- Ship
- 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Quepos makes for a charming stop-off on the Pacific coast, just next door to the famous Manuel Antonio National Park, an untouched tropical natural reserve lined with white sandy beaches. The town's seafront is an opportunity to stroll through market stalls touting pineapples and bananas in the shade of the manchineel trees. In this coastal town criss-crossed with tree-lined streets in bloom, admire the houses and their incredible sculpted balconies. Enjoy a spot of shopping in the many traditional boutiques: pick up some handmade cotton clothing, ceramics embellished with Costa Rican designs, and home décor pieces in hand-painted wood.
Optional Excursions:
Savegre River Floating - length: 5h. Depart Quepos on a 1 ¼-hour transfer by air-conditioned motor-coach, passing by palm, teak and Melina plantations to the rural town of El Silencio. After a short comfort stop where you can often spot toucans and macaws, continue toward the town of Santo Domingo, where a group of qualified guides with professional equipment are awaiting you to start this 2-hour amazing river floating. Your guide gives you an orientation about the river and its natural environment, which is considered one of the most beautiful rivers of Central America. The scenery and wildlife along the Rio Savegre are legendary, your opportunity to enjoy beautiful landscapes, including some native African oil palm plantations, white ibis, cormorants, egrets, crocodiles and herons, experiencing both action and periods of relaxation. A snack of fresh fruits are served at the river banks before returning to the pier.
River Boating through the Mangrove Lagoons - length: 3h30m. A ride through the mangroves is like visiting a place of another world. The species of trees that grow in the mixed waters of the ocean and the river make a unique and very fragile ecosystem. Most of these trees grow along the estuary, developing an aerial root system. As the tide goes down, the roots become suspended in the air creating a perfect place for crabs and crocodiles. In the upper part of the forest see monkeys and a great variety of birds including herons, egrets, and spoonbills among others. From the pier, embark your coach for the 25-minute ride to a launch from where a boat takes you to a private property for refreshments. Then your naturalist tour guide acquaints you with all the knowledge of the mangroves, an ecosystem extremely important and of which not too many people know. Your covered boat then takes you deeply into the mangrove, as you try to spot all the incredible wildlife that makes their home there. After a two-hour boat ride, arrive to the village where your coach is waiting to drive you back to your ship.
Manuel Antonio National Park - length: 4h. Manuel Antonio National Park is the jewel of the many Costa Rica’s national parks. Its fragile rainforest ecosystem shelters abundant wildlife, including the easy-to-see monkeys and a great variety of tropical birds. The dense rainforest opens into small trails where your naturalist tour guide acquaints you with all the information regarding the forest. Another great attraction are the white-sand beaches that meet the jungle. Your 1 ½-hour guided hike leads you to the beach where you can have time for sunbathing. Manuel Antonio protects 1,688 acres (683 ha) of tropical rainforest and over a thousand different species of flora. This walk is by far one of the best in Costa Rica, and a great opportunity to get closer to the forest that kisses the beach. The trail followed is very well maintained and is easy walking with no uphill climbs. Another hour of leisurely walking brings you back to the exit of the park with another opportunity of spotting wildlife.