The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) and the National System of Areas of Conservation (SINAC) with the collaboration of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) are taking measures to improve the conditions at the Manuel Antonio National Park, the most visited National Park in the country.

The existing system to purchase entry tickets, long lines to access the park, the recurring problems with the sewage and wastewater systems, these are all issues that have existed for years and that usually get only temporary or partial solutions.

“We must put an end to this, this is the most visited park, the one that generated the biggest income to the system, and one of the reasons many tourists come to the country; these should be sufficient reasons for authorities to give it the priority attention it deserves”, commented Shirley Calvo, director of the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR).

One of the measures that are being planned by Government institutions includes limiting the number of daily visitors to a daily maximum of 1,700 to avoid putting at risk the sanitary measures offered in this site.

Also, the temporary and preventive installation of portable toilets while the new wastewater treatment plant is installed.

The Government is also looking into hiring a new service that allows online tickets for the park..

“We are already taking measures to solve the challenges in a strategic and permanent way, and immediately to be able to handle the demand of the two months of highest visitation”, commented Pamela Castillo, Vice-Minister of Natural Resources.