Stories from Paradise

Why Visit Manuel Antonio During High Season?

Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica’s most popular locations, and dry season, December through April, is when it shines brightest. This tropical paradise, where the jungle meets the sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean, can be ideal for families, couples, group traveling, and solo experiences. This small town allows beaches, restaurants, and activities to be only a few minutes away, allowing a seamless, very complete high-end experience in Costa Rica.

The beauty of the National Park is accessible to people from all backgrounds and fitness levels, thanks to the different paths and ranger stations located throughout. Outdoor activities can be personalized and accessible, with tour operators specialized in all-level excursions, accessibility accommodations, and flexible scheduling.

Did you know?Manuel Antonio receives over 150,000 visitors during high season, and for good reason. This is when nature shows its best side, and conditions are perfect for outdoor activities.

Perfect Weather: Sun, Breeze, and Pura Vida

The high season climate is simply spectacular. Days are sunny and warm, perfect for spending hours at the beach without worrying about sudden rain. Average daytime temperatures hover around 85°F, with constant ocean breezes keeping things comfortable. Humidity is moderate compared to the green season, making the heat much more bearable.

Every day is an opportunity to visit pristine beaches, observe unusual animals, or simply unwind in your ocean-view vacation rental. With beautiful weather, you can plan days packed with activities, since a day with a clear, bright sky is a valuable opportunity you should take advantage of in Costa Rica.

Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio blends natural beauty with sophisticated travel. Famous for its vibrant national park and diverse wildlife, the area also features an array of beaches for all tastes. Manuel Antonio transforms typical beach vacations into rich adventures, offering sunny shores within a secluded rainforest paradise.

Each one of these seven distinctive beaches holds its special charm, promising unforgettable moments for every visitor.

A Natural Playground of Biodiversity and Comfort

Being one of the most famous national parks in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park attracts an abundance of tourists due to its accessibility and stunning natural beauty. With more than 100 animal species and almost 200 bird species, this ecological gem is home to an incredible selection of wildlife.

Along with the comfort of close-by accommodation, visitors can take energizing hikes through the rainforest trails, swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters along perfect beaches, and easily spot all kinds of plants and animals in their natural habitat. The park’s distinctive blend of abundant wildlife and convenience makes it a favorite spot for even the most adventurous of travelers.The region is popular due to its well-developed infrastructure, diverse dining options, high-end rental choices, and visitor-friendly services. Manuel Antonio is an easily accessible getaway in one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful coastal regions, thanks to its ideal location, just a three-hour drive from San José.

High-End Accommodation in Costa Rica

Manuel Antonio is still a top attraction, drawing in more than 150,000 tourists a year, many of them from the United States. The area features a variety of upscale accommodations, including luxury resorts, private villas, and boutique hotels, all seamlessly integrated with the surrounding tropical continued…

More than ever, choosing the ideal time to travel to Costa Rica in 2025 demands taking into account logistical considerations, including new immigration laws, post-pandemic adaptations, and modifications to international airport operations in addition to the favorable weather. The variability makes it possible to tailor your trip to your interests year-round, whether that’s spotting wildlife in dense rainforest, relaxing on a quiet beach, or hiking in the jungle.  In short, no matter when you choose, knowing what to expect and planning in advance is crucial to making the most of your experience.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Costa Rica?

The best time to visit Costa Rica depends greatly on your personal interests and preferences. If you dream of warm sunny days on white sandy beaches, tanning in the tropical sun, and enjoying thrilling water activities such as surfing, scuba diving, or sport fishing, the dry season, which runs from December to April, is the perfect choice.

During these months, the weather is predominantly dry and sunny, especially in the Pacific coastal regions, such as Guanacaste, where popular tourist destinations like Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo are located. Also perfect for a beach vacation are Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula, and Manuel Antonio, on the Central Pacific coast, where you can explore the Manuel Antonio National Park and observe its abundant wildlife.

However, the rainy season, which lasts from May to July, is the best option if you love the outdoors and are driven to explore the rainforest, discover the amazing wildlife, and take in the beauty of the rivers and waterfalls at their peak. Rain is more frequent during this time, but the landscape is richer and colorful.

