No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaManuel Antonio reopens with capacity for 1,300 daily tourists

Manuel Antonio reopens with capacity for 1,300 daily tourists

Costa Rica’s most popular national park is reopening to the public. 

Manuel Antonio National Park near Quepos, Puntarenas joins several other protected wildlife areas across Costa Rica that Monday begins welcoming visitors under measures approved by the Health Ministry.

Among the measures is a daily capacity limit of 1,300 people at Manuel Antonio National Park, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) said. In addition, visitors must follow a defined hiking route and remain at least 10 meters apart from other groups.

Some of the park’s trails which necessitate bidirectional pedestrian traffic will remain closed, as will the beaches.

Manuel Antonio National Park has extra hand washing areas, will institute temperature checks, and has blocked off areas of heavy congregation in order to minimize the risk of coronavirus spread. Park rangers and other staff will wear masks.

“We are committed to providing a safe visitor experience while supporting the site’s conservation efforts and the economic revival of communities near the park,” said Pamela Castillo, of the Environment Ministry (MINAE), in a statement.

Though Manuel Antonio is typically closed Mondays, it is open May 18. Afterward, visitors can enjoy it on the usual schedule: Tuesdays to Sundays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Several other national parks, in addition to the Monteverde Biological Reserve, will reopen Monday. They had been closed since March 20 in response to the pandemic.

Costa Rica’s remaining protected wildlife areas could reopen June 1.

Established in 1972, Manuel Antonio National Park helps protect 352 species of plants, 107 species of land mammals, 335 species of birds, 93 species of reptiles and 56 species of amphibians, according to SINAC.

More than 311,000 people visited Manuel Antonio National Park in 2017, according to data provided by ICT. Typical capacity is up to 2,700 guests each day. 

The entrance fee to Manuel Antonio is 1,600 colones (about $2.70) for citizens and residents, and $16 for foreigners and non-residents. Due to the coronavirus measures, visitors can enter in groups no larger than five people.



Trending Now

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Celso Gamboa Allegedly Ran Drug Ring with Costa Rican Government Ties

Celso Gamboa, once Costa Rica’s Security Minister and a Supreme Court judge, now faces extradition to the U.S. for leading a major cocaine trafficking...

Costa Rica’s Piangua Mollusk Threatened by Pineapple Farm Runoff

Costa Rica’s Térraba-Sierpe National Wetland, a 33,000-hectare haven of mangroves and rivers, is under siege from an unlikely source: pineapple farms. A study by...

Costa Rica’s President Chaves Accused of Illicit Campaign Financing

On Monday, Costa Rica’s Prosecutor’s Office formally accused President Rodrigo Chaves along with six high-ranking officials and pro-government legislators of allegedly engaging in illicit...

Costa Rican Health Officials Sound Alarm Over Teen Vaping Epidemic

Vaping has become increasingly popular, especially among teenagers and young adults. However, the health consequences associated with its use are raising alarm among Costa...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica