Unveiling the History of Manuel Antonio!

"Pura Vida" is the term that defines Costa Rica which directly translates in English to "pure life". And truly, Costa Ricans relish a pure life with a relaxed and simple way of living. This outlook on life attracts people from all over the world to Costa Rica for vacations. People come here to live a life free from the city life hassles and worries. That is why; Costa Rica is placed first in the Happy Planet Index rankings. Also the country scores high in overall wellbeing and life expectancy.

If you wish to experience the "pura vida" life then begin your vacation in Manuel Antonio. Have a look at the history of Manuel Antonio, to find out more about this mesmerizing place:

The Natives

While numerous American history versions reference European names as "discoverers" of the different regions, there were natives there first. The natives of Manuel Antonio were known as the Quepo. The Quepo group traveled to Costa Rica from Colombia's Amazon River region somewhere in between 900 and 950 AD. The women of this group were believed to be as strong as the men and were ace archers. The Quepo constructed circular homes from cane and thatch and created their village. Archaeologists have discovered much more that include settlements entirely different from that of the Quepo group. It might be the group that lived there before the Quepo.

The Age of Discovery

The period of "The Age of Discovery" also known as the Age of Exploration marks an important time in history where the European sailors sailed the seas to discover new land for empire expansion. Some of the most ambitious explorers were the Spanish conquistadors which is quite evident in the widespread of the Spanish language. The Spanish explorers were believed to be extremely brutal in their colonial pursuits and Costa Rica fell victim to their violence in the past. And here Manuel Antonio came into existence.

The First Discovery

After finding out that the region is highly profitable, the conquistadors decided to settle there and get anything of value from the land. In the year 1519, Hernan Ponce de Leon had eyes on this land and tried to claim it for the expansion of Spanish empire. However, before him a thousand of Quepo were waiting for them who chased the Spanish conquistadors away. Ponce de Leon avoided the fight and chose to keep sailing.

The Second Discovery

In 1523, another Spanish explorer, Gil Gonzalez Davila came all the way on foot to Manuel Antonio and faced the natives bravely. He was then allowed to stay. After surveying the area he notified the Spanish crown that the region was filled with gold.

The Third Discovery

Even when the Spanish crown knew that Manuel Antonio is filled with riches they took slow steps to act. In 1563, they sent a strong conquistador, Juan Vzquez de Coronado, for conquering the land. He with his 70 soldiers fought for the land but the struggle was too great that they arranged an alliance with the native Quepo. Coronado even shared that Quepo were " the cleanest and most intelligent people” he came across in Costa Rica. Even Coronado and his soldiers fought for the Quepo against another native group, the Couto, to intimidate them. After a strong fight, finally the Couto released the hostages from the Quepo group.

Later “Discoveries”

The Spanish however dashed before the beginning of the 17th century as the native groups proved to be way too dangerous for the European settlers who left eventually. In the late 1600s the British pirates occupied Manuel Antonio to dig out the rumoured great treasure buried somewhere in the lush ecosystem of the place.

Found the discoveries interesting? There are many such stories and facts that make exploring Manuel Antonio a must. But to do that one needs to make a stay for at least three to four days. And as far as a stay is concerned Vacation Rentals in Manuel Antonio are your best bet. There are numerous Manuel Antonio vacation rentals that provide a luxurious stay while offering opportunities to explore the best of the place in the most convenient way.

Conclusion:

Manuel Antonio Luxury Rentals provide some of the best Vacation Rentals in Manuel Antonio for accommodation.