Although it is
the country's smallest national park, the dazzling beauty
and diversity of wildlife in its 683 hectares is unmatched.
White sandy beaches are lined by an evergreen lush tropical
wet forest that grows right up to the high tide line.
The principal inhabitants are primary forest, secondary
forest, mangrove swamp, lagoons and beach vegetation.
There is quite a varied fauna with 109 species of mammals
including sloth, white faced monkeys ,squirrel monkeys
and 184 species of birds. Dolphins and migrating whales
can be observed at times from the beach.
This park is just south of Quepos on
the Pacific Coast, 132 km from San José.
Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer whose futile
search for the Fountain of Youth became his signature
expedition, is rarely acknowledged for one of his greatest
discoveries, Manuel Antonio, which he charted in 1519.
So abundant are the riches of Costa Rica's Central Pacific
coast, that he might have found his mythical fountain
if he had gone ashore and explored the region's wonders.
Manuel Antonio is the proper atmosphere for a great
vacation in paradise.
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