YES!!

BE CAREFUL!!!!

Gorgeous place, but very dangerous. Be very cautious, but also remember that there are people there who are kindhearted solid spirits.

The police are not a source I would rely on either if I were you.

Manuel Antonio/Quepos is gorgeous. You picked a great place to visit. It is a bit of a travel from San Jose airport to the Southwest area of the country but well worth it. As said above, be careful because with the influx in tourism comes people wanting to “get ahead” and take advantage of the tourists. I don’t know of your hotel so I can’t help out with that. Have fun and go into the Manuel Antonio National Park/Beach if you have the chance. It’s one of my favorites!

You will love Costa Rica. It’s one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. Quepos can be dangerous, especially after dark. During the day I always felt fine in Quepos, and we were two girls backpacking through Costa Rica. I also loved Manuel Antonio National Park. Go to Manuel Antonio at night also and go to Mar y Sombra. It’s a discoteca on the beach. There are some tables outdoors with some trees around them. There are monkeys hanging out in these trees… a most amazing experience. Bring Deet for mosquitoes as that’s a problem there. Also be careful when eating the meat as I got pretty sick during my last week there. My friend didn’t eat any meat while there and was fine. Anyway, have a great time! Pura Vida!

yes costa rica is an amazing place, with so much to do. the food is fantastic and the people are friendly. manuel antonio is quite beautiful, make sure to bring your camera! there is also some incredible surfing there too incase you wanted to give that a shot. be safe and have fun!

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

Excellent place to visit…..but there are more beautiful places to visit and are cheaper than Manuel Antonio. FYI Guanacaste depending of the area you visit could cost 30% less than Manuel Antonio!!!

Anything you need just let me know: angelo_eg@hotmail.com I’ll be more than glad to give you any specific advice you need.

Take care!!