Travel Goals

1. Climb to Everest Base Camp.
2. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
3. Learn to Scuba Dive.
4. Visit every continent.
5. See the Galapagos Islands.
6. Sail down the Amazon River.
7. Climb Ayer's Rock.
8. Ride the Trans-Siberian.
9. Go into space.
10. Go wild at La Tomintina.
11. See the sunrise from Mt. Fuji.
12. Gaze at Borobudor.
13. Visit the Pyramids
14. Safari in East Africa.
15. Go to the World Cup!
16. See Machu Picchu.
17. Join the Century Club.
18. Visit Antarctica.
19. Do development work.
20. See Petra Jordan.
21. Backpack the Eastern Block.
22. See the Northern Lights.
23. Vegas Baby! Vegas!
24. Greek Island hop.
25. Cycle Tuscany.
26. Visit India.
27. Lounge in the Seychelles.
28. See Morocco.
29. Oktoberfest!
30. Caravan across the Sahara.
31. Visit Tibet.
32. Fly first class.
33. Go to Israel.
34. Carnival!!!!
35. Mardi Gras!
36. Cannes Film Festival.
37. Sundance Film Festival.
38. Eat a sushi meal at NOBU
39. Pacific Island hop.
40. Spend a night in the Ice Hotel.
41. See Glacier National Park.

Book Your Travel Here!!

Manuel Antonio is located on Costa Rica’s west coast and draws in tourists with its beaches, bars, and monkey filled national park.

Though just a little beach resort, Manuel Antonio has grown steadily more touristy over the years. Much of the reason for that is that the city sits next to Manual Antonio National Park. This national park, which help keeps development down because of zoning laws, is also the real reason to come here. The town just south of the city of Quepos, a little dusty town that sees a lot of tourist spillage from Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio is mostly hotels, bars, tour agency, and restaurants. It’s also famous for being a gay friendly area. As Costa Rica becomes a popular retirement destination, Manuel Antonio’s popularity with the retirement set has also increased. Luckily, this area has been spared the gross over development that places like Tamarindo or Jaco have seen.

Manuel Antonio National park sits right on the ocean and is teeming with national wonders. It was established in 1972 and see about 150,000 visitors annually. Here you can find lush tropical forest, three types of monkeys, land crabs, dolphins, and plenty of sea life. The monkeys are all over the park and you are bound to come across at least one type of species. I was lucky to get to see all three. The howls of the howler monkey constantly fill the air and land crabs scurry away as you stomp down on the ground. During low tide, remains of an ancient turtle trap can be seen. It’s a truly stunning and wonderful place and it’s just teaming with beauty. Work up a sweat with a few hikes and head back to the beach for a relaxing mid day swim.

Be careful with coming back. High tide covers the walkway with water and crocs come down to play from an adjoining river. It’s not that safe to go through when the tide is very high. Luckily, for a few colones, a local will take you across on his boat.

After a long day in the park, pull up a chair and watch the sunset while you sip on a nice tropical drink. There’s no better way to end your day by looking at this:

13 Responses to “The Saturday City: Manuel Antonio”

1. Priyank on August 30th, 2008 1:38 pm

   Nature is so beautiful, the last picture is perfect. So many old people are moving to Costa Rica these days that the retirement costs there are rising.

2. Christine Gilbert on August 30th, 2008 2:43 pm

   I love monkeys, I want to go! That must have been so fun.

   And now you are in boring Thailand and all that crappy thai food and mean thai people. Oh wait, that’s right, thailand is awesome and I hate you.

   Ok I can’t complain too much, but I am jealous, just a little.

3. Trotter on August 30th, 2008 4:59 pm

   Hi ! First of all many thanks for your comment on my post of 08.08.08 at 08h08 at Blogtrotter, now in Kos, Greece! It was great to read you there. Second, sorry for the long delay to come here, but August was a terribly busy month, as everybody else seems to be in vacation…
   Anyhow, I found sometime now to land here and enjoy your blog. Loved to see the Paris posts; Paris in August must be wonderful… not a single Parisian there, but full of Americans & others… There is even Paris Plage… ;)))
   Great blues on this post!
   Wish you a great weekend!

4. Stevo on August 30th, 2008 11:30 pm

   I don’t like monkeys, I will give this a wide berth. Unless the local restaurants serve the monkeys. It has always been a dream of mine to eat one of those simian beasts.

   That last photo is stunning.

5. domina on August 31st, 2008 1:49 am

   I have been to Manuel Antonio and loved it. I stayed at a hotel right on the beach and took a bus up to into the rain forest to do some repelling and zip lining.! I hated Quepos though, Which was a town I almost booked my whole trip around, not knowing what it was all about. My first lesson in traveling, dont book anything in advance!!

6. yoshke on August 31st, 2008 5:47 am

   wow, great pics.

   I dont know much about Costa Rica, so it’s nice to see what the country has to offer.

7. lakshmi on August 31st, 2008 8:56 am

   This is a country Ive been to with a coffee delegation years ago..but we went mainly to coffee plantations

8. Sara on August 31st, 2008 3:37 pm

   I love Costa Rica…and MA Park is fabulous. I especially love the howler monkeys This was our first stop in Costa Rica - and it was the perfect place to begin our trip.

   PS: I love your last photo!

9. Julie on August 31st, 2008 4:29 pm

   I was in M.A. about 15 years ago… back then, the beach and park was largely undiscovered by tourists. I understand that it’s now overrun with tourists.

10. Christy on August 31st, 2008 10:01 pm

    Yes. Given some love to Latin America.

11. Erica on September 1st, 2008 2:39 pm

    If I ever travel to Costa Rica, I’m gonna visit Manuel Antonio.

    Stevo, I don’t like your comment! How is it possible to not like monkeys?

    I agree about the photo though, amazing shot!

12. Theresa on September 1st, 2008 7:22 pm

    Do the monkeys throw things at you? I like monkeys except for that little behavior quirk. Actually, I like monkeys from a distance. I like to keep them and, really, all animals including dogs, cats, and other household pets at arm’s length (or farther).

13. NewWrldYankee on September 15th, 2008 7:49 pm

    A good friend of mine went to Costa Rica with the Peace Corp, and she said the same thing about monkies - I guess they are abound! Did you take all of these shots, btw? Stunning!!

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