MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
COSTA RICA
LOCALE
| Area (ha): | 683 |
| # Species: | 437 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 437 |
| # Endemics: | 2 |
| # Near Endemics: | 16 |
| Species/100 ha: | 64.0 |
| Habitat: Primary & secondary forest, shoreline | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest and possibly most visited national park in Costa Rica. The primary attraction is the 4 sandy beaches along the the Pacific coastline. The main trail through the park is a 1.3 mile flat, sandy path that links the beachs together and passes by some mangrove swamps. Away from the beaches is primary rainforest traversed by several trails where birding and bird photography can be rewarding. Because the park attracts many visitors, the best time to visit is early morning or on week-days.
The park is home to a variety of specialty birds restricted to southwestern and southern Costa Rica, notably Charming Hummingbird, Baird's Trogon, Fiery-billed Aracari, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Orange-collared Manakin, and Riverside Wren. A number of marine birds can also be seen along the shoreline, including Brown Booby. The park is also home to all 4 species of primates found in Costa Rica, White-faced Capuchin Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Black-handed Spider Monkey, and Black-mantled Howler Monkey.
LOCATION OF SITE
Manuel Antonio National Park can be reached by taking highway 3 from Alajuela and then the coastal highway through Jaco to Quepos, about a 4 hour drive. It can also be reached by taking that less traveled rather mountainous highway 239 directly to Parrita and then on to Quepos, a shorter but less maintained road that that takes about 3 hours from Alajuela.