The community of Carate is located in a remote part of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, bordering on the incredible Corvocado National Park. It is a hard place to get to and when you get there it is largely undeveloped. This, for us, was part of the attraction. During our time in Carate we stayed at the lovely and spectacular Finca Exotica Eco Lodge, which is set in a glorious rainforest, full of wildlife.
Costa Rica: Manuel Antonio – Peace of Paradise
Peace of Paradise is located in a bustling community on the outer reaches of Quepos, close to shops and restaurants and only a few minutes from the stunning National Park
Quepos is a small town located in Puntarenas Province on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Its location near some of the best beaches in Costa Rica has made it a popular tourist destination, but its biggest draw is Manuel Antonio National Park, the most visited National Park in the country.
The town centre is compact with a selection of stores, restaurants and bars. Urban sprawl has seen Quepos expand along the coast, all the way to the National Park several miles south of the town centre.
Peace of Paradise
For our stay in Quepos / Manuel Antonio, we booked into a small hotel called Peace of Paradise. This was located three or four miles from Quepos Centre up on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. The area around Peace of Paradise is quieter than the main town but there are several bars and restaurants within a minute or two’s walk from the hotel. There are also two well-stocked supermarkets very close by.
The hotel is located on a side street, so it is very quiet, with no passing traffic or people milling around. The hotel is hard to miss with its purple paint job. There is parking off the street for a couple of cars, but plenty of places to park on the street, which felt very safe.
We were booked into the Hummingbird suite which is on the first floor (second floor to our American friends) of the main building. The main room had a small kitchen area with a stove, microwave and large fridge-freezer. And of course, a coffee maker and an ample supply of delicious Costa Rican coffee. There was also a good size table to eat at.
There was also a small sitting area with a sofa bed.
Our favourite space was the balcony which was huge, with a sitting area and a separate dining area. A perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or a beer! The balcony overlooked the garden which was wild and exotic. We loved watching the agouti who was living in the undergrowth beneath our balcony and the pair of scarlet macaws that were nesting in a dead coconut palm in the property next door.
The bedroom was an okay size and the mattress was about the best we experienced in Costa Rica – and the air conditioning worked, which is always a good thing!
In Summary …
We really enjoyed our stay in the Hummingbird suite at Peace of Paradise. Its location in the centre of a community in Quepos / Manuel Antonio was perfect. Here are some closing thoughts:
- We loved the suite, with a well-equipped kitchen and a separate bedroom
- The air-conditioning was efficient and quiet.
- The balcony was huge and with views across the exotic garden.
Best time to visit Manuel Antonio
Manuel Antonio is a jungle beach area that is usually hot and humid. Daytime highs are typically in mid-80s to low 90s and overnights lows are normally in the low to mid-70s. As it is a rainforest area, you can expect at least some rain. The area receives an average of 3,840 mm of rain per year. The driest months are typically December through April, July and August. The heaviest rains are usually during the months of September and October.
Places to eat in Manuel Antonio
1. VISTA VERDE
Vista Verde is a bar/restaurant that was close to where we were staying at the Peace of Paradise. There were a number of vegan/vegetarian options on the menu.
Address: Frente a la plaza Manuel Antonio MAP
Telephone: +506 4701 8816
Facebook Page: Vista-Verde-Restaurant
2. SODA ANGEL
3. MANUEL ANTONIO FALAFAEL BAR
Our favourite place to eat in Manuel Antonio / Quepos was the Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar. For us, they had fantastic vegan and vegetarian options. The portions were amazing and great value for money.
Address: Across the street from Casa Linda and Tulemar Resort 60601 Quepos
Telephone: +506 2777 4135
Facebook Page: Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar
4. EL AVION
This restaurant did not have great eating options for us, but the C-123 Fairchild cargo aircraft that El Avion is built around is eye-catching. It has been converted into a bar. As well as the cargo plane El Avion has the most amazing views across the bay out to the Pacific Ocean.
Address: CR2W+VP Quepos, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica. MAP
Telephone: +50627773378
Website: https://www.elavion.net/
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