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Quepos, Puntarenas Province

After spending some time in Tortuguero on the eastern (Caribbean) coast of Costa Rica, then La Fortuna in the north, we headed southwest to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, we stopped at Crocodile Bridge (no swimming in that river!) and at one of the many fruit stands along the way. The fresh produce has to be one of the best parts of visiting Costa Rica.

My advice? Don’t miss an opportunity to sample the fruit any chance you get!

Where to stay

For a unique resort experience, stay at the Hotel Costa Verde – where there are “still more monkeys than people.” Throughout our stay, we were entertained by the mischievous monkeys and our first up-close view of a sloth sleeping in the tree just outside our balcony. So quintessentially Costa Rican!

Hotel Costa Verde overlooks the Pacific Ocean, sitting on the edge of the Manuel Antonio National Park. While the ocean views are amazing, it’s a bit of a walk to get to the beach from the resort.

Hotel features:

• Clean, spacious rooms with private balconies (our balcony even had a jacuzzi tub!)
• or stay in one of the refurbished airplanes onsite, including the Cockpit Cottage or 727 Fuselage Home
• 3 pools and a poolside bar
• Onsite restaurant

Things to do

Sea kayaking

From Quepos pier, you can embark on a sea kayaking adventure. The tour includes hotel pickup and transportation to the pier. From there, you’ll paddle along the coast and out toward Biesanz Bay where you’ll get a chance to snorkel around the reefs.

The day we spent kayaking, the water calm and warm and the reef alive with so many colorful fish swimming all around us. A little tip: getting out of the kayak in the middle of the bay is easy; getting back in is tricky!

Shopping in Quepos

After kayaking, lunch at a local soda (small, locally-owned restaurants) and transportation back to your hotel is included.

But, if you have a bit of an adventurous spirit and want a more authentic experience, stop off in the town of Quepos. There you can do a bit of shopping, snap a photo at the Quepos Centro sign, then hop on a bus back through Manuel Antonio to the hotel.

This was probably my favorite day of the trip. We got to get out on the water (one of my favorite pastimes!) and wander among the locals (the best way to experience a new place).

Horseback riding

Another excursion opportunity from Manuel Antonio is a horseback ride in the rainforest. The tour includes hotel pickup, then a 40-minute ride to the town of Londres. On the way, our guide spotted a red macaw perched atop a tree stump and stopped to give us a look. At the ranch, we met our horses – Beautiful Eyes and Crystal – and a host of other friendly, curious animals (including a 2-day-old kid!).

The trail the ride takes from the ranch meanders up and down, loosely paralleling Río Naranjo (the Orange River). At the turnaround point is a waterfall and natural pool where you may be able to swim if the water is low and calm. The day of our ride, it was rushing after an rainstorm. Things change so fast in the rainforest, especially as Costa Rica transitions from their dry to rainy season.

The horses were gentle and responsive – perfect for a novice rider like myself. I even trusted Crystal to take me on a little trot.

Final thoughts

No matter where you go in Costa Rica, you’re sure to feel the Pura Vida spirit. Read about our time in different regions with the related links, then decide what type of experience you want. Maybe it will be a coast-to-coast adventure!

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