Manuel Antonio National Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Manuel Antonio National Park | |
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| IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
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| Location: | Costa Rica |
| Nearest city: | Quepos |
| Area: | 4,014 acres (16.24 km²) |
| Established: | 1972 |
| Governing body: | National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) |
Manuel Antonio National Park, in Spanish the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, is a small National Park in the Central Pacific Conservation Area located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just south of the city of Quepos, Puntarenas, and 132 km from the national capital of San José. Established in 1972 with an area enumerating 4,014 acres (16.24 km²) (the smallest of any Costa Rican national park), it is the destination of as many as 150,000 visitors annually and well-known for its beautiful beaches and hiking trails.
[edit] Beaches
Four beaches are contained within the limits of the park: Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Escondido, and Playita. The first is separated from the second by a "tombolo", or natural land bridge formed by sand accumulations. Visitors may enjoy a roughly hour-long hike from Espadilla to the top of Punta Catedral (100 m). Both Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur contain tidal pools and offer the possibility of snorkeling. There are good chances that while hiking you will see monkeys and other animals but please do not feed the animals especially the monkeys, as there have been problems with this in the past.
There are no lifeguards and precaution must be taken, as riptides occur.
[edit] Biodiversity
Although Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica's smallest national park, the breath taking beauty and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unequaled. 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds are present in the park [1]. Sloths (perezosos) are a major feature, as are the Howler Monkey, Central American Squirrel Monkey, and Capuchin Monkey (feeding them is strictly prohibited). Dolphins can be observed there, as well as the occasional migrating whale.
[edit] External links
- Surfing In Manuel Antonio Photo Gallery
- Manuel Antonio Park Photo Gallery
- National Parks of Costa Rica, accessed 3 November 2005.
- Manuel Antonio National Park at Costa Rica National Parks
- Manuel Antonio Visitor Info Pictures of Manuel Antonio Park and Beach
- ASCOMOTIASCOMOTI Foundation for Preservation of the Central American Squirrel Monkey (mono titi)
- Manuel Antonio Beach Beautiful beaches of Manuel Antonio
 A monkey in the park |
 A panorama of another beach in the National Park |
 A White-Headed Capuchin at a beach in the park |
