Manuel Antonio is a national park, located on the mid-Pacific coast, close to the town of Quepos. The park is open daily, except on Mondays, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is one of the most popular national parks in Costa Rica. It’s advisable to plan your visit early in the day. Entrance to the park costs US$10 and you can hire a guide to show you around.

Before reading about what you can do in Manuel Antonio, make sure to also read about the Things to do in Quepos , as this is where you’ll most likely be looking for accommodation.

Here is a list of some of the things to do while visiting Manuel Antonio

Spend some time at the beach

There are quite a lot of beaches within the national park where you can spend your time but Playa Manuel Antonio is ,by far, the best within the park The waves are gentle and the current is not strong. You can spend some time soaking up the sun or enjoying a picnic after you’ve hiked in the jungle. Just make sure that someone is guarding the backpack all the time as the coatimundi really like to try to get to any food you might carry.

Hike in the jungle

There are four short trails (1-3 km) which can be tackled easily by anyone. Just make sure you wear comfortable and appropriate shoes.

Take a wildlife watching tour

Such tours cost from US$20 per person and the guide will tell you more about the animals you spot.

However, it is possible to see the animals on your own. The Capuchine Monkeys are known to move fast from one place to another , while the arboreal porcupines are high in the palm trees (use the zoom option for best photos). You may even spot some iguanas in some logs near the beaches.

Try some water sports

You can book an adventure trip and enjoy whitewater rafting on Rio Savegre or Rio Naranjo. Or if you’d rather stay away from the extreme sports, try snorkeling or sea kayaking.

Take a horse ride on the beach…or mountain

Horse riding on the beach can be a lovely, romantic way to explore the nature. While riding a horse on a mountain gives the opportunity to see views you might have not experienced otherwise.
There is a ranch located about 40 km from the park where you can book such tours. You don’t even need to have riding experience to try this.

A day at the spa

There are quite a lot of spas to choose from , all located close to the National Park. After a day exploring the park, you can invest some money for you own pleasure and relaxation.

Learn to surf

Kids and adults alike will have a lot of fun learning to surf. There are several companies which offer surf lessons.

Sport fishing

If you like to spend your time waiting for a fish to bite, then the park is a perfect place to nail a marlin or a sailfish. There are tour companies which offer sport fishing options.

Sunset Sail

There are companies which offer the possibility of sailing at sunset. The boat makes a stop along the way and you can swim or snorkel in the calm waters. The sunset sail also includes dinner. So you can easily turn this activity into a romantic escape with your loved one. Such a sunset cruise costs US$75 for an adult.

Ziplining in the rainforest

There are four companies which offer such activities. For example, Canopy Safari’s adventure includes 17 platforms, 19 zip lines and 3 rappels. The 5 hour safari costs US$75 for both adults and children. A meal is included in the price. Along the safari you’ll be able to spot different tropical birds, plants and flowers. A visit to the butterfly farm and serpentarium are also included in the price.

Photo credits:Playa Manuel Antonio , Wildlife , Horse ride on the beach , Surf lesson , Zip line

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Manuel Antonio

Want to really get to see Costa Rica? If you go to Jaco and spend a bunch of time with a lot of other tourists who spend their time enjoying the city’s club scene, you may leave and realize that you never truly caught a glimpse of the untamed wilderness of Costa Rica’s “pura vida.” There are many ways that you can really get to see the unspoilt beauty of Costa Rica, but one of the best is to take a Marlin Del Rey Sailing Sunset Tour in Tamarindo.

What to Expect

Marlin Del Rey Sailing Tours have an impeccable reputation for excellence. You have been on those cheap dolphin tours where the boat is old and you never see anything too exciting. Marlin Del Rey Tours blow these chintzy tours out of the water. On the five hour long tour, you will pass miles and miles of beach with literally no signs of civilization! Talk about really getting away from it all!

Marlin Del Rey Sailing Sunset Tours leave every day at 1:30PM from Playa Tamarindo Costa Rica. The boat that you go in is incredible! It is 66 feet long, and can travel farther and faster than any other boat in all of Central America. This sailing catamaran can reaching speeds of up to 25 knots, and is so large that even with 25 other passengers, you still feel like you have the place to yourself.

The tour takes you past mile after mile of gorgeous beaches and tropical rain forests. It is common for passengers see troops of monkeys from the boat. Then, at one point, the catamaran stops at a serene bay, in which you can get out and swim around. The black sand beach you stop at is incredible, and there is a palatial private house just up the beach which is the only house you will see the whole trip. At this bay, you can decide to kayak through sea caves, snorkel in the bay, or play on the beach. This beach also features a reef, so the snorkeling is actually really good.

