Manuel Antonio National Park

Post by GuillermoG

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Manuel Antonio National Park is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas, some 157 km to the south of San José and just short of 7 km from the village of Quepos.

Created in 1972, the park encompasses an area of 682 land hectares and an area of 55,000 sea hectares.

Manuel Antonio National Park is a biological reserve, although it is currently under a lot of pressure from different human activities surrounding it, like the old and unplanned touristic development, and the local agriculture and cattle farming. Thus the importance of the park’s conservation.

It is one of the parks most frequented by domestic and foreign tourists, and is home to one of the greatest scenic beauties of the country: a tropical humid forest, where species of flora and fauna in danger of extinction live, for example the Tití monkey.

Situated in a region of high precipitation and high temperatures, it protects old-growth forests, mangrove swamps, beach vegetation and marine environments. The most characteristic flora within the old-growth forest are the guacimo, pilon tree, cedars, black guapinols (a timber-yielding tree in danger of extinction), sura, saltbushes, and Kapok tree. In the secondary forest, which comprises old places of cultivation and shepherding, the most common species are the balsa tree, monkeycomb tree, trumpet tree, white Capulin cherry tree, and the garocho. The mangrove swamp, which covers more than 18 hectares, is comprised of red mangroves, botoncillo flowers, and ladybirds. Among the beach flora, following trees stand out: chamomile (which produces a milky substance and poisonous fruit), almond, savannah oak, and countless coconut palms.

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The animal life is diverse, and slightly more than 100 species of mammals and 180 species of birds have been identified. There are, among the most noteworthy, the raccoon, the coati, the agouti, the two-toed sloth, the white-faced monkey, congo monkey, and the tití monkey (an endemic species to the park and which is in danger of extinction due to the destruction of its habitat and its use as a pet). All those without leaving behind of course, the iguanas, snakes, and countless insects.

Of the birds, it is very common to observe species like pelicans, fishing sparrowhawks, countless toucans, Martin green fishers, and jacanas. The most common are: seagulls, buchones, guacos, and turkey vultures. Paradise for family trips, honeymoons, or adventure tourism, the tourist can enjoy hours of diving that leave an impression to last a lifetime, sea kayaking, sailing at sunset or whitewater rafting, horseback riding, the canopy of the great trees of the forest, among many other possibilities.

Blogalaxia Tags: Costa Rica, National Park, Photos, Tourism, Nature, Manuel Antonio