Have you heard of Semana Santa ("Holy Week")?
You may know the word Pascua (Easter). Semana Santa is the Christian tradition of the week leading up to Easter — the days commemorating Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.
It's a religiously important week, but it's also become a holiday week. Travel surges across Costa Rica during this time, and I used the April Semana Santa break to head to one of the country's most popular destinations.
Manuel Antonio National Park
The destination was Manuel Antonio National Park. About 3.5 hours from San José by car, with well-maintained trails, it's an easy park to walk. It's famous for its beaches and offers ocean and rainforest in one place.
A Park Full of Wildlife
The variety of animals in this park is something else. Sloths, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, squirrel monkeys (hard to spot elsewhere), raccoons, iguanas… even without a guide, just looking up into the trees you'll spot something.
Right near the park exit, the river is home to wild American crocodiles. A nearby sign reads "Crocodiles — do not swim." A reassuringly Central American approach to safety, and I had to laugh. That said, very rarely tourists swimming near the river mouth do get attacked. Not so funny then.
Surfing and a Familiar Voice
The park is known as a surf spot too, and the surfboard rental shop happened to be staffed by a Japanese woman. Hearing Japanese after a long while felt oddly comforting.
Tourist spots fill up during Semana Santa. But that's also a sign of how much people value this time.
Even with the crowds, the park was worth it.
Travel Guide (general information)
※ This section combines public information with the author's notes; please confirm the latest reserve rules, fees, and operating hours on the official sites.
Manuel Antonio National Park
- Location: Near Quepos in Puntarenas province, about 3 hours by car from San José.
- Size: About 683 hectares — one of Costa Rica's smallest yet most-visited national parks.
- Closed days: Tuesdays (subject to change); open 7:00–16:00.
- Entry: Daily visitor caps apply; advance online reservation required (SINAC official site or ACOPAC).
Wildlife
- Monkeys: Howler, white-faced capuchin, Central American squirrel monkey (endangered), and night monkey.
- Sloths: Both two-toed and three-toed species are present; a guide noticeably increases your chances of spotting them.
- Other: Agoutis, coatis, large iguanas, and many seabirds.
- Caution: Do not feed the monkeys; keep food inside your backpack. Raccoons and monkeys will go after unattended belongings.
During Holy Week (Semana Santa)
- Holy Week: The week before Easter. Thursday through Sunday are holidays, and much of Costa Rica is on the move.
- Crowds: Tourist towns fill up — hotels, restaurants, and parks all max out. Booking 3–6 months ahead is the safe move.
- Surfing: The Quepos–Manuel Antonio area has intermediate-friendly waves and plenty of board rentals.