Manuel Antonio is in the mid-pacific region Costa Rica. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica due to its beautiful beaches and rich wildlife. The area that is Manuel Antonio stretches from the town of Quepos and then along an approximately 8km road up a mountain and then back down, finishing at the entrance of the Manuel Antonio National Park and the beautiful playa espadilla . The road to the beach and park is surrounded either side by a large number of hotels and restaurants, offering the visitor a large selection of places to stay and eat.

Contents 1 Get in 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Contact 10 Get out

[edit] Get in

From San Jose, Manuel Antonio can be reached by either bus or plane, via the airport 5 min outside of Quepos Shuttle bus companies like Interbus and Fantasy Bus also run trips about twice a day between this area and other popular places all around Costa Rica.

[edit] Get around

Buses run up and down the mountain every 20 minutes during the day stopping at many places along the way. Cost is approximately $0.25. Taxis are also readily available at approx $5 from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. Scooters and cars can also be rented by those who feel a little more adventurous.

[edit] See

A must-see is the Manuel Antonio National Park as well as the beautiful beaches. Don't miss the monkeys crossing the road in the afternoons or the spectacular sunsets which can be seen from many of the restaurants and hotels along the road.

[edit] Do

The list of activities in Manuel Antonio is endless. Some of the most popular activities include trips to the park and zip-lining and snorkeling.

Park Tours Guides can be found very easily around the entrance to the park from early in the morning. Prices per person can be around $25

Scuba Diving and Snorkelinglink title There are around 15 local dive sites as well as offshore sites in the Manuel Antonio area. Sites vary in ability and wildlife and Try Dives for those that have never been before are also available. For those that want to stay above the water snorkeling and coastal tours with whale watching are also available. Depending on the season humpback whales can be spotted near shore, and dolphins feeding is a regular occurence during the afternoons.

Avoid the sunset tour. They claim they sail on the sail boat and do snorkeling but they just run the engines and the water isn't clear. It's a huge rip off.

Zip-lininglink title link title A large number of canopy tours are available in this area. They involve zipping through the trees at high speed and are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Depending on the company, some tours also involve rappels and tarzan swings so are not recommended for those of you that have an aversion to heights.

White water Rafting link title Two rivers are near Manuel Antonio, the Naranjo and the Savegre. Depending on the season the rivers will vary in strength and speed from a Class II - III during dry season up to a Class IV during wet season. The Naranjo tends to be the faster river with a particular stretch further upstream known as El Chorro sometimes reaching a class V even during the dryer months .

Horse-back Tours A variety of tours are available both along the beach and to some of the local forest areas and waterfalls. Most companies provide a selection of different tours that you can choose from

Mangrove tours Take a trip through the mangroves checking out some of the incredible wildlife.

Spice Tour Check out the local Vanilla farm and get to sample some of the amazing products produced by Villa Vanilla.

[edit] Buy

Check out the large selection of soveneirs and gifts being sold along the beach and by the entrance to the park

[edit] Eat

The great kabobs and steaks at La Cantina

Take in the incredible sunset and soak up the great atmosphere, whilst enjoying a mix of American and Tico food at Aqua Azul

Tapas and beers with style at Salsipuedes

Nachos and that famous view at Barba Roja

Good value and a large menu at the famous El Avion

Very tasty Italian cuisine at El Gato Negro

[edit] Drink

Enjoy a cocktail at sunset on the beach or at either Aqua Azul or Barba Roja to soak up the spectacular views.

Monday night ladies night at Byblos bar

Tuesday and Friday Night live salsa and good drinking at Bambu Jam

Friday Night ladies night at Sargento Garcia

Saturday Night, party into the early hours at Barba Roja

The disco in Quepos is open most nights until about 5am.

[edit] Sleep

Huge number of hotels and hostels to choose from. For those that are budget minded remember that the hostels in Manuel Antonio can fill up so it s good to ring in advance. These are Costa Linda and Hostel Vista Serena. A larger number of cheaper accommodations are available in Quepos. Around the easter and xmas period, vacancies can be hard to find so it is wise to book ahead. A large number of houses and apartments are also available to rent and many come with personal chefs as well.

Some of the bigger hotels in the area include

• Hotel Parador,
• Si Como No,
• La Mariposa,
• Coste Verde,
• Gaia,
• La Mansion,
• Hotel Arenas del Mar [1],
• Issimo Suites,
• Mono Azul,

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out