Thinking of visiting Manuel Antonio National Park on your upcoming Costa Rica Vacation?  We have several reasons why we think this a great choice.

Although Manuel Antonio is the smallest national park in Costa Rica, it is one of the most visited sites in Costa Rica and home to 1700 acres of land and 135,000 acres of marine habitat within the protected area. The national park was established in 1972, and quickly became one of the most visited sites in Costa Rica.   Tourist traffic accompanied by the commercial development in the Quepos / Manuel Antonio area, became so intense that the Park Service was forced to limit the number of visitors per day to 600, with 800 allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.  Keep in mind, the park is closed to all visitors on Mondays, so plan your visit to Manuel Antonio National Park accordingly.

Manuel Antonio National Park is located on the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica in the province of Puntarenas, just a few miles south of the town of Quepos – and only 25 minutes from our Costa Rica vacation rental property. The park is dominated by primary and secondary forests, with cedar, locust and silk cotton trees in abundance. There are over 40 acres of mangrove swamp, containing red, buttonwood and white mangrove trees. The evergreen trees of the park grow all the way down to the high tide line.

There are many different species of animals living in the Manuel Antonio National Park. Howler, capuchin and squirrel monkeys share the forests with coatimundis and raccoons. Both two- and three-toed sloths live in the park, as well as anteaters and ocelots. Dolphins are frequently seen in the waters, and migrating whales on occasion. The 184 bird species in the park include brown pelicans, boobies, hawks, kingfishers, toucans, tanagers, parakeets and macaws.

Manuel Antonio National Park is a great place to visit if you’re interested in bird and wildlife watching.  However, there are many other fun activities you can do while visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. The park has many trails for the nature-loving hiker, and horseback riding and mountain-biking are available, as well. White-water rafting tours can be arranged on the nearby Naranjo and Savegre rivers.  And the Pacific ocean offers endless opportunities for sports fishing, snorkeling and diving among the coral reefs, kayaking, cruising, swimming, or just wading along the beaches and tidal pools. Or you can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty that Manuel Antonio and Costa Rica have to offer.

If you’re interested in learning more about renting an affordable Costa Rica vacation rental home near Manuel Antonio / Quepos area, please contact us so we can provide you with a quote.

Costa Rica is known for having two seasons. Some call them Winter and Summer, others Green (or rainy) Season and Dry Season, while in the tourism industry they are known as high and low season. The rainy season is also called the Green Season, and tends to coincide with the drop of prices at hotels and Costa Rica vacation rentals.

Winter season is actually more characterized as being a rainy season instead of a cold one. The months where the Costa Rica rainy season starts are from the end of May until the middle of November. At this time, usually the mornings are sunny and hot, while the afternoons are characterized by heavy showers usually starting around 2 or 3 p.m. Surprisingly, this is a season in which you can enjoy the beaches, bike rides, horseback riding, etc. and its perfect for rafting. Basically all outdoor activities are possible during this time.

Rainy season is also a beautiful time to visit as everything starts to turn green, flowers start to blossom, and of course you can relax after a morning of a lot of activity with the melody of rain and nature, with a cup of Costa Rican coffee. The only time to avoid travel to Costa Rica might be mid-September to the end of October when longer periods of rain are common. There is an exception, however, on the Caribbean side, which experiences a short dry season during these months.

Dry season or Summer starts in November, with beautiful sunsets no matter where you are. December winds announce their entrance to the season, cooling the evenings and making for pleasant days. It’s sunny, perfect weather with fresh peaceful winds.

Then from January to May, the weather is always perfectly sunny, hot and dry. Any activity you want to do is appropriate for this season, though since it is so dry, rafting for example is not always the best activity to do (this varies depending on where you are in Costa Rica), though its the perfect time for snorkeling and diving because waters are as pure as crystal.

In general, Costa Rica has such awesome weather that any time of the year is good to visit Costa Rica. No matter the season or weather, fun will always be a part of your Costa Rica vacation – guaranteed.

The variety of nature, activities, eco-systems and sightseeing options are endless because Costa Rica has such a large diversity of lands, flora, fauna and vacation opportunities that you will always find an option that will fit you and your friends and family, your budget and your expectations to have the vacations of your lives.

Millions of Americans are fleeing the U.S.

A recent article in the June issue of the International Living Magazine  talks about how Costa Rica has become a popular retirement destination.  

It’s true. According to an in-depth investigation by Money magazine, “250,000 Americans are leaving the country for good every year. And millions more are seriously considering it.” Why? To be blunt, many people can no longer afford to retire in the U.S. and keep their lifestyle. Real estate prices, the cost of living, health care coverage costs, and gas and utility bills…are all going through the roof. And the ever-shrinking dollar has just multiplied the pain.
 
