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.

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.

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.

Kaufman is known among the insiders in the financial community as a genius in contrarians investing. During the 1970s downturn in New York City he was the buyer of last resort for Con Edison bonds, which resulted in huge gains. Kaufman was buying Con Edison Bonds at 30 percent of face value when the city was told no help was coming from the federal government to keep the power on in New York. Ultimately the bonds never defaulted, and the returns were in mega millions to Kaufman.

Associates say that Kaufman believes that Costa Rica will become a large market for retirees who want a lifestyle in this country where the weather in the Central Valley is always springtime, similar to that of Southern California.

He also is said to believe the cost of living and medical care, which is up to the world standards in the private hospitals, is only a fraction of the costs compared to the U. S. and Europe, and the 55 and older senior retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and even nursing care will propel the growth of Costa Rica to double digits in gross national product during the next 20 years.

Kaufman wants in on Costa Rica, while the recent economic crisis around the world has opened opportunities that have never existed in the last 10 years of one of the hottest real estate markets in the world, Costa Rica.

Kaufman was the largest shareholder of Apple Bank of New York along with many other holdings which gave him financial control of multi-millions of dollars.  Kaufman also went out and bought 32 percent of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, at distress prices starting in 2005.  Tulsa is one of the few cities that has weathered the U.S. real estate crisis and actually has increased in value.  Kaufman purchased buildings in Soho at $30 square foot in the distress times of the 70s and became a legend in value investing when the market climbed to $200 a square foot. These are only some of the great investments that made Kaufman such a successful businessman.

Costa Rica is Kaufman’s latest interest, major news is expected soon.  This is certainly great news and validation for other American investors who are considering Costa Rica as an investment opportunity.  If you are interested in purchasing oceanview or rainforest lots in the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, just minutes from Quepos/Manuel Antonio, El Paraiso Oceanview Properties is a perfect place to consider.  For more information, contact 011-506-8842-0662 or 954-632-3905.