 types of birds such as the
toucan, pelican, sparrow, and many
others. It is possible to observe
iguanas, lizards, snakes, and a
large variety of insects.
The
park offers several trails,
varying from 1 to 4 km, that
you can take through the forest
and the beaches. We
recommend taking a guide the first
time to observe the habitat. Bring
your swimsuit to cool off at the
beaches on your own after hiking
the park.
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