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La Riviera Hotel
Belen, Costa Rica
Reservations phone:
(506) 2293 0909
How to Get
fax:
(506) 2293 2582
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Manuel Antonio National
Park
Manuel Antonio National Park contains several short
trails , all of which are easily accessible and well
maintained; most trails are either sand, or cement.
These trails provide the best opportunity in Costa
Rica to see both white-faced and squirrel monkeys.
The trails tend to follow the coastline, supplying
beautiful views and easy access to the white sand
beaches. Some of Costa Rica's most beautiful white
sand beaches, in particular Playa Espadilla Sur and
Playa Manuel Antonio are located in Manuel Antonio
National Park. One particular trail, the Punta Cathedral,
heads up to the tip of the point providing beautiful
vistas of the ocean and islands which are situtated
of the rugged coastline. This particular trail, while
not very demanding, has a short quick incline to the
top of the peninsula.
In
addition, Manuel Antonio includes 12 islands located
a short distance from shore. Most of them lack vegetation
and serve as excellent seabird sanctuaries; they are
an especially important nesting site for the brown
booby. The pacific waters contain numerous dolphins
and, at times, migrating whales are sighted. There
is a wide range of marine flora and fauna. So far,
10 species of sponge, 19 corals, 24 crustaceans, 17
algaes and 78 fish species have been identified.
The
parks flora and fauna is impressive, with the dominant
trees being the black locust, balsa, monkey comb,
bastard cedar and mayflower. Some 109 mammals species,
inlcuding two-toed sloths, raccoons, white-nosed coatis,
and all three species of monkey, and 184 species of
birds have been spotted within the park. Of particular
interest is the beautiful and delightful squirrel
monkey, an endangered species now restricted to a
very small territory in Costa Rica.
Special
Considerations
Just outside the park, several local vendors offer
a wide range of activities, i.e. scuba diving, kayaking,
surfing and more. In addition, rafting, dolphin and
sailing excursions can all be booked through local
travel agencies, or by your hotel. Short day trips
to Caño Island are available, which is popular
for those interested in scuba diving. Several eateries,
bars, souvenir shops and fruit stands are also situated
along the beachfront. One could easily go to the beach
for the day and not need to return to the hotel room
until the day is over.
How
To Get There
Perhaps the most frequently visited beach in Costa
Rica, Manuel Antonio is just miles from the small
port town of Quepos. Buses between Quepos and Manuel
Antonio National Park run throughout the day, covering
the 8 km distance. Taxis are available and usually
charge by the distance, not by the number of passengers.
Therefore, it is much more economical to share the
taxi with other passengers. Walking to the park from
Quepos, or visa versa, is challenging, as there are
several steep climbs, not to mention the tropical
sun and heat.
Direct
public buses depart daily from San Jose to and from
Manuel Antonio / Quepos. Depending on the time of
season, additional buses returning from Quepos / Manuel
Antonio depart on weekends.
Sansa
and Travel Air both have daily flights between San
Jose and Manueal Antonio/Quepos. The flight takes
approximately 20 minutes and provides spectacular
views of the mountain range separating the Manuela
Antonio area and the central valley. Sansa offers
a shuttle to and from your hotel to the airport for
a minimal fee. A similar service can be arranged by
Travel Air, however, the costs tend to be a bit higher. |
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