Tucked into a rugged cranny midway down the Pacific coast, pocket-size Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio embodies many of the diverse attributes that visitors hope to see in Costa Rica. The popular park offers white-sand beaches, a coral reef, and rain forest teeming with wildlife that loves to put on a song and dance.

The 682 ha park is set on a blunt-nosed peninsula backed by forested hills; it also includes the waters of the Pacific on three sides. The peninsula is in fact a tombolo: a slender, low-slung sand spit connecting two larger sections of land.

An adventurous hike along the Mirador Trail leads into the farther reaches, where with luck you might encounter spider monkeys; Manuel Antonio is home to a population of more than 350. the steep trail, which is muddy in wet season, leads to a mirador offering fabulous views over the park and out to sea.