The Manuel Antonio Area
Manuel Antonio is located about 100 miles south of San Jose on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and is the most visited coastal national park in the country. While Manuel Antonio is just the name of the national park, the entire area from the town of Quepos to the national park is described as "Manuel Antonio". Of all the places I visited in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio was by far the finest, resort-style area I saw. No other place in the entire country had:
- Lush Tropical Rain Forests
- World Class Beaches
- Fine Dining
- Fine Hotels
- Every Conceivable Activity
- Jaw Dropping Beach Vistas
- Brand New World Class Marina (www.marinapezvela.com)
Picture of the Manuel Antonio Area (click for larger picture)
Compared to Other Areas in Costa Rica
As you can see from the pictures, Manuel Antonio is a hilly, riviera-esque setting. This is very important to note because most of Costa Rica is either too mountainous or flat and characterless. During my travels to Costa Rica I have looked at all the major beach areas on the Pacific Coast for investment purposes and found Manuel Antonio to be the best. If you are considering an investment in Costa Rica, even if its not my properties, please read my notes below before you do anything. Here were my observations on each area:
Coco / Tamarindo: Extremely overpriced and overhyped. The new airport there is meaningless because hardly anyone flies there direct from outside the country. The infrastructure is not built up like many claim it to be.
Nosora / Samara / Jabilla: Nice but extremely hard to get to. You will be crossing rivers and off-roading next to cliffs. Little to no infrastructure (no paved roads, marinas, activities). In the middle of nowhere. Don't expect any appreciation.
Montezuma / Tambor: Hard to reach, you have to take a ferry to get there. If you don't get on the ferry (there are always lines) expect to wait for an hour or 2 in your car while its extremely hot and humid. After the ferry you'll have to drive on the worst gravel road you'll ever experience for over an hour. Once you get there you will be greeted by swarms of mosquitoes, a useless rocky beach, and only a handful of shops.
Jaco: Flat, characterless land. Be expected to be propositioned by many drug dealers and prostitutes once the sun goes down. A very shady place.
Parrita / Palo Seco: Cheap for a reason. Mosquitoes are EVERYWHERE and will eat foreigners alive. No Shops, no activities, no fun. In the middle of nowhere. Don't expect any appreciation.
Dominical / Matapalo to Golfito: Nice areas but they are truly in the middle of nowhere. No infrastructure, no appreciation.
Activities (click for larger picture)
Manuel Antonio is home to world class fishing and diving. You will also find excellent white water rafting in the many nearby rivers, horseback riding, surfing, zip lines, and jungle adventures.
Dining
All of the restaurants are top notch and affordable. My friend and I ate at the world famous "El Avion" restaurant and ate 2 delicious steaks, 1 appetizer, and 2 cocktails while enjoying an unbelievable view for under $40 total. Treasures like these dot the street that leads from Quepos to Manuel Antonio Beach.
Amenities
You'll find many shops in the Manuel Antonio area but for groceries, furniture, banking, and other needs, Quepos is the place to go. Only a few minutes away, just down the street, Quepos has anything you can think of.
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