Discover Pacific Centre
Manuel Antonio is the best-known centre in Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast. Manuel Antonio is where tropical rainforest meets the dazzling white sand. Famous Playa Manuel Antonio is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, a perfect white-sand crescent half a mile long and bordered by deep green mangroves and palms.
Whilst Playa Manuel Antonio is accessed via the park entrance, neighbouring Playa Espadilla is a public beach, facing south west and bordering Manuel Antonio National Park. This This beautiful long sandy beach beach is rightly popular and is large enough to always have space. The east end is bounded by a river, beyond which access is restricted to National Park visitors. Be aware of crocodiles living in the rivers!
Manuel Antonio National Park was established in 1972 by Manuel Antonio Sánchez. The name has been extended to the small town that’s grown on the entrance of the park and in the hills above the Espadilla Beach. The National Park is an important wildlife refuge for the central Pacific coast. Whilst small, it’s a coastal haven and one of a handful of parks and reserves between the larger Santa Rosa National Park on the northern border and Corcovado National Park towards Costa Rica’s south. As in all of Costa Rica’s parks, there’s a huge variety of species to be spotted and for the best chance of seeing things, go with a guide.
Further south along the Pacific coast you’ll find Uvita. Quieter than Manuel Antonio and slightly off the beaten track, Uvita is becoming more popular thanks to its increasingly sought-after main attraction, Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. The marine reserve is famous for humpback whales and there’s chances to see them from mid-July to mid-November and then again from mid-December to early April. Marino Ballena National Park has a sand bar a kilometre long shaped like a whale tail, a result of converging currents. Not many tourists frequent these virtually abandoned wilderness beaches. Don’t miss a visit to the nearby waterfalls Cascada Verde and the Catarata Pavon where you can swim in the crystal clear waters.
Climate: Manuel Antonio has a steady average temperature of 27-28°C. The driest months are January to March; the wettest being May to November.
