Manuel Antonio

We’re in Manuel Antonio right now… one of the busiest tourist places in Costa Rica.  I can see why – the beach and the national park is great.  Unfortunately, things are expensive here (compared to other parts of Costa Rica).  We’re staying in Quepos, a ten minute and 25 cent bus ride from Manuel Antonio because it’s cheaper. 

Things I’ve learned/observed about Manuel Antonio/Quepos so far:

• Prostitution is legal here, so on a Friday or Saturday night in one Manuel Antonio, there’ll be 200 prosititutes and 75 male prostitutes hanging around.
• Manuel Antonio has around 10-12 gay resorts.  As one of the locals said, "You go in, get naked, and have sex for a week."
• Girls around here get pregnant young.  One of the waitresses at a bar was 19 and alread had a 6 year old and a 1 year old.  That’s typical.  There’s even a special school for pregnant mothers.
• There are a lot of white people on the beach with REALLY bad burns.  (I know you’re only here for a week and want to go back with a tan, but come on… put on some sunblock.)
• You can rent a house here for $200 a month.
• There are a lot of college students on Spring Break right now.  Last I heard, a round trip ticket from Colorado was $285!
• This place is so built up.  Hotels/resorts near Manuel Antonio are at least $75 a night.  Upon arriving at the beach, it reminded me of a smaller scale Pataya, Thailand.  It’s not as bad, of course, but chairs and umbrellas were $8.
• The local school here is called "Korea School."  The Korean government pays for schools in return for no tariffs on Korean cars.  U.S. cars pay an 80% tariff.  There are quite a few Korean cars here.