Manuel Antonio National Park in Costa Rica

This wild area is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas. It is located about 157km south of the city of San Jose and 7km south of the town of Quepos, between Damas and Matapalo. It was established on November 15, 1972 with an area of 683 hectares on the land and 55,000 hectares at the marine area. The region where this national park is located was populated by Indians Quepoa, a name that gave rise to the city of Quepos. With the arrival of settlers, the land became a field of crops that were later acquired by the United Fruit Company.

The area that now forms the park was acquired by foreigners who prevented access to the locals, at the very moment that were being developed rural areas for tourism, however, the lack of planning and expansion threatened many natural sanctuaries . This situation causes the integration of a committee for the formation of a national park, which persuaded the local and national authorities for the declaration of these lands, by decree, a biological protected area.

Manuel Antonio is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Costa Rica, although is among the smaller national parks, is also among the most visited, thanks to its easy access and diversity in ecosystems. Manuel Antonio National Park is located in a zone of very wet tropical forest life. It protect patches of primary forest, secondary forest, mangrove, beach vegetation, marine environments, islands and a lagoon of 14 hectares. The most characteristic species of flora within the primary forest are the Guácimo colorado, the Pilon, the Cedro Maria, the white guapinol, the sura, the black guapinol a timber tree in danger of extintion, the Lechoso, the Cenízaro and the Ceiba.

The mangrove covering approximately 18 hectares consists of three species, red mangrove, white mangrove and black mangrove. Among the vegetation on the beach highlights the Manzanillo, a tree that has a milky substance and poisonous fruits, the almond, the savanna oak and coconuts.

Among the most outstanding wildlife, we can found the raccoon, the pizote (coatimundis), the guatuza, the sloth of two fingers, the white face monkey, cats of considerable size and the monkey marmosets, a sub specie endemic to the park, which is in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction and their use as a pet. In the area is frequent to observe species of birds such as the tucancillo, the pelican or “buchón”, the Guaco, the fisherman hawk, the green kingfisher and the chirin coca. It is possible to see iguanas, snakes and countless insects. There is also a very rich marine life as eels, manta rays, angel fish, sea urchins and sea stars.