Quepos and Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio ocean view
Speaking of Quepos and of Manuel Antonio for a local settler is almost the same thing, but for someone that visit the region are two zones. Quepos is a city of 7 thousand people and is found approximately to 150km of the capital (San José), and is the head of the canton of Aguirre. Consequently, Manuel Antonio is a town of Quepos, and there is a distance of 7km between both. (click here to see Costa Rica map)
The history of Quepos is very connected with the Quepoas, a group of aborigines that used to inhabit these lands. This if where the name Quepos originates from, from the aboriginal leader Quepoa.
Later with the income of the company banana plantation and with the sowing of the banana, the main economic activity of the region became the exploitation of the banana plantation. For such motive, the region remains an area where one can observe in a certain part of Quepos a place known as the "American zone" where you will find wooden houses built then by the "American", which still continue to be inhabited.
Nevertheless, due to the low incomes, to the little one remuneration, the poor soil, as well as many other factors impeded the sowing of the banana. Quepos decided to change to the sowing of the banana from the African palm. Currently in the region of Parrita, Quepos and Savegre they can be observed along side of the roads acres and acres of African palms, that offer a beautiful natural landscape to the tourists.
With the changes arisen on a worldwide basis and with globalization, Quepos has reconverted its main economic activity from "agricultural-cattle raiser" to "tourism". Thanks to its location it is blessed with beautiful beaches known on worldwide level as the Manuel Antonio Beach, "Playa Espadilla Sur" (South Espadilla Beach), "Playa Espadilla Norte" (North Espadilla Beach), "Playa Gemelas" (Twin Beach) , "Puerto Escondido" (Hidden Port Beach). Besides, it also has virgin mountains with surprising waterfalls, naturally formed caves, hot springs, rivers recognized globally to practice rafting and… also a volcano… yes, a volcano detected by the seismometers in the marine fund. Geographically speaking, Quepos has been seen as very graceful and consequently offers a great range of tours where the visitors can be sure that they will have an excellent holiday.
Speaking of Manuel Antonio, it is by far one of the most beautiful beaches of the world. Manuel Antonio National Park is the second most visited National Park by nationals and foreigners every year (the first most popular being , is the volcano Poás), it is also prizewinner with blue flag honors for which it is also one of the cleanest beaches in Costa Rica. The Park has four beached on its inside limits, which are visited during all the year by foreigners and nationals, but whose beauty is not limited alone to the beaches, also you will find a plethora of beauty in the flora and fauna. Inside the park, visitors find themselves encountering the famous titís monkeys, at present in danger of extinction, and the cute cariblancos and congos. Likewise, there is a considerable quantity of iguanas, three toed slothes, raccoons, deer and tapirs.
Over the years, the natural beauties of Manuel Antonio has seen the greatest amount a great investment and infrastructure in Quepos as in Manuel Antonio, this has been beneficial so that the visitors can find many facilities such as restaurants, hotels, pharmacies, transportation, tours, clinical, supermarkets, airports and soon… a marina!
