The Manuel Antonio National Park p This is one of the most beautiful areas in the country

This is one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Manuel Antonio National Park and was designated as one by the efforts and interest of the people of Quepos. The National Park has 2 of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the country. It is a romantic place of incredible beauty surrounded by a lush rainforest which imitates paradise.

The Manuel Antonio National Park is a small biological oasis weighted down under the pressure of many and conflicting local enterprises such as: agriculture, livestock and a highly developed tourism. The humid tropical forest is home to many species of flora and fauna that are in danger of extinction.The wildlife is varied; 109 mammal species and 184 bird species have been observed. One mammal that is very interesting for its small distribution range and the fact that is threatened with extinction is the beautiful and amusing squirrel monkey, endemic to Costa Rica. Besides enjoying the sun and sea, there are good trails where you can see white-faced monkeys, sloths, coatimundis and other animals and birds.

At one time, much of this area was logged using a system called selective extraction to cut high quality lumber without clearcutting. Now, these areas of the forest are in a regeneration process.

The The Manuel Antonio National Park was established on November 15, 1972. Its area encompasses 687 hectares ( 1,700 acres ) of land mass and 55,000 hectares ( 135,905 ) of marine reserve. This region was once inhabited by the Quepos indians from which comes the name of the city of Quepos. With the arrival of Europeans, the region was converted into cultivated cropland which later was purchased by the United Fruit Company. The which constitutes the park today, was acquired by foreigners who prohibited local people entering. This precipitated the formation of a pro-national park commitee which convinced the municipal and national authorities to declare this area a national park.

The The Manuel Antonio National Park is located in a region of high precipitation and temperature. The average annual rainfall is 3,875 mm ( 151 inches ). The dry period is from January through March while the rainiest months are August through October. The average annual temperature is 27 C ( 81 F ) with a minimum of 20 C ( 68 F ). The The Manuel Antonio National Park is situated in a Humid Tropical Forest life zone. It protects primary and secondary forests, mangroves, beach vegetation and marine resources. <