What our experts say

The beach at Manuel Antonio, on the edge of the eponymous jungley national park, is one of the most visually stunning Pacific beaches. Not surprisingly there are now plenty of hotels and other facilities, although it remains largely unspoiled. Of course it wasn't always like this: on my first visit in 1981 only a few adventurous backpackers made it there (you could fly in on a battered DC3 for $4.00); it had one bar which offered lethal vodka and orange cocktails, and a fan of sands which at sunset attracted families of monkeys to play. You could by a plot of beachfront land for $US500. I met a Canadian hippy who did just that. Far-sighted or what... 

Claire Milner

Product and Marketing