Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [297]
Internet Quepos.com (per hr ₡750; 8am-8pm Mon-Sat) You can check your email here on several computers with decent connections.
Quepolandia (www.quepolandia.com) The latest happenings are listed in this free English-language monthly magazine, found at many of the town’s businesses.
Return to beginning of chapter
Dangers & Annoyances
The town’s large number of easily spotted tourists has attracted thieves. In response, the Costa Rican authorities have greatly increased police presence in the area, but travelers should always lock hotel rooms and never leave cars unattended on the street – use guarded lots instead. The area is far from dangerous, but the laid-back atmosphere should not lull you into a false sense of security.
In addition, women should keep in mind that the town’s bars attract rowdy crowds of plantation workers on weekends. So walking around town in your swimsuit will most certainly garner the wrong kind of attention.
Note that the beaches in Quepos are polluted and not recommended for swimming. Go over the hill to Manuel Antonio instead.
Return to beginning of chapter
Activities
SPORTFISHING
Sportfishing is big in the Quepos area. Offshore fishing is best from December to April, when sailfish are being hooked. You can expect to pay upwards of US$1000 to hire a boat for the day.
Bluefin Sportfishing (2777-2222; www.bluefinsportfishing.com) Across from the soccer field.
Luna Tours (2777-0725; www.lunatours.net) Located in Best Western Hotel Kamuk.
DIVING
The dive sites are still being developed in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, though the following operators have both been recommended by readers. The dive sites are away from the contaminated beaches, so water pollution is not a problem when diving.
Manuel Antonio Divers (2777-3483; www.manuelantoniodivers.com)
Oceans Unlimited (2777-3171; www.oceansunlimitedcr.com)
WHITE-WATER RAFTING
The venerable Costa Rican rafting company, Ríos Tropicales (2777-4092; www.riostropicales.com), has an office in Quepos.
Return to beginning of chapter
Tours
There are numerous reputable tour operators in the Quepos area.
Amigo Tico Complete Adventure Tours (2777-2812; www.puertoquepos.com) 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.
Iguana Tours (2777-1262; www.iguanatours.com) An adventure-travel shop offering river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mangrove tours and dolphin-watching excursions.
Lynch Travel (2777-1170; www.lynchtravel.com) From airline reservations to fishing packages and rainforest tours, this travel shop has it all.
Return to beginning of chapter
Quepos for Children
The entire Quepos and Manuel Antonio area is one of Costa Rica’s leading family-friendly destinations. With beaches and rainforest in close proximity – not to mention a healthy dose of charismatic wildlife – the region can enchant young minds regardless of their attention spans.
You’ll find that most families with children congregate in the hotels and resorts lining the Quepos–Manuel Antonio road, but this is more due to accommodations density than other factors. In fact, the appeal of Quepos for children is that there is plenty to explore beyond the hotel walls, which can give parents a bit of fresh air and breathing room.
X MARKS THE SPOT
Locals have long believed that a treasure worth billions and billions of dollars lies somewhere in the Quepos and Manuel Antonio area, waiting to be discovered. The lore was popularized by the English pirate John Clipperton, who befriended the coastal Quepoa during his years of sailing to and from the South Pacific. Clipperton’s belief stemmed from a rumor that in 1670 a number of Spanish ships laden with treasure escaped from Panama City moments before it was burned to the ground by Captain Henry Morgan. Since the ships were probably off-loaded quickly to avoid being raided at sea, a likely destination was the San Bernadino de Quepo Mission, which had a strong loyalty