cinzia

visiting manuel antonio end november. want to stay at the top of the hill (villas nicolas or la mariposa). we love the beach but the 2km walk down the hill could be a killer. are there buses that run daily or taxis readily available? any recommendations on best beach that are quiet?

Another-Hotel

Just to confuse you even more (!) here is the website of another inn/hotel that received a wonderful review at another website I visit. I do not speak from personal experience: <BR> <BR>www.hotel-california.com <BR> <BR>

Iza

Mariposa has a beautiful view but does not get good reviews. Villas Nicholas also has good views and I spoke to a family who stayed there this summer and liked it a lot. <BR>There is a public bus that runs every 1/2 hour between Quepos and Manuel Antonio and can take you to the main beach at Manuel Antonio and national park entrance. The main beach is very nice but rather busy and has large surf. The bus stops at Villas Nicholas/Si Como No. Mariposa is not right a the main road so you would have to walk a bit to the bus stop. Taxis are also readily available. <BR>Best beach in that area that is very quiet was a little cove called Playa Biesanz. It is sheltered and very beautiful. It is about 1/2 hour walk from Villas Nicholas (no bus but you can probably take a taxi to get there). From Villas Nicholas walk towards Quepos until you get to the road on the left leading to Mariposa and Hotel Parador (before you get to Karola's). Follow that road for quite a bit (up and down and winding) until you get to the bottom of the hill (you will see the gate of Parador at the end of the road slightly up the hill ahead of you. There is a little opening in the fence on the right and a path that leads by a little house and farm to Playa Biesanz. Enjoy.

Barbara

Iza, I am interested in Playa Biesanz and am staying at Villas Nicholas. Can we drive our 4X4 to it and would it be safe to park and leave it?

Iza

Barbara, you can drive a 4x4 or a car for most of the way (to the opening in the fence) and walk a short way down a path to the beach. We walked all the way but I have seen cars parked along the road there. I think it should be safe, it appears to be a really quiet place because the road ends at the Parador Hotel. Just take the usual precautions (i.e. don't leave anything of value in the car). Make sure you stop on the way for some outstanding views that can be had from that road.<BR>Keep in mind that Playa Biesanz is really just a very pretty cove, not a large beach. We decided to explore it on a Monday when the national park was closed and enjoyed it very much. The original poster was asking for recommendations on quiet beaches so that's why I recommended it. The main beach outside the park and the beaches inside the park are usually very busy.