Manuel Antonio / Quepos was one of the first areas that I visited when I
started to go to Costa Rica many years ago, and it remains one of my favorite
places. I feel this area gets an unfair knock from many travel writers.
Sure - it can be crowded at high season (especially during Christmas and Easter
weeks), but I the beaches in the National Park are still some of the
most beautiful in all of Costa Rica. Moreover, the billfishing in this area is some of
the finest in the world, with many world records taken off the coast here. Above, an
aerial view of the tambolo shows why it is regarded as one of the most perfect in the world.
Built up from thousands of years of wave-action, the narrow isthmus connects the island to
the mainland.
This is an easy area to get around - you will not need a car. There is a
seven-kilometer long road leading from the little fishing town of Quepos
and ending at the National Park. All along this road you can find a dizzying
array of hotels.
For me, a typical day in the park is spent either hiking on
its well-groomed trails or simply relaxing on the beach. At the end of the
day I will head back to my hotel, grab a quick shower and head to one of the
many good restaurants that can be found in the area, then maybe hit one of the
small local discos. Visit Manuel Antonio in the off season, and I promise
that you will want to return again and again, too.
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Not only is Manuel Antonio famous for fishing, but it is also famous for its
other marine life. Here, Pat's wife Melissa looks for dolphins off the coast.
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