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Location: between Espadilla Sur and Gemelas beaches in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio Beach entrance GPS Coordinates: 9.391385,-84.149654 (9°23’28.98″N, 84°08’58.75″W)
Manuel Antonio Beach GPS Coordinates: 9.381940,-84.143948 (9°22’54.98″N, 84°08’38.21″W)
District: Quepos, canton: Aguirre, province: Puntarenas.
Zone postal code: 60601.
Manuel Antonio Beach Costa Rica is a beautiful and idyllic white sanded beach with crystal clear turquoise waters and a small coral reef, surrounded by thick forested green hills and fascinating jungle blended with a network of trails and a welcoming and abundant wildlife, located within the Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Manuel Antonio Beach is separated from Playa Espadilla Sur by a tombolo, a natural land bridge formed over the years through the accumulation of sand, and both, Espadilla Sur and Manuel Antonio Beach, offer tidal pools brimming with minnows and crayfish, so diving is a very good option, especially during the dry season from early December until late April, when the water is clearer.
Manuel Antonio Beach also offers a variety of activities to do, such as hiking the trails of the park, whitewater rafting, ocean cruising, horseback riding, fishing, sea kayaking, just to name but a few. And the volcanic-sedimentary cliffs rise steeply from the shoreline, providing scenic views and hiking trails.
Manuel Antonio Beach is definitely one of the most exuberant places in Costa Rica, with spectacular forests that host a wealth of wildlife, including all four species of monkeys – Howler, Spider, Capuchin and Squirrel or Titi, Two and Three-toed Sloths, coaties, raccoons, marmosets, ocelots, toed anteaters, pacas, iguanas, millions of colorful little crabs and also Olive Ridley and Green turtles occasionally come ashore at Manuel Antonio Beach. Additionally, over 350 species of birds have been recorded, such as sea birds, Toucans and Scarlet Macaws.
However, be careful with the Capuchin Monkeys, who will steal food and anything else that they can get in their hands. Even though it is illegal to feed the monkeys, insensitive people still do it. Note that if you’re caught, you may, quite rightly, be ejected from the park. Recent studies have found a worrisome increase in heart disease and heart failure among the local monkey population. Unfortunately, the animals are much more prone to rises in cholesterol than humans, so please do not leave food lying around.
In the other hand, the popularity of Manuel Antonio has brought its own difficulties. With over 150,000 visitors a year comes the problem of overuse, so it was decided to close the park, which is the same entrance to Manuel Antonio Beach, on Mondays and limit the number to 600 a day. It is essential, therefore, to arrive early, before the quota has been reached.
Manuel Antonio Beach has bathrooms and showers, but do not have any type of accommodations or restaurants and no camping is allowed, but there are a lot of hotels in the vicinity to suit all pockets.
Getting to Manuel Antonio Beach in Aguirre, Puntarenas:
From San José
Drive north towards Puntarenas on route #27. Take the Pozón exit (to Jaco), and continue for about 100 km (63 miles), passing over the Tarcoles river and the towns of Jaco, Hermosa, Esterillos and Parrita, taking the Quepos exit, just after Parrita. Follow the road until you reach the town of Quepos, and then turn left following the signs to Manuel Antonio National Park through the mountain for about 6.5 km (4 miles) until you reach Manuel Antonio National Park. You need to pay the park’s entrance fee, as Manuel Antonio beach is inside. This route requires a total of 3 hour from San Jose.
From Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR)
Drive to the northeast towards Liberia. Once in Liberia, continue along the same highway to Puntarenas for about 120 km (75 miles). Once at the entrance to Puntarenas, continue on route #27 to San Jose for about 25 km (15 miles) until you reach the exit to Pozon and Jaco, take it and continue for about 100 km (63 miles), passing over the Tarcoles river and the towns of Jaco, Hermosa, Esterillos and Parrita, taking the Quepos exit, just after Parrita. Follow the road until you reach the town of Quepos, and then turn left following the signs to Manuel Antonio National Park through the mountain for about 6.5 km (4 miles) until you reach Manuel Antonio National Park. You need to pay the park’s entrance fee, as Manuel Antonio beach is inside. This route requires a total of 4.5 hours.
By bus
You can take a bus from the route San José – Quepos / Manuel Antonio (Transportes Morales, 2221-4214 / 2777-0318), making the stop at Manuel Antonio National Park, which takes about 4 hours. From here, you need to enter to Manuel Antonio National Park, and you need to pay the park’s entrance fee, as Manuel Antonio beach is inside.
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