You don’t say how long you’re staying or if you’re planning to drive to Manuel Antonio, but if it’s your first time in the country and you’re only going to Manuel Antonio, I would recommend you consider flying there instead of driving. It’s a beautiful 20 minute flight, vs. a difficult 3 hour drive and you’ll likely to get lost as the roads are not well marked. If you do drive, look for signs for the major hotels, like Marriott Los Sueños, which are much more prominent. BTW, Manuel Antonio is a great choice. Great national park where you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches and because you’ll be there during the rainy season, there should not be as many people. Be prepared for rain, probably every day, but you should still get lots of sun. We rented a house for 4 weeks last summer, not far from the hotel you’re staying and we really enjoyed our time there, rain and all.

I would strongly recommend you spend an entire day at the national park, preferably with a local guide. It’s well worth the price as you will enjoy it so much more with someone really showing you all the park has to offer.

Lots of great restaurants to check out. Some of my favorites: La Hacienda, Barba Roja, Claro Que Si, Agua Azul (fantastic view, ok food), Restaurant Mi Lugar AKA Ronny’s Place (great food and the best place to catch the sunset – don’t miss it), Bamboo Jam (great food and live music several times a week) and El Gran Escape (in downtown Quepos, great seafood). The restaurant with the airplace is fun but the food is not great, the restaurant with the railroad car has better food and also live music. As for safety, it’s best not to travel alone, in particular at night, but otherwise you should be fine. When at the beach, don’t leave personal items unattended, in particular electronic equipment like phones or cameras. If the hotel has a safe, use it.

Check out my links for more info, feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Pura vida,
-mario