While you play, the Marlin Del Rey staff gets a feast of feast of fresh fruit, chips, dip, ceviche and salads ready. The thing that you should know about the Marlin Del Rey Sailing Tours is that they have an unmatched reputation for incredible customer service. If you search through reviews, you find nothing but accounts of people who rave about how far the Marlin Del Rey staff will go out of their way to make your trip great. In addition to lunch, you can also get as many homemade smoothies and drinks as you want at any point in the trip for no additional charge. The kayaks and snorkel equipment also does not cost extra.

While you sail, it is common to be able to see dolphin, flying fish, rays, and sea turtles. If you come in the fall, there is also a good chance that you will get to see whales. Finally, at the end of the trip, you get to watch the sun go down over the Pacific. The tours are all around a wonderful experience!

Tips for Visiting

If you are planning on booking a sunse tour with Marlin Del Rey Sailing, you should know in advance that the trip costs $75.00 each person. This price is probably considerably higher than you would think it would be, and may even put you off from going. But you have to consider what you are getting. Endless drinks, delicious food, free equipment, a trip to a deserted beach and reef, over five hours of sailing, and the most helpful staff that you could imagine.

Marlin Del Rey Sailing Sunset Tours are a great way to really relax, soak up the sun, and really experience the untouched beauty of Costa Rica!

Original article can be found here: Marlin Del Rey Sailing Tours

Mal Pais is a really small, but really cool place to visit. It is kind of a secret spot that only those in the surfing community really know about. Combine the lack of tourist information about there are with how hard it is to get there and you are blessed with a small town that is pretty unspoiled by modern development. Aside from the wealth of surf shops, everything here is pretty “local.” There are only a few places to eat, one club, and a handful of accommodations. There are however, plenty of things to do in the area, here are some of the most popular things to do.

Canopy and Zip Line Tours

One very popular activity for tourists while visiting Mal Pais is the canopy tours. Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, people can strap themselves into a safety harnesses and get ready for an absolutely thrilling adventure they will likely not forget. Climbing up the trees into the canopy to a platform in the tropical forest, a maze of zip lines awaits the thrill seeker. The individual will coast through the canopy of the forest, experiencing the ecosystem from a whole new point of view. Moving from platform to platform on top of the forest, the guides will educate the group on the diversity of plant and animal life in the area. A variety of local wildlife can be seen while on these tours including howler monkeys, coati, bats, iguanas, long-tailed manikins, coyotes, armadillo, opossum, marmot, parrots, birds and many more animals. There will be opportunities for people to take pictures and ask questions, all while taking in the amazing scenery of Costa Rica’s tropical forests with the occasional glimpse of the Pacific Ocean below in the distance. This is definitely one activity that should not be passed up while visiting Mal Pais. It combines thrill, adventure and nature into an exciting, action-packed afternoon.

Fishing

Many people travel to Mal Pais, Costa Rica for the fishing alone. Often times, people’s entire vacations will revolve around fishing on the Pacific for an entire week. Whether someone is an avid fisherman, or just wants to try and experience the life for a day, there is a tour available. There are a variety of fishing tours and charters available in Mal Pais. Go with the experienced local fisherman to the best spots and reel in the fish all day long. They can adapt the trip to your preferences or needs. They can use live bait, dead bait or even lures and can arrange for deep water fishing as well as shallow and flats fishing voyages. There are a variety of fish to be caught including yellow fin tuna, amberjack, Wahoo, sailfish, marlin, rooster fish, lady fish and many more. Whatever the individual’s delight, the local fisherman can arrange for it.

Surfing

One of the most popular surfing destinations in Costa Rica is Mal Pais. With the town’s shores located between the Central Pacific area and Guanacaste, the surfers in the area greatly benefit from the big swells associated with the wet season and winds. Add to this the absence of large crowds that would otherwise clog the area, and it is a surfer’s paradise. There are several spots in Mal Pais to catch a wave including Playa Hermosa, El Carmen, Santa Teresa, Playa de Los Suecos and Punta Barrigona.

ATV Tours

A great way to spend the afternoon exploring the jungles and beaches is by taking a half-day all terrain vehicle, or ATV, on a self-guided tour. The best part about these tours is that an individual can decide what they want to see and do at their own pace, without the worries of holding up a larger group. Self-guided tours also allow time for the riders to stop and enjoy the scenery as they feel necessary. Some riders will go through the jungle, spotting many different animals in their natural environment. Other people will choose to ride their ATV’s down to the beach for the afternoon and take a dip in the pristine waters of the Pacific ocean. There are always guided tours available for those who wish to experience an ATV that way. All terrain vehicles are exciting and can fulfill even the most adventurous tourists’ needs. The level of difficulty involved with riding these vehicles depends on the course of travel you choose.

Snorkeling and Diving

Many people travel to Mal Pais in order to get to Tortuga Island, one of the best diving spots in Costa Rica. This is a very famous diving spot, likely due to the fact that it is the only area in Central America with three sand banks. Only a half hour’s ride from the mainland, some of the most beautiful diving areas await the avid divers and snorkeling enthusiasts of all levels. Whether one prefers to dive the reefs or gigantic volcanic formations, during day or night, this place has it all. A variety of whales, sharks, rays, turtles, fish and crustaceans are plentiful in the area, making the experience unforgettable.

Original article can be found here: Things to Do in Mal Pais

Isla Tortuga is a beautiful tropic isle. A white-sand beach lined with coconuts is the main attraction on Isla Tortuga. The island is a favorite destination point for many excursion boats. Cruises bring passengers from various destination points to the isle.

Passengers take a 90-minute cruise from Puntarenas and Los Sueños marina, at Playa Herradura, near Jacó to head to Isla Tortuga. A half dozen cruise companies send their passengers to the isle. Each cruise company has its own section of the beach. On the weekend three or four cruise companies might allow their passengers to disembark at the same time, creating congestion.

Things to Do on the Island
There is more to do than just enjoy the scenery on the rise to Isla Tortuga. One can play volleyball, swim, snorkel, hike, or take a nap in the sun. For more fun, there are pedal and oar boats, water-bicycles, kayaks, and Spyaks (glass bottom boats). Isla Tortuga is accessible from Montezuma as well, although most visits in the daytime originate from Playa Herradura in Jacó and Puntarenas.

What You Can Expect
Costa Rica only has two distinct seasons—dry and wet. There is no true summer or winter, as the temperature average is 70 to 81. The coolest time of the year is from November to December. The rainy season lasts from May to December. April and December have little rain. September and October have the most rain. The average rainfall for a year is 100 inches. Some mountain areas get 25 feet of rain per year. The worst time to visit is from March to May, as it gets quite hot, with the humidity.

Cruises to the Island
Information about the cruises to the island can be obtained at 506/256-272, by phone; at 506/256-6767, by fax; or online at calypsocruises.com. With one cruise, passengers will go by 23 islands in very calm waters. During the cruise, one can see porpoises, dolphins, birds, sea turtles, and many other sites. A tour typically lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Original article can be found here: Isla Tortuga

Let it be said that Costa Rica has some of the best things to offer adventure seekers. Diving just happens to be one of those thrills that Costa Rica has to offer; and some of the best diving at that! Oceans Unlimited is a PADI, 5 star instructor development dive resort located in Quepos, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Nestled in the jungle, bordered by the Pacific Ocean in a popular tourism destination, Ocean’s Unlimited is the perfect location for divers to practice their skills.

About Oceans Unlimited
Oceans Unlimited is an ECO Operator who has received two Project AWARE Environment Achievement awards for their environmental and preservation work. The company is approved by the Costa Rican Tourism Board and is a member of the Association of Costa Rica Diving Professionals.

Oceans Unlimited offers various dive courses, tours, and training. They take pride in themselves and use only top of the line, well maintained gear and are proud to announce that they offer the only Nitrox fillers in the area. Because of the size of their tanks they never run out of air and test all air quarterly. If you want to be certain just ask to be shown results and a demonstration. The company has two large boats used for all tours and classes.

What They Offer
A variety of training courses are offered ranging in price from a US$75 “review” to a US$700 Master Diver certification course.

Courses Offered

• Discover Scuba Diving
• Scuba Diver
• Open Water Diver
• Open Water Referral
• Advanced Open Water
• Emergency First Response
• Rescue Diver
• Dive Master
• Nitrox Course
• Specialty Courses
• Review, “tune-up”
• DAN Training
• PADI Professional Diver

Diving and Scuba Tours
The company also offers a variety of dive tours ranging in price from US$70 to US$200. With over 15 dive spots in the Pacific, there is something for every divers taste and needs. Snorkeling tours are offered as well for as low as US$59.

• Dive Tours Offered
• Offshore Deep Diving
• Cano Island
• Night Diving
• Sightseeing
• Local

Nearby Hotel Recommended by Oceans Unlimited

Wide Mouth Frog Back Packers
Rooms here can be private or dorm with rates of US$10 to US$35.

Babaloo Inn
Offers a more mid range style with rooms from US$70 to US$100.

Costa Verde Hotel
For those who want to dive and experience Costa Rica in luxury. Room rates start at US$140.

Also in the area you can find various tour operators, banks, grocery stores, shopping, and restaurants.

