The wildlife

With intense efforts underway since the 1970s, more than one quarter of Costa Rica has been set aside for conservation.

Nowhere are Costa Rica's ecological treasures more apparent than in its host of national parks. More than 290,000 people visited the parks in 1994. (Visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.)

Many of the species extinct in neighboring countries still thrive in Costa Rica. The country is home to about 9,000 types of flowering plants, including more than 1,000 species of orchids. Almost 400 species of reptiles and amphibians, about 200 species of mammals, 850 species of birds and 2,000 species of butterflies call Costa Rica home.

Located in the province of Puntarenas on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio National Park remains one of Costa Rica's most famous and most visited parks. At the park, visitors can catch a glimpse of monkeys, macaws, toucans, iguanas, sloths and other unusual creatures.

Designated a national park in 1972, Manuel Antonio occupies about 1,700 acres (68 hectares) of land and 136,000 acres (5,440 hectares) of ocean. More than 109 species of mammals and 187 species of birds live in its forests, and 12 islands serve as a habitat for large numbers of sea birds.

For an entry price of about US$10, visitors can trek through virgin and secondary forests, loll on secluded beaches and peek into exquisite lagoons. Those so can inclined can clamber up either the Punta Catedral and Serrucho cliffs for a magnificent view of the coast.

Since many of the animals hide from humans, hiring a guide is highly recommended. Without one, you'll see plenty of crabs, iguanas and birds, but can forget about glimpsing toucans, sloths, squirrel monkeys or raccoons, all of which tend to remain out of sight.