Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Youcanbedrivingalongawindingroadandspotahuge,iridescent, turquoiseMorpho
butterfly just a few feet in front of your car. He mysteriously follows the same twists and
turns of the road forcing you to slow down and allow him to lead the way. It just as well be-
cause you just can't help but watch this awesomely gorgeous miracle of nature for as long
as you possibly can.
Or you can be sitting by a swimming pool at a local hotel or vacation rental home and
suddenly a Jesus Christ Lizard (green basilisk) will defy gravity by running upright across
the surface of the pool.
Or you can be sound asleep at 4:30 A.M. and wake up to the reveille vocalizations
of howlers, the loudest monkey in the world. Manuel Antonio also has capuchin and en-
dangered red-backed squirrel monkeys to add to its enchantment. You'll hear locals refer
to these monkeys by their local Spanish names, “congos,” “cara blancas” and “mono titis”
respectively.
Manuel Antonio National Park is the jewel in the crown, which explains the abundant
wildlife. In the 70's the Costa Rican government legally defined the borders of the national
park — but no one told the monkeys who didn't bother to tell the sloths, iguanas and in-
finite variety of birds. You'll likely find wildlife in most parts of Manuel Antonio, whether
you stay in a hotel or a vacation rental home. Forbes Magazine rated Manuel Antonio Na-
