www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hello there-

I've done some mongering in Europe and Mexico, but wanted to broaden my horizons a bit. Booked my flight for the 1st part of June- so I am really looking forward to my virgin experience in the "Gulch".

Did some searching, but found limited info on this subject. I wanted to fly to Quepos during my stay in San Jose and thought I would do a morning trip at least once during my stay (returning on the 2 or 4 o'clock flight). Just wanted to check out the beach and the town a little.

How soon before my flight do I need to be at SJO for a local flight? How far is the beach from the Quepos airport?

I was also wanting to have some breakfast at the Presidente before I took off in the morning. What are the hours for the breakfast buffet there?

Thanks in advance for helping a Newbie!

Not sure how long youd have to be there, but Ive gone to the airport 1 hour before international flights and never had any problems.

The airport for domestic flights is not the same airport as the International one. I have not been to the other airport but I hear that you don't have to go through security for domestic flights here and you don't have to arrive particularly early.

The Quepos airstrip is about 10 minutes from town, my roommate tells me. He says he arrived 20 minutes early for his flight and it was plenty. Right now, the roads to Quepos are semi-impassable, and Quepos is a virtual ghost town. Which might be good for bargaining for a room or a fishing trip. Working girls are probably long gone except semi pros.

_________________
"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Dwillwinit,

According to Sansa, they'd like you to be at the check-in desk a half hour before the flight. Unfortunately, both NatureAir and Sansa have a habit of multiple-booking the same seat on the same flight, so the early bird gets to fly.

As Bilko stated, the airport is about 10 minutes from the beach, about a $5.00 - $6.00 taxi ride, unless you're good at negotiating.

Good spots:

Gran Escape for their smoked trout quesadilla

Wacky Wanda's/ Bar Mar y Blues for cocktails.

If you're only going for a day trip, forget mongering. The girls come out after dark, gathering at the local bars. Don't waste your time at Itsamana, it's a ripoff. Rosa's Bar is a good place for pro action, but only on weekend nights.

A warning: There are a number of cuties who try to sell their wares outside the bars in Quepos. Check their ID's, as most will be severely young. I met a girl last year who I was told looked 21; my friend checked her ID and discovered that she was 17. Danger, Will Robinson!

There is also some evening action to be found along the Manuel Antonio beach road. Try Los Gemelos Bar for weekend night prospects.

Hope this helps. And yes, per Bilko, the roads around Quepos/MA were severely hurt by last fall's rains, part of the storm system of Hurricane Stan. As far as I know, the road from Quepos south to Dominical is still 100% impassable.

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Thats half accurate.

SANSA flies from SJO

Nature Air uses Tobias airport in Pavas.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Thanks for all the info! I was just going to check out the beach for awhile and then have a late lunch with some beers. I think I'll check out that Gran Escape for a trout quesadilla- that sounds pretty good.

Probably won't do any mongering at all. I'll be back in time for action at ZonaBlue if all goes well.

Is the area worth visting for the beach or would I be better served checking out another town? I just wanted to fly to avoid the lengthy drive. It was about $106 with tax roundtrip from SJO to Quepos. The other towns I was checking out were around $150 or so.

IMHO you'd be best skipping the beach at Quepos. Basically it is a fishing port and the beaches reflect that activity. There is little or nothing to do in Quepos. The only people who go there are there for the fishing.

For another $6 cab ride you can hit one of the four beaches at Manuel Antonio, the best of which is inside the park itself. Just be aware that if you plan to swim, not all of them are safe because they have notoriously bad rip tides.

_________________
69 isn't just a number, it's a way of life

Dwillwinit,

Ditto on what El Lamero stated. I have been to Quepos twice recently; once flying and once driving. I highly recommend flying if you don't mind the small planes.

If beach is what you want, go directly to Manuel Antonio, pay the entrance fee, walk a few hundred yards along the 1st beach, then through the woods (very short distance) to the 2nd beach - beautiful and great for swimming. I understand that the next beach down from that (a little longer walk) is even more beautiful. I haven't ventured that far to date.

After that, quickly get back to the airstrip and high tail it back to the gulch! I wouldn't waste too much time mongering in Quepos.

To me the town is not the prettiest spot, and El Ciego is right on about the strip club rip-offs.

Just my two-cents worth.

BTW, I am in the gulch now. The Del Rey was jammed with Columbiana's last night!

Stinky

_________________
"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." – Edgar Wallace (English author) - then I must be a complete moron.

Thanks Stinky and El Lamero-

I will go directly to Manuel Antonio and check out the beaches there. If I have time afterwards I will have some lunch in Quepos and then head back to the gulch. After all I have heard and read about the gulch - I'm definitely jealous of your current location Stinky!