Casita Quetzal

Manuel Antonio National Park contains three beautiful beaches and casual and experienced rainforest trails teaming with animal life. In 2011, it was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most beautiful parks. Then we enjoy a dinner on a peninsula surrounded by water on both sides and howler monkeys. Below are details of each stop. The map below plots each stop so you can see in relation to the home. 

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Stop 1: Manuel Antonio National Park  

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We like to spend a day exploring, observing the monkeys and sloths that inhabit the park, and then take a dip in the beautiful palm tree lined peninsula beach before heading out of the park. There are 4 main trails once in the park, we recommend doing the sloth trail, and the trail to the main peninsula beach (to the right). The trail to the lookout is pretty, but it is very long and very steep trail. Not for those with heart conditions. Some may opt to hire a guide at the entrance who will show you all the wildlife hidden in plain sight and through their telescoping monocular. 

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Good to Know: ​

• Plan to get to the park early (by 9am) so you can ensure you will be admitted into the park. They can only allow so many people in a day. 

• There is private parking available near the entrance. Prices vary from ₡3.000 – ₡5.000 for the day, or if you can find on-street parking, it’s free. For all cases: Do not leave valuables in the car. 

• Inside the park are bathrooms, and a small store where you can get souvenirs, water, and ice cream. 

• There is great information about the park on their website. Please check it for the latest hours and entry fee. They are usually closed on Tuesdays and open from 7am to 4pm.  

 

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Stop 2: Lunch and then exploring at Marina Pez Vela 

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After working up an appetite hiking the park, we like to grab lunch on the main drag right next to the exit of the park. We like Marlin Restaurant and they have a patio on the second floor for an elevated view and some good people watching. 

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After a light lunch you will have some time to kill before heading to the dinner spot. We like to head back up the main road to the town of Quepos where the famous Marina Pez Vela is located. This is headquarters for many of the largest fishing tournaments in the world. The Marina has a commercial complex with neat boutiques and a few nice restaurants where we like to hang out and watch the boats. 

 

Stop 3: Dinner at La Parcela 

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After exploring the Marina, we like to head a little early to the dinner spot around 3:45pm. la Parcela is on the way back to Uvita and is an open air restaurant perched on a peninsula. Your view at dinner will be ocean on both sides of the restaurant with local fishing boats wading in the water. The food is great, and the best part is that the howler Monkeys will come out around 4pm in the canopy above the restaurant. This is a perfect place to watch the sunset before heading home. There is little trail next to the restaurant that take you to a look out point that is a perfect spot for pictures.  

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