Things to do in Quepos & Manuel Antonio
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Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio was declared a national park in 1972, preserving it (with just minutes to spare) from being bulldozed and razed to make room for a coastal development project. Although Manuel Antonio was enlarged to its present-day size of 16 sq km in 2000, it is still the country’s second-smallest national park. Space remains a premium, and as this is one of Central America’s top tourist destinations, you’re going to have to break free from the camera-clicking tour groups and actively seek out your own idyllic spot of sand.
With that said, Manuel Antonio is absolutely stunning, and on a good day, at the right time, it’s easy to convince yourself that…
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Café Milagro
Serving some of the country’s best cappuccino and espresso, this is a great place to perk up in the morning – try the perezoso (meaning ‘lazy’ or ‘sloth’), which is a double espresso poured into a large cup of drip-filter coffee. Or, if you want to simply relax and read the English-language newspapers that are available, you can indulge in a baked good or a freshly made deli sandwich.
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Manuel Antonio Surf School
If you’re looking to surf, the gentle ankle-slappers here are perfect for getting your sea legs. Manuel Antonio Surf School has a kiosk on the beach.
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El Patio
This Nuevo Latino spot is adored by locals and tourists alike, in part because its menu changes daily yet never fails to entice and surprise. The unspoken rule here is fresh and local, which means that meats, seafood and produce are always of the highest quality, and always prepared in a way that highlights their natural flavors. If you’re a fan of tapas, sample a few dishes here, though go slow and enjoy your meal over a few glasses of imported wine.
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Tropical Sushi
Quepos has gone cosmopolitan – for authentic Japanese (yes, the sushi chef is from Japan!), try this colorfully decorated restaurant, which occasionally has all-you-can-eat specials. If you’re a purist, you can stick to the tuna sashimi spreads, though it’s worth venturing out a bit and sampling some of the local Costa Rican–style rolls.
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Monchados
Something of a Quepos institution, this long-standing Mex-Carib spot is always bustling with dinner-goers who line up to try traditional Limón-style dishes and Mexican standards. Food here is eclectic, innovative and never bland, a theme that is also reflected in the vibrant decorations and fairly regular live music.
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Playa Espadilla
There’s a good beach, Playa Espadilla, near the entrance to the Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, though you need to be wary of rip currents. There are some lifeguards working at this beach, though not at the other beaches in the area.
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Amigo Tico Complete Adventure Tours
Offers a range of tours, including rafting, walks in national parks, mountain biking and fishing. There’s no office in Quepos; book by phone or through your hotel.
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Fincas Naturales
Belonging to Hotel Sí Como No and situated just across the street is this private rainforest preserve and butterfly garden. About three dozen species of butterfly are bred here. The garden has a sound-and-light show at night (US$35 per person) and is surrounded by nature trails.
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Books2Go
Susan runs a quaint little bookstore that also serves as the travelers’ meeting place. You can post messages, store your bags, burn photos to CDs, use the internet (₡1000per hour), or just hang out and read a good book.
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Iguana Tours
An adventure-travel shop offering river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mangrove tours and dolphin-watching excursions.
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Discoteca Arco Iris
An industrial-sized discotheque just north of town that brings out the locals with thumping dance beats.
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Serenity Spa
After a day’s activities, you can relax at the Serenity Spa, a good place for couple’s massages, sunburn-relief treatments, coconut body scrubs and tasty coffee.
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Sargento García
This Stars-and-Stripes tribute bar may be a bit heavy on the Americana for some, but look no further if you’re craving a Budweiser.
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El Gran Escape
A fishermen-friendly bar and restaurant that is good for cold beer, warm pub grub and some light-hearted chit-chat about the one that got away.
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Ríos Tropicales
The venerable Costa Rican rafting company has an office in Quepos.
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Turtle Trap
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Casino
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Café Milagro
The sister cafe of the one in Quepos is an obligatory stop on the way to the park as its coffee is pure black gold. Breakfast and sandwiches are well priced and surprisingly filling, and they’ll most definitely put that extra spring in your step once you hit the trails.
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Planet Dolphin
Steve Wofford at Planet Dolphin offers dolphin- and whale-watching tours; starlight sailing cruises are also available. Prices vary depending on the size of your group and your itinerary.
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Oceans Unlimited
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