Nearby National Parks

Portasol Sustainable Community is located in the coastal mountains of the Central Pacific of Costa Rica, minutes away from some of the most visited national parks  in the country.

About 100 miles away you can find Carara National Park to the northwest, and Corcovado National Park to the southeast. Corcovado is, according to National Geographic, “the most biologically intense place on earth”.

It has been said that Corcovado has more biodiversity than Canada & United States combined. This park has miles of deserted beaches, natural waterfalls, arousing the curiosity of visitors throughout the world.

Then, one of the most popular travelling destinations in Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio National Park . Home to an amazing variety of birds and wildlife, also has some of the best beaches in Costa Rica ; not only offers wonderful water sports activities, but also stunning lush vegetation.

Ballena Marine National Park was created to protect critical habitats of many marine species such as whales and dolphins, as well as preserve the productivity of biological communities that inhabit the coastal zone.

There are also beautiful beaches of sand and stone like Playa Ballena, Playa Uvita and Playa Piñuelas . There are several mangrove forests along the rivers that flow to the sea.

Its name explains clearly the importance not only scientific but also cultural and environmental, it lies mainly in the visit of humpback whales during late December to late April and July to September when they migrate north to tropical waters of Central America.

Stay at Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living , it’s located between Manuel Antonio National Park and the Marino Ballena National Park, in Portalón Village, Province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific area. The sustainable community of Portasol has vacation rentals in Manuel Antonio available in rainforest bungalows and Costa Rica luxury vacation homes for you to enjoy.

By Maria Laura Charles

Top 10 Spa Benefits in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica.

Ever dream of escaping every so often, even if it’s just for a few hours? With so many things competing for our attention in today’s fast-paced world, it’s common to want to get away.

Visiting a day spa helps you switch off and relax, disconnect from the world, and restore your mind, body and spirit. Spas provide peace, relaxation, and help create a healthier you. Even when you finally do go on vacation, you can jump-start your relaxation with a massage or spa body treatment. It really is amazing how massage therapy benefits you by relaxing tight muscles, increasing circulation, releasing toxins, easing stress, and boosting your health and vitality.

So, indulge in some much-needed “me” time, and check out these top 10 spa benefits:

1. A massage gives you a break to slow down and de-stress.
2. Massage improves blood circulation, which carries oxygen and nutrients to your cells.
3. Massage stimulates your lymphatic system, which carries away the body's waste.
4. Massage releases a hormone called Serotonin that produces a state of “feeling good” in your body and mind.
5. Soft tissue massage increases circulation, boosts your energy and reduces fatigue.
6. Deep tissue massage eases tense muscles and cramps into relaxation.
7. Massage therapy can help with pain management in chronic conditions like arthritis, low back pain and sciatica.
8. Body polishes gently exfoliate your skin, promoting cellular renovation, cleansing pores and giving your skin a young, healthy glow.
9. Body wraps replenish your body with nutrients and elements lost on a daily basis, thus boosting your skin’s moisture, helping to rejuvenate and relax you.
10. Body wraps or polishes with therapeutic mud exfoliate dead skin cells, eliminate toxins and increase circulation.

When on vacation in Costa Rica, visit the Shana Spa at the elegant Shana Hotel & Residence in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Internationally certified therapists use local natural ingredients for a variety of traditional and original Costa Rican spa therapies, including massages, body scrubs, body wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and cosmetic treatments.

Manuel Antonio is one of the most visited vacation destinations in Costa Rica, and was named one of the Top 25 Beaches in the World for 2014. Located on the Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio is only 20 minutes by domestic flight from the capital city of San Jose, or a couple of hours by car.  

Article by Shannon Farley