Quepos is a city in Puntarenas Province,
Costa Rica. It is served by the Quepos-La
Managua airport. It is located at
around 9°26'60?N, 84°9'0?W.
It is home to approximately 14,000
people.
Quepos is a gateway to the Manuel
Antonio National Park. There are numerous
bars and restaurants in the city and
a vivacious nightlife. Located less
than 100 miles from San Jose, on the
Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica,
are the very popular towns of Manuel
Antonio and Quepos.
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. It is famous as
well for being a very gay friendly
and oriented area as well.
Beaches
Four beaches are contained within
the limits of the park: Manuel Antonio,
Espadilla Sur, Escondido, and Playita.
With their large light sand berms,
it is easy to see why they attract
beach goers of all ages. 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.
Similarly, tourists are ordered to
vacate the park before 16.00 every
day, on the basis that the incoming
tide cuts off the park's exit and
allows the entry of crocodiles into
the area.
Biodiversity
Although Manuel Antonio National Park
is Costa Rica's smallest national
park, the breath taking beauty and
diversity of wildlife in its 6.83
km² is unequaled. 109 species
of mammals and 184 of birds are present
in the park [1]. Both Three-toed and
Two-toed Sloths (perezosos) are a
major feature, as are the Mantled
Howler Monkey, Central American Squirrel
Monkey, and White-headed Capuchin
Monkey (feeding them is strictly prohibited).
Spiny-tailed Iguanas, Green Iguanas,
Basilisks, Coatis and many snake and
bat species are also common in the
park. Dolphins can be observed there,
as well as the occasional migrating
whale. Scuba diving, snorkeling, sea
kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking
provide great opportunities to experience
the tropical wildlife that enriches
Manuel Antonio, arguably one of the
country's most beautiful and protected
costal areas. |