Quepos to Manuel Antonio

Introducing Quepos to Manuel Antonio

From the port of Quepos, the road swings inland for 7km before reaching the beaches of Manuel Antonio village and the entrance to the national park. The serpentine road passes over a number of hills awash with picturesque views of forested slopes leading down to the palm-fringed coastline. Unfortunately, virtually every hilltop vista has been commandeered by a hotel that lists ‘ocean views’ as a major attraction, and the wave of construction seems to be building momentum. The problem with the proliferation of hotels is that the sewage system in the area is primitive at best, which has led to serious threats of marine pollution. The park is also being overwhelmed by visitors, which is disruptive to the wildlife as some tourists are insistent on feeding wild animals.

This area is regarded as the most popular gay destination in Costa Rica with gay-friendly establishments lining the road. Although homosexuality has been decriminalized in Costa Rica since the 1970s, the recent relocation of gay ex-pats to the Manuel Antonio area has resulted in a blossoming gay scene that is unique in conservative Latin America. During the day there are a few popular hangout spots on the local gay beach, La Playita , though the scene moves into the upscale bars and clubs at night.

Note that the road is steep, winding and very narrow. Worse, local bus drivers love to careen through at high velocities. There are almost no places to pull over in the event of an emergency. Drive and walk with care.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009