Sun, Surf, and Monkeys: Why We Fell in Love with Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Warm crystal clear water, white sand, monkeys playing nearby and the sun shining high in the sky. Sound appealing, well visit this part of Costa Rica's Pacific coast and that is exactly what you will experience. About 7km south of the quaint town of Quepos is Manuel Antonio, small village and national park. Although it has become a busy tourist destination in the past years it has maintained an appealing sense of charm.
The public beach is a bustling hive of activity with restaurants and small shops to meet the needs of the many people who frequent this area. Being very popular with the local people for an afternoon out it also has an appeal to the surf crowd as the waves rush to shore.
If nature and a more calm swimming atmosphere is your style, go into the national park. Although the walk to beach is about 1.3 km it is worth every step. Plus along the way you will be entertained by the variety of wildlife that call this park home.
The public beach is a bustling hive of activity with restaurants and small shops to meet the needs of the many people who frequent this area. Being very popular with the local people for an afternoon out it also has an appeal to the surf crowd as the waves rush to shore.
If nature and a more calm swimming atmosphere is your style, go into the national park. Although the walk to beach is about 1.3 km it is worth every step. Plus along the way you will be entertained by the variety of wildlife that call this park home.
Playa Manuel Antonio-beach inside the park as viewed from chest deep water
A family of white faced Capuchin Monkeys, perched high in the tree tops
Flight of the Mono Tití: A rare Central American Squirrel Monkey uses its long, non-prehensile tail for balance during a canopy leap.
As we hiked into Manuel Antonio, the canopy signaled the arrival of something distinct from the usual heavy crashing of Howlers or the bold curiosity of Capuchins. We had stumbled upon a troop of Central American Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii), locally known as "Mono Tití," which are the smallest and rarest primates in Costa Rica. Unlike their cousins, these monkeys boast a unique coloration with a distinctive "masked" face and golden-orange fur on their backs that seemed to glow in the dappled jungle light. Spotting this specific subspecies is a privilege, as they are endemic to this narrow strip of the Pacific coast and were once critically endangered, making their presence here a testament to successful conservation efforts.
The troop moved with frantic, electric energy, offering a challenging subject for photography as they darted through the mid-canopy. Rob managed to capture the defining characteristic that separates them from other New World monkeys: their tail. Unlike the prehensile tails of Spider or Capuchin monkeys that grip branches like a fifth hand, the Squirrel Monkey’s long, non-prehensile tail serves strictly as a counterbalance. This biological trait was on full display as they launched themselves into the void, making incredible, gravity-defying leaps between trees with total confidence, looking more like birds taking flight than mammals.
As we hiked into Manuel Antonio, the canopy signaled the arrival of something distinct from the usual heavy crashing of Howlers or the bold curiosity of Capuchins. We had stumbled upon a troop of Central American Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii), locally known as "Mono Tití," which are the smallest and rarest primates in Costa Rica. Unlike their cousins, these monkeys boast a unique coloration with a distinctive "masked" face and golden-orange fur on their backs that seemed to glow in the dappled jungle light. Spotting this specific subspecies is a privilege, as they are endemic to this narrow strip of the Pacific coast and were once critically endangered, making their presence here a testament to successful conservation efforts.
The troop moved with frantic, electric energy, offering a challenging subject for photography as they darted through the mid-canopy. Rob managed to capture the defining characteristic that separates them from other New World monkeys: their tail. Unlike the prehensile tails of Spider or Capuchin monkeys that grip branches like a fifth hand, the Squirrel Monkey’s long, non-prehensile tail serves strictly as a counterbalance. This biological trait was on full display as they launched themselves into the void, making incredible, gravity-defying leaps between trees with total confidence, looking more like birds taking flight than mammals.
This Agouti was calmly enjoying his supper when Rob and I walked by on our way out of the park. They are common in relatively undisturbed forests of low elevation and are related to guinea pigs and chinchillas. The agouti is reddish brown to black with a white, yellow, or gray underside.
Tiny watcher in the palms: A rare Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl perched high above us.
While taking a break to enjoy a refreshing drink, nature decided to offer us a special treat of its own. Perched high atop a swaying palm frond, looking down with piercing yellow eyes, was a Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum). It is incredibly easy to miss these birds; standing only about 6 inches (15 cm) tall, they are deceptively small—roughly the size of a soda can—yet they carry the fierce demeanor of a much larger raptor. Seeing one so exposed against the bright sky was a rare stroke of luck that turned a simple pause in our day into a memorable wildlife encounter.
This particular species is a true regional treasure, found only in the highlands of central Costa Rica and western Panama. Unlike many of their nocturnal cousins who hide away during the day, pygmy-owls are often active in daylight, which explains why we were able to spot this one scanning the area from its high vantage point. It sat perfectly still among the green fronds, a tiny, endemic predator surveying its kingdom, reminding us that in this country, you have to keep your eyes peeled even when you're just sitting down to relax.
While taking a break to enjoy a refreshing drink, nature decided to offer us a special treat of its own. Perched high atop a swaying palm frond, looking down with piercing yellow eyes, was a Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium costaricanum). It is incredibly easy to miss these birds; standing only about 6 inches (15 cm) tall, they are deceptively small—roughly the size of a soda can—yet they carry the fierce demeanor of a much larger raptor. Seeing one so exposed against the bright sky was a rare stroke of luck that turned a simple pause in our day into a memorable wildlife encounter.
This particular species is a true regional treasure, found only in the highlands of central Costa Rica and western Panama. Unlike many of their nocturnal cousins who hide away during the day, pygmy-owls are often active in daylight, which explains why we were able to spot this one scanning the area from its high vantage point. It sat perfectly still among the green fronds, a tiny, endemic predator surveying its kingdom, reminding us that in this country, you have to keep your eyes peeled even when you're just sitting down to relax.
Clarity in motion: Surfers and swimmers enjoying the pristine public beach.
It is often difficult to find the right words to describe the sheer clarity of the Pacific Ocean here in Manuel Antonio, but I believe these pictures Rob took speaks louder than any description I could write. The water isn't just blue; it is a transparent, turquoise window that invites you in. The visibility is so striking that it blurs the line between the air above and the depths below, creating a mesmerizing playground for anyone with a board or just a love for the waves.
We spent time watching the surfers enjoying the waves at the public beach, capitalizing on the perfect swell. You can see the water's transparency perfectly in this shot where Rob captured a few of them in the surf. Notice the one figure on the left, completely submerged but still visibly crisp through the wall of water. Rob's lens caught him in that fleeting moment just before he surfaced, suspended in the clear green tide. It was the perfect refreshing end to a day filled with humid jungle treks.
It is often difficult to find the right words to describe the sheer clarity of the Pacific Ocean here in Manuel Antonio, but I believe these pictures Rob took speaks louder than any description I could write. The water isn't just blue; it is a transparent, turquoise window that invites you in. The visibility is so striking that it blurs the line between the air above and the depths below, creating a mesmerizing playground for anyone with a board or just a love for the waves.
We spent time watching the surfers enjoying the waves at the public beach, capitalizing on the perfect swell. You can see the water's transparency perfectly in this shot where Rob captured a few of them in the surf. Notice the one figure on the left, completely submerged but still visibly crisp through the wall of water. Rob's lens caught him in that fleeting moment just before he surfaced, suspended in the clear green tide. It was the perfect refreshing end to a day filled with humid jungle treks.
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