For More Information
Check out the Oceans Unlimited websites for more details.
www.oceansunlimitedcr.com

Original article can be found here: Oceans Unlimited Dive Operator

Famous for sea turtles, Costa Rica’s stunning blue waters are popular with snorkeling enthusiasts. The best places to snorkel in Costa Rica are near national parks. During rainy seasons, run-off from local banana plantations destroyed coral reef near the shores. For a spectacular snorkeling experience, venture farther away from shore near deep volcanic crevices. Visit during the dry season from December to April for optimal underwater visibility.

Cahuita National Park
Six hundred acres of shallow reef are home to the Caribbean’s most colorful fish at Cahuita National Park. Find parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish, and octopus. This area is fantastic for beginners since access to the coral reef is simple. Wade out onto the beach and swim out to where the water darkens.

There is no fee to enter Cahuita National Park. Rent equipment from your hotel or shops in Puerto Viejo or Manzanillo.

Coco Island
Coco Island was the backdrop for Jurassic Park. This uninhabited island is formidable to visit and isn’t for beginners. Hammerhead sharks, barracudas and manta rays inhabit the waters. But for serious snorkeling, don’t miss Coco Island. Rare corals and crustaceans are below the surface and there are over 200 waterfalls.

It’s $15 to enter Coco Island. Various tours are pricey since it takes over 36 hours to reach Coco Island. Most tours last at least ten days. Leave out of Puntarenas.

Cano Island Biological Preserve
Five platforms of coral reef provide plenty of backdrop for snorkeling. Cano Island is popular with whales and dolphins. The biological preserve is an archaeological site of the pre-Colombian Diquis tribe. Tours originate in Drake Bay and include snorkeling, a hike on Cano Island and lunch.

It’s $10 for foreigners to visit Cano Island. Tours vary by operators.

Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
The beaches of the Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge are protected nesting grounds for four species of endangered sea turtles. Snorkeling here is rich in coral, crustaceans and sea fans. Atlantic tarpon frequent these waters.

There’s no fee to enter the refuge. Tours, equipment and guided nature walks are extra but highly recommended.

Original article can be found here: Best Places to Snorkel in Costa Rica

Remember that famous Disney movie Treasure Island (yes I know it was book as well)? Did you wonder if ever such a pirate hideaway existed? Not only does it exist, but it is located off the coast of Costa Rica. It is belived that Isla de Cocos is the very island that inspired the novel, Treasure Island. Although there has never been any actuall treasure found on the island, there are plenty of myths, legends and stories that say otherwise. It is these stories and the amazing scenery that bring people to this pirate hideaway every year.

How To Get There
If you feel like living out your pirate fantasies by visiting Isla de Cocos, you might want to rethink your plan. The island is located 373 miles off of Puntarenas on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. Not exactly somewhere you can just hop on a water taxi to visit. About the only way to get to Isla de Cocos is by a private charter. there are a handful of diving companies and other yacht services that venture to the island on a regular basis. If you want to try one of these charters, be ready to pay for it.

Where To Stay
Given that the entire island is only about 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, there isn’t exactly room for hotels and condos. In fact, there aren’t any accommodation’s on the island at all. If you will be visiting here, it will either be on a day trip or involve sleeping on a boat.

What to Do
Look for treasure of course! The island is filled with an abundance of amazing flora and fauna. You can spend your day exploring the beaches and its inner. You can walk along the beaches and find remits of pirates and others who walked the island long before you ever knew it existed.

Most people don’t go to Isla de Cocos to explore the island unless they are treasure hunters. Most come to see what lies under its waters. Isla de Cocos is known for having beautiful reefs and a large amount of marine life. It has been said that the reefs around the island contain the richest concentrations of schooling fish in the world. There are over 270 species of fish in the reefs. many of these fish are native to the islands waters.

Original article can be found here: Isla de Cocos

Types of Activities: Beaches, Snorkeling, Swimming
Average Cost: $5 for snorkel rental
Recommendations: Rent your snorkel from your hotel
Website:

Once you’ve biked and hiked your way to any of the many secluded beaches in Mazanillo, it’s time to break out your snorkel and mask. There is decent snorkeling at any of the beaches here. Although it’s not the greatest snorkeling in the world, it’s still a fun way to spend the day. There are tons of small damsel fish, crabs all over the place, and if you’re lucky, you may see an eel or lobster.

I personally didn’t think the snorkeling was all that great, but that may have been because I have been to much better snorkeling locations. However, there were lots of people who would spend hours swimming around with their masks on. I guess its juts fun see such a different environment than your own.

You can walk along the beach to find a nice picnic spot if yourd like, but I recommend taking the jungle trail. The trail offer some much enjoyed shade, as well as the ocasional panoramic view of the beach and ocean. The trail goes on and on, so just stop at any point you can make your way to the beach. It won’t be hard to find a private beach if you walk long enough.

Original article can be found here: Snorkeling in Manzanillo