Manuel Antonio is one of the must-see places in Costa Rica. Home to endangered spider monkeys as well as howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, numerous birds, lizards and iguanas. I do recommend using one of the guides that are in the park, and licensed by the park. They are extremely knowledgeable and greatly improve your understanding and enjoyment of this park. They are $20 per person for a two-hour tour, but expert in spotting wildlife and pointing out various plants and trees, and well worth the cost. This park can be enjoyed in two hours or a whole day or weekend, as it has five different beaches within the park, all different, some with tide pools and cliffs; others for swimming. All of the parks in Costa Rica are $7 for non-residents and are good for the entire day. In Manuel Antonio, you must bring a lunch or leave the park to eat. There are various places to eat in the community of Manuel Antonio right outside of the park. There are numerous trails off the beaten track where you can be alone and walk to a river crossing or a waterfall with no one else in sight (best to tell someone where you are going, as you can get lost). If you stay in Manuel Antonio near the park, you will hear the howler monkeys at night howling out their territorial rights. It sounds somewhat like a team cheering in a football stadium, and after hearing it once, you know what it is and look forward to hearing it again.
This park is south of Quepos, a larger town, from which there are numerous other tours available such as canopy tours, surfing and many water sports. However, there are many places to stay in Manuel Antonio, with some of the places being very luxurious and in the hills overlooking the bays and park of Manuel Antonio. The park is closed on Monday for cleaning and attendance is limited to 600 people per day so one should arrive close to the 7 a.m. Opening to be sure of admittance during the dry season.