Manuel Antonio National Park

With the establishment of Manuel Antonio National Park in 1972, the people of Costa Rica decided to preserve, for future generations, one of the most beautiful and bio-diverse areas in the world. Although it is the country's smallest national park, the stunning beauty and diversity of wildlife in its area is unequaled.

The park is only a short walk away from the Villa Roca Hotel. Visiting the park, one is treated to an abundant diversity of wildlife. Cathedral Point, with its forest topped cliffs was once an island, but a deposit of sand built up over thousands of years and eventually connected it with the mainland. A walking trail leads through the dense rainforest to the top of this point, which offers stunning views down the 300 foot vertical cliffs to the ocean.

This land bridge now forms the spine separating the parks two most popular beaches, Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio. The southern facing beach, Playa Manuel Antonio, is a picturesque half mile long, with a white sand crescent bisecting deep green foliage to one side and a private, secluded cove to the other.

Standing with your feet dug into the sand, watching the waves crash against the rocks on either side of the lagoon, it is easy to believe that you are a thousand miles from anywhere.

A looping trail through the park takes about one hour to complete and leads by three pristine beaches. Snorkeling here is among the best in Costa Rica. The waters are calm and perfect for swimming. You are sure to see monkeys, birds, butterflies and bizarre insects along the route. It’s a biologists dream and a must see while in the area.

It is one of the few remaining areas in which the squirrel monkey is found. The trails pass through secondary forest and primary forest, dominated by cedar and balsa and mangrove swamps. The beaches are fringed with coconut palm, as befits a tropical paradise.

Within this relatively small corner of Costa Rica, tourists can find the excitement and adventure in the tropical forest, surrounded by one of the country’s most beautiful natural environments, without sacrificing life’s modern conveniences. There’s a certain magic to Manuel Antonio that is hard to explain. One thing, however, is absolutely certain: once you’ve been here you’ll want to come back again and again!

- Climate: Tropical
- Mammal Species: 185+
- Bird Species: 224
- Fish Species: 60+
- Turtle Species: 4
- Hours: 7 am-4 pm (closed Monday)
- Services available: Restrooms, showers, drinkable water, information desk and picnic areas

With one of the most stunning, picture-postcard backdrops in the country, this is one of the lushest places in Costa Rica, with spectacular white-grey sand beaches fringed by thickly forested green hills. There is a huge variety of things to do- walking the Park's easy trails, whitewater rafting, ocean cruising, horseback riding, fishing, sea kayaking, to name but a few.

Free Guided tours are available.

*park is closed on Mondays