Costa Rica’s tourism industry has become the core tenet of its economy for the last couple of decades, being the main engine that powers national development. Ever since its name came into the forefront and its paradisiacal sights were highlighted on the cover of international magazines, the small Central American nation has seen an important increase in visitation and infrastructure around it. However, unlike many booming destinations, Costa Rica has remained committed to a sustainable tourism model.

No matter the government at hand, the country has built a structure that at least promotes responsible travel practices that benefit both visitors and local communities. This approach has been at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy, ensuring that natural resources, local livelihoods, and environmental health are mostly prioritized by all sanctioned participants.  During the recent World Tourism Day celebrations, many countries took the opportunity to reflect on the impact of mass tourism and the growing need for sustainable alternatives. Costa Rica was a highlight due to its still-standing avoidance of mass, uncontrolled tourism.

The Tico tourist model implements tools over time to accommodate increased visitation,  but it’s still centered around sustainability on multiple fronts: environmental, economic, and social. Companies in the tourism sector are trained and certified to ensure that Costa Rica’s natural wonders are preserved, as they are well understood to be the reason most people come to this lush natural oasis. The National Tourism Plan is built on three key pillars: sustainability, innovation, and inclusion, with a strong focus on maintaining long-term environmental and social health.

Challenges will always emerge as nations readjust, be it in rising costs, pollution, or overcrowding.

Known as one of the most vibrant communities in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific, has developed an important surfing hub thanks to its strategic location just 2 hours south of the bustling city of San Jose, and its coastal gems for those who dance on the waves.

In this coastal haven, the waves ebb and flow between the gentle hum of a 1-foot lullaby and the crescendo of a wild 10-foot symphony. A left break off the jetty, pure and pristine, invites surfers to a dreamlike waltz, a graceful ride extending for precious yards. Size may not rival Dominical, yet the intimacy of the experience resonates with every surfer there.

Contrary to apprehensions,Quepos’ harbor didn’t transform the waves to shells of their former selves. To the contrary, the consensus seems to be that waves there unveil a cleaner, faster, and altogether superior ride.

Timing, as in all surfing destinations, is paramount, however. April, May, and June unveil a symphony of swells, a celestial dance initiated by the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. As Quepos remains cloaked in its eternal summer, offshore winds whisper serenades throughout the day.

Quepos Rivermouth unveils a long left breaker, best performed during lower tides. For the audacious spirits, Playitas at the north end of Manuel Antonio composes a high tide opus, weaving rights and lefts into a tale of adventure. Further South, Dominical beckons high tide seekers to another diverse experience in a bohemian town. Isla Damas, a whispered secret accessible by boat or jetski, gifts surfers an entrancing barreling left. Venture north, and Esterillos Oeste, unveils big, slopey waves that break a half mile from the shore.

Historically thought of as a masculine environment, agriculture has diversified itself and seeks to include women in its constant process of reinvention and progress.

In a significant step towards narrowing the digital gender gap, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has recently announced that a hundred women from rural areas in Costa Rica have undergone training in digital and geospatial technologies applied to agriculture and water resource management.

The initiative, known as the Women’s Rally for Geospatial Technologies, aims to empower women associated with the agri-food sector by enhancing their technological, digital, geospatial, and innovative capabilities. Additionally, the program focuses on strengthening skills related to growth, resilience, and professional empowerment in a wider sense.

As the agricultural sector in Costa Rica continues its constant transformation process, topics such as the inclusion of women have become integral to the new avenues of progress and development. Participants of this initiative gained access to services such as the GEOGloWS streamflow prediction, a global hydrological model providing daily updated forecasts and access to over 40 years of historical streamflow data. They also utilized Climate Trends, which allows access and comparison of data from global models for different variables such as precipitation and soil moisture.

The call for participation, issued by IICA, brought together women starting from the age of 14, including professionals from associations such as Edunámica, the College of Agronomist Engineers of Costa Rica, the College of Professionals in Geography of Costa Rica, and the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC-MINAE). In the closing session, participants shared the projects generated through the knowledge gained during the event.

