Manuel Antonio National Park is often considered the crown jewel of Costa Rica's world-renowned system of protected areas. It is the country's smallest and most-visited national park, a place where lush tropical forests meet pristine white-sand beaches, where the crashing of the waves mingles with the chattering of monkeys and colorful birds. Picturesque rocky islands rise up from the blue water, while iridescent fish and other marine creatures decorate coral reefs beneath the ocean's surface.

Location: The park is located along Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast, in the province of Puntarenas, about 157 kilometers (97.6 miles) south of San José, 7 kilometers (4.4 miles) south of the port town of Quepos.

Size: 682.7 hectares / 1,687 acres

Marine extension: 55,000 hectares / 135,905 acres

Created: November 15, 1972

Manuel Antonio National Park protects one of the most scenic coastal areas of the country, as evidenced by the fact that it receives more national and international visitors than any other protected area in Costa Rica. Three beautiful beaches are protected within the park; and all of them are great for swimming and snorkeling.

The park protects primary and secondary tropical humid forests, inhabited by endangered species of flora and fauna, such as the squirrel monkey, mangrove forests, beach vegetation and marine environments. The region receives abundant rainfall, an average of 3.9 meters (12.8 feet) annually.

One of the most outstanding geological features in the park is Cathedral Point. The rocky point was an island sometime in the distant past, and was joined to the mainland by thousands of years of shifting tides and accumulated sands in a rare process known as a tombolo. Other interesting features include Serrucho Point, a deeply eroded cliff that looks like a saw and is dotted with sea caves, and a blow-hole in the rocks at Escondido Harbor, which is most impressive when the tide comes in.

Common species of plants in the park's primary forests include cotonron, bully tree, Santa Maria, locust, black locust (a tree used for lumber that is in danger of extinction), nargusta, cow tree, silk cotton, raintree and kapok. In the secondary forests, which covers old farm and pasture lands, the most commonly observed species are balsa trees, monkey's comb, trumpet trees, bastard cedar, capulin and swizzle-stick tree. The mangrove forests cover approximately 18 hectares (44.5 acres) and contain three species of mangrove trees: red mangrove, button wood mangrove and white mangrove. Beach vegetation characteristic of the park includes manzanillo, a tree that has poisonous sap and fruit, beach almonds, savanna oaks and coconut palms.

The park is home to 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds. Among the most commonly seen mammals are raccoons, white-nosed coati, agouti, two-toed and three-toed sloths, tree squirrels and white-faced capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys. The latter species is endemic to the park and is highly endangered, mainly because of habitat destruction and poaching. Frequently seen birds include the emerald toucanet, brown pelican, laughing falcon, black-collared hawk, green-backed heron and northern jacana. Visitors are also likely to see iguanas, Ctenosaur lizards, snakes and numerous butterflies and other insects.

On the western tip of Manuel Antonio Beach at low tide, visitors can observe a pre-Colombian underwater turtle trap, built hundreds of years ago by the Queipo Indians of the region.

Dolphins and migratory whales can sometimes be seen off the coast of Manuel Antonio. The park's protected waters shelter a diverse variety of marina creatures: at least 78 species of fish, 24 of crustacean, 19 of coral, 17 of algae and 10 species of sponge. One of the most striking and abundant species of crab in the park is the brilliant mouthless crab, with a light-blue shell, red legs and strong bright yellow claws.

Manuel Antonio National Park is a small biological island in the midst of lands devoted to agriculture, cattle farming and massive tourism development. Park Service administration at Manuel Antonio includes various programs to increase environmental awareness in the community, enforce conservation laws inside the park and advise the local government on conservation-oriented planning and development.

The park is closed to visitors on Mondays.

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