Costa Rica Manuel Antonio information
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Introduction
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| 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! |
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Manuel Antonio National Park |
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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
6
Hours
The 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.
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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. |
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Lodging and tours |
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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.
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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. |
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We highly recommend on Sea
Glass Spa for your spa treatments. We tried their
Hot Stone Combination massage package – there is
nothing better!
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Dinning |
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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! |
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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 |
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You can click
on the links and find out more information about
dinning
and shopping
in Manuel Antonio.
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Getting there |
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Driving directions |
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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.
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Bus
613 Quepos & Manuel Antonio
Express departures daily from San José, Terminal
Coca Cola, 6:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 6:00 p.m., 3 1/2 hours,
~$US 4.70, Transportes Morales, Telephone (506) 223-5567
Interbus also has daily departures from San José
and Liberia.
Air
There are daily flights from Juan Santamaría
to Quepos with Travelair ($US 100) or SANSA ($US 88).
Be sure to note the baggage restrictions and other recommendations,
especially if you are traveling with surfing or scuba
equipment. Transfers to your hotel in Manuel Antonio
can be arranged through the air carrier.
Make sure you checked our restaurant and shop area
and feel free to browse in our Manuel Antonio Hotels
section.
Remember, Mauel Antonio is a sure bet, give enough
time to explore the many beautiful hidden bays, enjoy
the adventure attractions and relax.
Have Fun!
You can click on the following link online
transportation to get more information about rates
and schedule, you can also reserve shuttle transportation
service by following the reservation process details
in our transportation page. |
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Enjoy...
Manuel Antonio
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Hotel Reservation
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Do
not hesitate to call us, it will be a pleasure serving
you!
Tel:+1.866.465.6202
/ +506.2643.2953
Fax: +506.2643.1356
During office
hours
Costa Rica
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