Historically, agriculture in Costa Rica has been one of the country’s main economic thrusts continued…

The tico’s visitation numbers are now virtually on par with their pre-pandemic showings.

What in many countries could be seen as merely another number in a boring government quarterly notice, in Costa Rica becomes a very important barometer of the nation’s wellbeing. Since the Costa Rican central industry is services and tourism, the visitation numbers from each quarter are essential to not only identify current trends, but also project the rest of the year from an economic perspective.

Themost recent report from Costa Rica’s Tourism Institute(ICT, for its Spanish acronym) shows that the country received 968,000 tourists in the first 4 months of 2023. This number nearly equals the 974,000 of 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.

As surprise to none, the United States continues to be the main market demographic for the ticos, with a whopping 536,000 visitors, actually surpassing data from 2019. After the US, the next main influx of tourists comes from France, surprisingly Europe’s top market, and other Old World nations like the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Canada for North America. Additionally, Peru and Chili are the main Latin American countries sending tourists to Costa Rica.

All of the aforementioned countries have increased their visitation numbers from 2019, with only other Latin American countries like Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico representing a decrease. The increase in direct flight offerings both to the Juan Santamaria Airport and the Guanacaste Airport in Liberia have been an important factor linked to the country’s current upwards trend.

The renowned UK magazine gives the gold position to this small Central American nation due to its biodiversity and authenticity.

For many decades Costa Rica has made an active effort to grow its tourism infrastructure and develop its conservation initiatives as a way to cement its place as perhaps the quintessential tropical destination. Many Caribbean countries might equal some of Costa Rica’s pristine and secluded beaches, but what this small Central American nation offers is a truly immersive, ecological experience that goes beyond luxury resorts and high-end hotels (despite also having those).

Visiting Costa Rica is both a time for relaxation in a tropical oasis, as well as an opportunity for adventure. Within its small area, the country offers visitors magical volcano trips, involving jungle hikes, magnificent natural spectacles and exorbitant flora and fauna. Most of the tico’s policy is built around sustainability, and safekeeping their blessed corner of the globe, and this commitment has rapidly drawn many to its unparalleled environments.

One of the most recent accolades has come in the form of Wanderlust Magazine’s 2022 Travel Awards. This UK publication is the country’s leading travel magazine, ever since it was established in 1993. For the English speaking world, Wanderlust is one of the most trustworthy and serious publications around, alway maintaining a particular focus on conscious and sustainable travel. It should come as no surprise then, that Costa Rica was highlighted by its readership.

The tico country was chosen as the magazine Gold winner for the “Rest of the World” Category, beating Silver and Bronze medalists Canada and Australia. Wanderlust readership’s rationale highlights Costa Rica’s role as a pioneer in eco-tourism, its extraordinary rainforest and coastal environments, and continued…

The country’s stabilization in terms of Covid-19 means more tourism is soon to be expected from the country’s biggest market.

The initial waves of the Covid-19 pandemic shook by storm the tourism and services industry. In the blink of an eye, staying inside and avoiding travel became a sanitary need, and the whole world was put on hold for a couple of months. With a better grasp of how the virus behaves, and the widespread accessibility of tools for its detection and avoidance, most industries have slowly come back to where they once were, and in some cases, the new trends that came with the pandemic actually helped establish a more effervescent growth.

Such is the case for travel in Costa Rica, which with the advent of digital nomads and the newfound excitement for international travel has come back with historic numbers. Just recently, The U.S. Department of State has brought even more good news for the service industry.

During the worst part of the Covid-19 pandemic, this governmental organ instated a travel advisory of level 4 alert for most countries where the virus was running rampant. That meant the highest degree of caution was recommended, and travel was not encouraged. For many years, the United States has represented the most important market for tourism in Costa Rica, and even if things were stabilizing in recent months, that level of prevention meant a hiccup for an economy seeking reactivation after some harsh years. But things are changing for the better.

