Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 at-
tention 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.
All in all, the town's excellent restaurant scene is kid-friendly, and the local Ticos are
very welcoming to little ones. And finally, while you're not exactly on the beach or up in
the forest, it's just a short and uneventful ride out to Manuel Antonio if the kids need an
idyllic day on the beach.
Tours
There are numerous reputable tour operators in the Quepos area, but the scene can be a bit
tricky because of the abundance of third-party booking agents who work on commission.
The best way to arrange a tour is through your hotel or hostel. Travelers also give glowing
reviews of tours booked out of foreign-language bookstore
Jaime Peligro
.
Iguana Tours
ADVENTURE TOUR
With tours that leave for destinations all over the central Pacific coast, this adventure-
travel shop offers reputable river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mangrove tours
and dolphin-watching excursions. It's no fly-by-night operation - it's been around since
1989 - and has a proven commitment to ecotourism principles.
Planet Dolphin
DOLPHIN- & WHALE-WATCHING TOUR, CRUISE
( 2777-1647, toll free 800-943-9161;
www.planetdolphin.com
)
Steve Wofford at Planet Dolphin offers dolphin- and whale-watching tours; starlight sail-
ing cruises are also available. The cruises include lunch and transfers to your hotel, and de-