But as millions of people are discovering, you can make your goal of a simpler and better life a reality. There are places where you can still own your own town home or beach house outright—and enjoy appreciation of 20%…40%…60% per year…
 
For almost 30 years International Living has scoured the globe to identify real estate markets that offer investors the opportunity for strong returns…
 
Every real estate market has a trend. Identify it, commit to it, ride it upward…and that’s money in the bank. Here at International Living, our track record speaks for itself…
 
In 1984, IL first recommended the southern coast of Spain…in 1987, Acapulco…in 1992, Roatan, Honduras. The value of properties in these locations rose more than 800%.
 
In 1991, International Living recommended the Caribbean island of Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize. Back then you could have picked up a quarter-acre beachfront lot for $35,000 or less. A decade later, the same lot would have cost you at least $150,000.
 
We called prime oceanview city condos in Panama City a good buy at $120 per square foot in late 2004. Now they sell for $350 per square foot.
 
As you can see, we know what we are doing when we focus on a trend. Which brings me to the point of this report and probably your next question…what countries are we endorsing right now?
 
You might be shocked to find out that we’re betting on Costa Rica right now. And yes, we know this is like telling someone that beachfront property in Southern California is suddenly affordable again.
 
Everyone, including IL, once thought Costa Rica was thoroughly discovered…over-priced…yesterday’s news. That’s why we were astonished to see this country turn things around and get back onto our real estate radar.
 
When the U.S. economy took its recent nosedive, property markets suffered in several Latin American countries. In Costa Rica, however, real estate prices generally remained strong.
 
In March 1997 we took Costa Rica off our recommended list. Twelve years later, in June 2009, Costa Rica back on our list of Top Retirement Havens.
 
Yes, after 12 years off our list of affordable opportunities for profit, IL has discovered that there is an unknown—and still affordable—side to one of the world’s most coveted overseas retirement destinations.

According to a Forbes article Costa Rica is the place to be.  Costa Rica is by far one of my favorite places on earth. The city of Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica is located on the Pacific side of the country south heading towards Panama. The scenery is breathtaking. Costa Rican National parks that house some of the world’s best beaches allow you to explore semi-private beaches and its wildlife in a safe setting.
 
If you’re looking for a place to rest your head, I’d recommend the 727 Fuselage Home at Costa Verde. One of the newest hotels in Manuel Antonio, courtesy of the Hotel Costa Verde, the 727 Fuselage, a private suite, is a refurbished vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe perched on a 50-foot pedestal.  It offers beautiful ocean and jungle views. The 727 suite offers two air-conditioned bedrooms, private bath, flat screen TV, dining foyer, kitchenette, ocean view terrace, private river rock entrance, and spiral staircase.
 
The Hotel keeps with the avionic theme by offering a main after-hours hangout, El Avion Bar, a café/restaurant that serves meals out a vintage cargo plane left over from the Iran-Contra days.
 
Named by Forbes magazine as one of the best dwellings in the world, the 727 Fuselage Home is an exotic escape will make you never want to take-off again.
 
Rates vary between $300 to $350 average daily rate dependent upon the season. Check more info about the Hotel Costa Verde.

When foreigners read, learn about or visit Costa Rica they fall in love with this small but beautiful country, its friendly people and the relaxing way of living. They begin thinking about moving to Costa Rica to enjoy the exotic beaches, wonderful weather and the incredible scenery.

You could be an investor, a retiree or just as a company employee, Costa Rica always offers something attractive for you. It is true that Costa Rica is a country in the developing stage. However, Costa Rica offers and provides the necessary facilities you have or need with a twist you can get used to. Life here, somehow goes slower than in other countries thou not too slow. There is a mixture of relaxation and business, modern but easy way of living that characterizes Costa Rican people. So our advice is to leave all the stress and rush before coming here if you want to really enjoy this tropical country and its customs.

This is a country that embraces foreigners and invites them to come and join our way of living but wants it to be respected. Costa Ricans are friendly, outgoing by nature and love to share what they have with others.

Although we know the importance of progress, we just do not rush it or stress on it. This might get a foreigner stressed at the beginning but with time he ends up getting used to it. That’s why we have our expression “Pura Vida” (Pure Life) that implies “Why worry”, “I am ok as I am”, “l am having fun”,” l’ll be ok” , “l’ll do that tomorrow”.

Here are some good reasons for living in Costa Rica:

• Stable democracy
• Good infrastructure for tourism and exports
• High level of literacy and education
• Nature oriented
• Freedom of speech, beliefs and others
• Equal rights in owning properties for foreigners
• Not many migratory requirements
• No army
• Fiscal exemptions
• Lower cost of living
• Excellent service systems in electricity, health, banking, water and telecommunications.
• Private enterprise support and incentives

If you’re searching for a great place to live in Costa Rica, be sure to check out El Paraiso Oceanview Properties.  We hope to see you soon!  Pura Vida!