Manuel Antonio National Park was created as a recreation area and from this point of view it provides certain facilities, such as picnic areas and look-outs.  Among the scenic sites, some of the most attractive are:  the tombolo at Cathedral Point, a long, sandy strip that joins what was Cathedral Island to the mainland; the cove at Escondido Harbour with blue-green waters surrounded by underwater caves and cliffs pounded by the surf; and the beautiful beaches where sometimes olive ridley and green turtles come to lay their eggs.

The wildlife in the forest habitat consist mainly of white-faced capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys, pacas, grey squirrels, raccoons, white-nosed coaties, and two- and three-toed sloths.  Some of the bird species that live in the park are the brown pelican, laughing falcon, black-collared hawk, white ibis, white-bellied chachalaca, blue-crowned manakin, fiery-billed aracari, green kingfisher and jacana.

There are other habitats besides the forest, such as mangrove swamp, lagoons, littoral woodland and island vegetation.  The park houses a total of 109 species of mammals and 184 of birds.  Crabs abound in the small intermittent lagoons covered with gramineous plants and heliconias, a typical species being the brightly coloured mouthless crab that migrates to the beach at the beginning of the rainy season. The lagoons are also home to caymans, boa constrictors, grass snakes, white-nosed coaties and raccoons.

The islands and islets provide an important refuge for seabirds, specially common terns and magnificent frigatebirds.  Brown pelicans inhabit Mogote and anhingas use  Olocuita and Larga Islans as a mating and nesting site. In the waters around the cliffs of volcanic-sedimentary rocks, scientists have identified 19 species of coral, 78 of fish, 24 of crustaceans and 10 of sponges.