Suspended Bridge above the rain forest canopy

Harlequin Toad in Costa Rica's Rain Forest

If you are traveling to Costa Rica and plan to visit Manuel Antonio-Quepos and want a true nature orientated tour, take the Rainmaker Tour.  You can purchase this thru Iguana Tours located in Quepos.  Quepos is a very small town, only three city blocks so ask anyone and they can guide you to Iguana Tour’s office.

So why the Rainmaker Tour?  It is truly a venture into the rain forest filled with beautiful tropical birds and white face monkeys.  The trees are hugh and very tall.  There are suspended bridges built over the rain forest canopy so you can actually walk above the rain forest tree line.  You pass streams and waterfalls and can swim in a pool formed by a large waterfall.  A well trained guide will accompany you and explain about all the different species of plants and trees.  Be sure to bring your binoculars.  There are three species of toucans in this area.  Also bring your camera. The photography  opportunities are  excellent.

The tour begins with a walk along the Rio Seco’s edge.  The easy walking paths are very well mapped  to take advantage of the gorgeous old trees some with buttresses of two meters wide, and the quietness is interrupted only by the sounds of the birds singing deep in the jungle.  We pass a troupe of white face monkeys which show great curiosity at our intrusion into their territory.

It seems that in this rain forest resides a unique toad called the Harlequin Toad.  This toad was presumed to be extinct but one day miraculously reappeared in the Rainmaker Rain Forest Area.  The guides are very good a finding this small toads but don’t pick one up because they are said to be poisonous.   It’s beautiful colors of yellow and black make it a very unusual looking toad.

Be sure to wear good walking shoes and a light weight rain jacket.  And cotton, cool clothes.  It can get very warm and humid here.  A delicious typical Costa Rican lunch is  included and natural jusices of pineapple, orange, and papaya are also served.  All in all a great day!

white face monkey

Manuel Antonio National Park Costa Rica. It’s  July and rainy season in Costa Rica. We’re  in the central Pacific region and have heard so much about this park, and are determined to explore it before the rain starts around 1 p.m.  So we set out  early, entering the park at 7:30 a.m., the moment it opened.   After paying the $7  entrance fee, the park ranger gave us a very detailed map with the trails so well marked that we had no need for a naturalist guide, although several at the entrance gate offered their services for around $40.00.  We walked slowly  through  a lowland tropical rainforest.  A young deer was walking along side the path, almost like a pet.  He wasn’t afraid of us at all.  On up the trail a group of young tourist were huddled together looking intensely  into a thicket.  Their guide had spotted a hugh tropical spider with long legs and an orange body, said it is poisonous.  So don’t get near that spider!  Soon we heard the roar of the ocean and saw  large powerful waves of the Pacific Ocean beating up on the white sandy beach.  What a sight!  A large green iguana ambled across our path, again unafraid of us,  posing for photographs as other tourist quickly came near  to capture the iguana  moment.

Then the lure of the blue ocean was too much and we put down our backpack, slipped off our sandals, and shorts and into the water we went.  Hearing a scrambling noise we looked toward our backpacks and a small pack of white face monkeys descended, ram sacking our backpacks,  and stealing three bananas.  So there goes our snack!  It was late morning and we decided to hike to Cathedral Point,  uphill and quite steep, leading us to the highest point in the park.  What a view!  We could see for miles across the vast blue ocean.  Then, going down was definitely easier than coming up.  We continued the hike, leading  along a path bordering the lowland rain forest, home to the three toed sloth.  But we weren’t lucky enough to spot one, apparently they are reclusive, hardly moving until they come down out of the tree tops to relieve themselves.

The shade of the almond trees which line this gorgeous stretch of white beach is too much to resist.  We relaxed in the still quietness, only the sounds of the waves beating ashore.

If I were a bird I would be a seagull, soaring high.  Off alone by myself beyond boat and shore.  My wide white wings lifting me above the winds.

I don’t  want to return to the real world of duty and stress.  I want to be like the seagull,  spread my wings and fly free.

Tell me the main reasons to include Manuel Antonio on my vacation plans to Costa Rica.

