Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio joins rainforest, beaches and Pacific islands
Published on 09/22/2026 at 06:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio occupies a compact stretch of Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast near Quepos. Tropical forest reaches the shoreline, where beaches, rocky headlands and small Pacific islands form one continuous protected landscape.
Established in 1972, the park combines terrestrial rainforest with a large marine area. Its paths pass capuchin monkeys, sloths, coatis, raccoons, iguanas and birds, while the coast includes Espadilla Sur, Manuel Antonio and Puerto Escondido beaches.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio: rainforest beside the Pacific
The park lies in Puntarenas Province, south of Quepos, on a coastline where forested hills meet the sea. The protected landscape includes humid tropical forest, mangroves, a lagoon and marine waters around offshore islands.
The land area covers 1,983 hectares, while the marine protection extends across 55,000 hectares. The contrast between shaded forest paths and open Pacific beaches defines the park’s physical character.
From 1972 national park to coastal conservation area
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio was established on 15 November 1972 through Costa Rica’s Law 5100. Its creation followed pressure from the local community, which opposed restrictions on public use of the beaches.
The park is associated with the Quepoa, an Indigenous community whose name also gave rise to Quepos. Conservation, environmental education and ecological tourism form part of the park’s public role, alongside protection of forest, coast and marine habitats.
Its biodiversity is recorded in substantial numbers: approximately 352 bird species, 109 mammal species and 346 plant species. The squirrel monkey Saimiri oerstedii citrinellus is associated with the Manuel Antonio area and is listed as threatened.
Beaches, islands and wildlife along the trails
Several named beaches shape the park’s coastal geography. Playa Manuel Antonio lies beside a forested headland, while Espadilla Sur and Puerto Escondido occupy other sections of the protected shore.
Punta Catedral is a forested coastal headland between beaches. Its paths include Pacific viewpoints and connect the park’s inland vegetation with the shoreline. The protected coast also includes 12 islands that provide habitat for marine birds.
Wildlife appears across the forest and its edges. White-faced capuchins, sloths, coatis, raccoons, iguanas and numerous bird species belong to the park’s recorded fauna. The animals share the landscape with mangroves, tropical trees and beach vegetation.
The park’s compact geography brings several ecosystems into a single area. A walk can move from forest shade to a beach, then towards a headland overlooking the Pacific. This meeting of land and sea gives Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio its distinctive form.
Visiting Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio lies south of Quepos in Puntarenas Province. Road transport from Quepos follows the coastal route towards Manuel Antonio.
- The paths include forest trails, beach approaches, headland routes and viewpoints. Punta Catedral includes inclines and steps across a rocky coastal landscape.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Costa Rican colĂłn.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
Searching for Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio on social platforms
These links open searches for Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Where is Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio?
It is on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast in Puntarenas Province, south of Quepos. The park includes forest, beaches, mangroves, a lagoon and marine waters.
What can visitors expect on a visit?
Visitors encounter forest paths, coastal viewpoints, beaches and wildlife habitats. The landscape includes capuchin monkeys, sloths, coatis, raccoons, iguanas and many birds.
What makes the park distinctive?
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio places tropical rainforest beside Pacific beaches and offshore islands. Its protected area combines terrestrial and marine environments within one coastal setting.
