Things to do in Quepos
-
A
Lynch Travel
From airline reservations to fishing packages and rainforest tours, this travel shop has it all.
reviewed
-
B
Dos Locos
This popular Mexican restaurant is the regular watering hole for the local expat community, and sometimes serves as a venue for the occasional live band. It opens onto the central cross streets of town and its fun for people-watching and cheap Imperials. It has an English-language trivia night every Thursday.
reviewed
-
C
Escalofrío
Here you’ll find more than 20 different flavors of gelato, which may just be the perfect way to beat the tropical heat. There is also a spacious alfresco seating area where you can sample other Italian treats including espressos and cappuccinos as well as an assortment of pizzas (which come from a lovely wood-fired oven) and pastas. It also has a deli across the street where travelers can get sandwiches with imported Italian meats and cheeses to take into Manuel Antonio.
reviewed
-
D
Manuel Antonio Divers
reviewed
-
E
Mercado Central
reviewed
-
F
Oceans Unlimited
This shop takes its diving very seriously, and runs most of its excursions out to Isla Larga and Isla del Caño, which is south in Bahía Drake (connected through a two-hour bus trip south). It also has a range of specialized PADI certifications and regular environmental awareness projects that make it stand out from the pack. The shop is near the southeast corner of the football field, on the road to Manuel Antonio.
reviewed
-
G
Casino
If you feel like putting your cash on the line, there’s a small but suitable casino at the Best Western Hotel Kamuk, but the scene gets a bit seedy.
reviewed
-
H
Bohemia Café
The decor is a bit loud – it's all a mess of colors and animal print – but this little spot draws a pleasant mix of travelers who tend to clack away on their keyboards or wolf down decent burritos and cheap smoothies. For upscale dishes it does pan-international dishes with tropical flair, like mahimahi with coconut and pineapple.
reviewed
-
I
Cevicheria El Dorado
There's nothing to it – a tinny radio playing Costa Rican pop, a few well-worn stools and a couple of friendly ladies behind the counter – but locals seek out this tiny ceviche joint for amazing dishes of fresh affordable fish dressed in citrus and cilantro (coriander) and sided with a few cooked plantains. The selection changes with the seasonal catch, but the price always stays low.
reviewed
-
J
Farmers Market
reviewed
Advertisement
-
K
Musik
The decor of this futuristically themed place (white plastic furniture and lasers) is a bit heavy-handed, but the centrally located club has theme nights, requisite (dangerously cheap) ladies' specials and a molar-rattling sound system. When the place is empty, get a corner seat on the balcony to watch the action unfold on the streets below. It's above a Century 21 office.
reviewed
-
L
Republik Club
Republik hosts the most reliable party in central Quepos, and it has some kind of drink special nearly every night if you arrive before 10pm. (Of course the place is pretty lonely at that hour.) Later, the volume gets loud, the drinks get more pricey and things tend to careen out of control. Depending on the night it can be a excellent place to party, though ladies with a strong constitution and a taste for adventure should go on Thursday, when they can drink free most of the night.
reviewed
-
M
Soda Como Bien
A discussion about which is the best of of the mercado's sodas can quickly become contentious, but little Como Bien, in the northeast corner of the market, is among the best on the whole coast. The daily rotation of delicious cafeteria options might include fresh fish in a tomato citrus sauce, olla de carne (beef soup with rice) or chicken soup, but everything is fresh, the ladies behind the counter are friendly and the burly portions are a dream come true for hungry shoestringers. If you're just looking for something quick before or after a big bus ride, pick up one the fresh empanadas.
reviewed
-
N
Super Mas
Don't mistake this market for your average supermarket: the wondrous aisles of Super Mas have an astonishing array of imported goods, fresh bread and liquor.
reviewed
-
O
Costa Mar Dream Catcher
Next to Cafe Milagro.
reviewed
-
P
Bluefin Sportfishing
Across from the soccer field, this outfitter does excellent fishing trips. It also offers a laundry list of other tours.
reviewed
-
Q
Luna Tours
Located in Best Western Hotel Kamuk.
reviewed
-
R
Four Trax Adventure
Four-hour ATV tours are US$95 per person.
reviewed
-
S
h2o Adventures
The venerable Costa Rican rafting company Ríos Tropicales has an office in Quepos called h2o Adventures. Rates for class III and IV rapids runs start at US$67 in low season. In summer they are US$82.
reviewed
-
T
El Gran Escape
A fisher-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.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
U
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 and some big-screen sports. On Wednesday nights it offers free salsa dancing classes at 8pm.
reviewed
-
V
Discoteca Arco Iris
An industrial-sized discotheque just north of town that brings out the locals with thumping dance beats. Don't even think of coming here early; you'll be drinking alone. There's a cover of about US$6 every night to dissuade the riffraff.
reviewed
-
W
Iguana Tours
With tours that leave for destinations all over the central Pacific coast, this adventure-travel shop offers reputable river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mangrove tours and dolphin-watching excursions. It's no fly-by-night operation – it's been around since '89 – and has a proven commitment to ecotourism principles.
reviewed
-
X
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.
reviewed
-
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.
reviewed