Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Quepos gets its name from the Quepoa tribe of Indians that originally inhabited the
lush and fertile coast. While it's now a thriving town of some 12,000 people, it was not
always so.
This small town first came into prominence as a port, exporting bananas to the world.
When the blight of the 1950s crippled that market, the township switched to exporting
African palm oil. However, the more compact product meant Quepos' port did less busi-
ness overall, and the town hit a wall. There were virtually no roads to the town at the time,
and communication with the outside world was difficult at best. It wasn't until the 1960s
that small numbers of American expatriates began to settle there, following the example of
the predominantly Costa Rican holiday-makers who visited each year.
In the 1980s word really got out about Quepos' incredible natural beauty and relaxed
lifestyle. With a regular local air service now available, tourism blossomed and the town
began to thrive.
Today Quepos is a community with all the facilities a small town could wish for.
There's a new marina, a hospital, and a domestic airport making it only a 20 minute hop
from San Jose. In town there are banks, supermarkets, bars, gyms retail stores and markets
that offer just about anything a visitor could wish for. Only a few minutes down the road
is the world renowned Manuel Antonio National Park, and the town sits on the doorstep
of the majestic Pacific Ocean. Be sure to stop in at La Feria (farmer's market) late Friday
afternoon and Saturday morning for fresh organic fruits, vegetables andlocal culure.
Quepos is more than just a gateway to the wonders of the Costa Rican rainforests and
an acclaimed National Park. It is a destination all its own, with wonderful people who love
to share the 'Pura Vida' with old friends and new. No one is a stranger in Quepos for very
long.
Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is situated in the rolling hills between downtown Quepos and the national
park. This verdant suburb of Quepos has been called the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica. This
cosmopolitan community is located on the Pacific Ocean and is made up of several hillside
neighborhoods discretely tucked into the rain forest. There are several boutique hotels, res-
taurants, bars shops and more than 200 vacation rental homes.
For those of us who've chosen to move here from the U.S., Canada, England, Ger-
many, Switzerland, South Africa and reaches beyond, the word they use most often to de-
scribe Manuel Antonio is “magical.”
