Practicalities
Buses from Quepos and San Jose drop passengers off 200m before the park entrance. If you're staying at a hotel between the park and Quepos, and want to go to either by taxi , it's cheaper to flag one down on the road rather than ringing from the hotel - you'll be charged a per-person fare, and the taxi may pick up more people. If you're driving, note that there isn't much parking at the road loop at the end of Manuel Antonio village; arrive early in the morning for the best (shaded) spots, the going rate to have your car guarded is about US$1.50 per day. The entrance hut is on the other side of the bridge. Here you can pick up a colour map of the park which shows the beaches and trails and also gives information on the local climate and flora and fauna. There are toilets and showers at Playa Tres. There have been problems with theft in Manuel Antonio, usually as a result of people leaving valuables (like cameras) on the beach: the rangers, who often sit at the picnic tables, might be able to look after your stuff, but ask nicely, as it's not actually part of their job. Guided tours are available with park-accredited guides for US$15 per person. The guides are informative and speak English. Ask at the park entrance, or ask your hotel to ring the park office to reserve a guide. Be aware that when you leave your car in the parking area in Manuel Antonio village you may be approached by "guides" offering their services at the same price as the official park guides. These "guides" have been known to rob their clients while in the park; though it's more likely that they simply won't be able to show you anything you couldn't see with your own eyes, as they're not trained. If in doubt, the park-accredited guides carry photo ID. Take care if walking alone in the park; a number of robberies have been reported. Although rangers are often on patrol and can nearly always be found near Playa Tres, by law they can't deny entrance to the park to anyone, even suspicious characters.
Your Tip for Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
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