Quepos and Manuel Antonio

General Information:

Location: Central Pacific Coast; 110 miles from San Jose

Weather: Warm and humid with light sea breezes.

Temperatures: Average 69-89° F, see Manuel Antonio and Quepos climate

Altitude: 82 feet above sea level

Read more about the Central Pacific Tourism Region

Discover Manuel Antonio and Quepos on our travel blog

About:

Located on the idyllic Central Pacific Coast, Quepos and Manuel Antonio attract sun-lovers, wildlife enthusiasts and outdoor adventure seekers. Clean turquoise waters grace the shores of the many beaches and coves that form the serpentine coast. Less than a four-hour drive from San Jose, Manuel Antonio and Quepos are also accessible by local airlines and public bus.

A coastal town celebrated for its world-class sport fishing, Quepos is the gateway to the pristine beaches of Manuel Antonio. The town is filled with restaurants, bars and art galleries, and hosts a lively outdoor market on Saturdays.  There is no shortage of tour companies, which offer everything from canopy tours to horseback trips. Several sport fishing outfits in town provide both inshore and offshore excursions. Sailfish can be had year-round, while marlin, yellow-fin tuna and mahi mahi are common as well. Depending on the season, anglers might also catch wahoo, roosterfish, amberjack and snook.

Just four miles south of Quepos are the beaches and national park of Manuel Antonio. Early morning hikers are likely to see white-faced capuchin monkeys, black spiny iguanas, coatimundis and a variety of song birds. Two and three-toed sloths are also abundant.  The beaches inside Manuel Antonio National Park are some of the most beautiful Costa Rica has to offer. Beach-lovers can laze the day away, enjoying the gentle breezes and shady patches along the shore.

The winding road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio is lined with a variety of hotels and restaurants, many with fantastic ocean views.

Brief History:

Quepos was originally home to the Quepoa Indian tribe until the 1800's when it was colonized by farmers from the Central Valley. The settlers transformed the area into a productive banana plantation and the docks were used to ship bananas worldwide. African oil-palms replaced bananas in exports in the 1980’s, but low salaries and scarce employment resulted in a lackluster commercial port. Today, the docks in Quepos are used to service the sport-fishing industry which is a major attraction. Tourism is now the area's top industry. A large marina is scheduled to be constructed in Quepos beginning in 2007.