Costa Rica has almost 70 National Parks and Protected Areas and, of all these, Manuel Antonio is one of the smallest but most popular. It's worth the 4-hour bus ride from busy, bustling San Jose to stand barefoot in the soft white sand and breathe in the warm Pacific air...to try and spot the 180 different species of bird, or the various sloths, monkeys and armadillos that may cross your path...to follow one of the park trails through lush tropical rainforest...or to simply sit down with a freshly squeezed juice and admire the amazing views. This area of some 700 hectares seems to epitomise everything people flock to wild and beautiful Costa Rica to see. This is really a place you go to get away from it all and just immerse yourself in breathtaking natural surroundings.