1. Manuel Antonio Beach is one of the few white sandy beaches in Costa Rica.  The others tend to have dark sand and are not soft on the feet.  The setting, where the almond trees grow close to the beach and drape it,   provide a habitat for the white face monkey, iguanas,  and sloths.  The lowland tropical rain forest within the park consists of hugh trees that seem to grow to the sky and are home to the many marine birds such as the seagull.  The hikes within the park are well marked and provide you with a good work out.  Swimming in the Pacific ocean is great.   Look on your park map for the beaches which are recommended for swimming.  So go early, pack a picnic lunch, there is no food or drink sold within the park.  Go for a swim, take a hike, watch the monkeys, and just relax.   Park is closed on Mondays but is open all the days of the year  (except every Monday)

What is the weather like?  Dry season which is mid December to Mid April  gets a lot of sunshine during the day, with infrequent showers.  Temperatures during the day are hot, around 80-85 F.  Nights are cool.  Most hotels have air conditioners.  Rainy season mid April thru November it rains almost daily.  Sunny mornings with afternoon thunder showers. Temperature are cooler, 72-85 F  With cool nights.

Driving distance from San Jose? Approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours.  Road is good most of the way, around 10 miles before Manuel Antonio there are some rough spots.  A 4×4 vehicle is best but many people drive here in their automobiles.   But, don’t drive at night, esp. in the rainy season.

Fly to Manuel Antonio-  Quepos Sansa air   click here:  www.flysansacom.        Nature Air   click here:   www.natureair.com

Public bus leaves early morning (daily) from San Jose to Manuela Antonio-Quepos.   Inexpensive and comfortable.  I dont’ post the schedules here because they are subject to change.  So check when  in Costa Rica.

The above photo of the cute white face monkey was taken by Scott Wilkinson.  you can see more of his beautiful photograpy at www.scottwilkinson.com

Or  www.sapotours.com/gallery.sapx

Please send me a short story about your vacation to the park.  What was your favorite thing about it?  My readers love to hear from other vacationers.  To:  anncreed23@gmail.com

How long should you plan to stay in the park? Usually one day. Entrance fee $7.00 per person. Go early in the morning when the birds and animals are acitve. Park opens 7:30 a.m. and closes 4:30 p.m. It is closed on Mondays but otherwise it is open all year including holidays. Take a lunch and drink in your backpack because there is no where to get food or a drink inside the park. There are bathrooms, but I found them poorly maintained.

The uniqueness of Manuel Antonio national park is the way the almond trees drape over the sandy white beaches. It’s easy to find a shade and just lay out your beach towel and simply relax. And of course the white sand, and the blue water. ( The Pacific Ocean tends to have a grey tint to the water, but here it is blue) It gives you a feeling a being in the South Pacific…more than any other place in Costa Rica.

Just before entering the park– along the road are hundreds of vendors peddling their wares, from local hand made jewelry to beach clothing.

What is the downside or is there a downside? Very crowded…over developed….. The main road approaching the park is just plain commercialism, and unattractive.
Getting there from San Jose and the central valley 5 hours by road, part is narrow winding mountainous terrain . .not easy..especially if you are in a rental car.
The main road from Jaco on down to Quepos-Manuel Antonio is very bad in some segments. Driving can be hazardous. Another way to get there:
the fastest is to fly in a twin engine plane from San Jose international airport by Sansa or by Tropical Air. Flight is only about 20 minutes. Or by public bus (and public transportation is excellent in Costa Rica)- around 6 hours from San Jose.

Hotels: too many to count. Mostly small hotels… And all price ranges…My husband and I choose the La Mariposa Hotel …..we paid $160 per night in low season of August, including a gourmet full breakfast. The room had a gorgeous ocean view. The French gourmet restaurant is a special treat. We had our best meal in Costa Rica here…baked snook in white wine sauce…pricey but worth it! A great wine list..French, American, and Chilean..at reasonable prices. ( No hotel in Manuel Antonio is situated right on the beach..instead one sees them sprinkled along the side of the rainforest covered mountainsides. ..and to get to the beach you have to drive approx 1 mile or take your  hotel shuttle bus ..if they offer one.

What time of year should you visit?  Mid November thru Mid April are driest months and of course when most tourists are there. Rainy season mid- April thru Mid November offers sunny mornings and rainly afternoons. Rates are lower during rainy season. Temperatures are warm year round. Hotels have air conditioning: however it is always wise to ask to be sure.