Manuel Antonio National Park
and its beautiful Costa Rica beaches

Manuel Antonio National park is Costa Rica's most popular tourist attraction. It is located on the central Pacific coastline and includes an easily walkable park, with amenities, and pretty beaches.

There are four beaches. The exterior beach is named Espadilla and is generally crowded with tourists and street vendors. Playa Manuel Antonio is a pretty calm cove within the park and is easily reached.

Although the Costa Rica beaches are very pretty, this park is the most commercialized area in Costa Rica. The park only allows 600-800 people to enter daily because of its small size and the number of tourists. Secure parking is available all the way down the hill for 1/2 the price charged up the hill. Wave no when they try to park you up the hill. Manuel Antonio has decent nightlife and is a fun place to visit.

Theft is a concern on the beach (both monkey and human). The park entrance is at the south end of Espadilla across a small stream.

Although Playa Espadilla, the exterior beach in the Manuel Antonio park area, includes surf and riptides many kids frolic in the surf. Don't allow them to go to far out. This is a pretty area but includes overpriced hotels and a lot of commercialization.