The U.S. Department of State has just reinstated Costa Rica’s level to 2 out of 4, meaning it’s now back to the level the country was before the beginning of continued…

Did you know that Costa Rica has one of the blue zones of the world? If you’re not familiar with this term, blue zones are regions where people tend to live longer than the average. There are a total of 5 blue zones in the world, one of them is located in Nicoya, Costa Rica. Many factors influence this longevity in citizens, from the climate, to lifestyle to food.

Costa Rican food may not be known worldwide but the staple of our cuisine and the most traditional dishes we have, originated from the Guanacaste area, where our centenarians live. Their food consists of a lot of legumes, home grown vegetables like corn, green beans, and local leafy greens, a moderate amount of animal products and lots of fresh herbs like oregano and cilantro. When visiting Costa Rica make sure to try the gallo pinto, casados and tamales, all dishes ingrained in millenary culture.

Gallo Pinto

Freshness is always one thing that you can certainly count on when it comes to our cuisine. Many fruits that foreigners don’t like in their own country become a favorite of theirs when visiting Costa Rica. Papaya is a great example. Never say you don’t like papaya until you’ve tried a good ripe Costa Rican papaya, or the real sweetness of a picked-directly-from-the-tree Costa Rican mango.

Situated in the Central Pacific Coast,Manuel Antoniois home to one of the world’s most beautiful national parks. This protected area garners more than 600,000 visitors every year who are looking for the ultimate tropical paradise: white sand, warm waters, and astounding natural landscapes.

TheManuel Antonio National Parkspans over 1,983 hectares of land and 55,000 hectares of sea surface. Exuberant rainforests embedded between towering mountains meet the sea in a setting that is the home of more than 109 species of mammals and 352 species of birds. Universal hiking trails, paradisiac beaches, and myriad wildlife sightings characterize any visit to this conservation area. Continue reading to know what to expect when visiting theManuel Antonio National Park.

Beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park

Lookout Points at Manuel Antonio National Park

Other Attractions at Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonioalso features other bodies of water including the mangrove swamp and a small waterfall. The swamp is a combination of sweet and salty water that spans over 18 hectares and showcases three different species of halophytes. Moreover, the waterfall is a phenomenon that happens only during the green season.

There is also a site called  “La Trampa” (The Trap) which can be found on the right side ofManuel AntonioBeach, next to Punta Catedral. Archeological remains form a circle that can be appreciated during low tide, which legend says was used by the indigenous people to capture fish.

Services at Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antoniooffers universal trails with signs, which are easy to follow and enable children of all ages and people with disabilities to enjoy the beauty of the site. There are essential services like potable water, showers and dressing rooms, and restrooms.

A BIG PART of breaking out of your routine and experiencing someplace new is exploring the local cuisine. In the case of Costa Rica, you can’t really go wrong — but here are some extra special items to keep an eye out for.

1.Rondon

Composed of whatever the cook can ”run down,”rondondates back to earlier times of subsistence diets in the Caribbean. Though the only thing consistent is that it changes, therearea few fundamentals to this spicy coconut soup.

Typically, you’ll find a fish head and assorted catches of the day, along with a variety of tubers like sweet potatoes and yucca, simmered in coconut milk for hours over an open wood flame that imparts a smoky depth. Toss in a couple Panamanian chilies for that signature lip singe, and there you have it —rondon. Hands down, this is my favorite Costa Rican dish.

2.Naturales

Wherever you are in Costa Rica, you’ll see standalone kiosks dedicated to juicing tropical fruits. Climb on a stool — if you can find an empty one — and take your pick. Mango, pineapple, blackberry, melon, and banana are the usual favorites, though watch out for seasonal offerings like my personal go-to,cas(sour green mango), orhorchata(rice, cinnamon, and milk). These delicious beverages also go by the namerefrescos.

3.Cacao fresco

When cacao pods ripen, they look like little yellow footballs. Crack them open and you can eat the tender white flesh encasing the cacao beans (from which you get cocoa powder when twice roasted and ground). The fruit’s sweet and tangy taste will give you a whole new outlook on what you thought chocolate was.

Costa Rica has several cacao farms, where you can take tours to continued…