Manuel Antonio epitomizes everything tourists flock to Costa Rica to see: stunning beaches, a magnificent setting with islands offshore (bird sanctuaries for marine species), lush rainforest laced with a network of welcoming trails, wildlife galore, etc. Also close-up encounters with monkeys, sloths, coatimundis, and scarlet macaws are guaranteed. The area is home to more than 350 bird species, 110 species of mammals, 346 plant species, and a variety of marine animals. No wonder why more that 150,000 tourists visit it every year!
Though tourism is very important for Costa Rican economy, it is also important to keep these areas apt for animal and plants reproduction. Tourist activity and infrastructure is getting in the way of the conservation of this fantastic place.
The park suffers environmental problems which are the result of insufficient planning of tourist development in the surrounding area. Other problems are also caused by the massive numbers of tourists. These include the resulting contamination of the ocean near the park, the production of large amounts of garbage, and the feeding of wildlife by park visitors. The area is also subjected to pressure from agriculture and dairy farming. For that reason, the organization behind this project works with Costa Rican and international volunteers in the conservation of Manuel Antonio National Park.