Tour Guide for Manuel Antonio
 

Hi,
I'll be in Manuel Antonio for a few days with my 3 kids, 18 yr old twin girls and 12 yr old boy. We are staying at Hotel Coste Verde. Can anyone recommend a tour guide to take us into the park. We'll be there Thanksgiving Week -so I better get on it soon!
Thanks a lot
Sharon

Juan Brenes

juanbrenes.blogspot.com

[email protected]

excellent guide--HIGHLY recommended

We just hired a guide through our hotel, but I've always heard good things about Juan Brenes.

Thanks so much....I'll be back here when I think of some more questions. I was at Pura Vida last year in Alajuera for a week last Decemeber - all meals were included and they had their own excursions so I didn't have to dip into my pocket much. Is converting dollars to the local currency recommended? Do the local shops/restaurants like dollars?

Dollars have always been readily accepted everywhere we've gone. We usually pay in dollars and get colones back in change and use those. You may not get the best exchange rate if you use your dollars though. You may already know this, but most restaurants in CR will automatically add a 10% tip to the bill so it's included.

Yeah, I remembered that from an excursion to the Pcific beaches - agroup of us had lunch, got the bill and discovered that rule. It was so inexpensive though! Thanks for your input - you seem to be the Costa Rica resident expert!

Oh, thanks, sharon, but I'd have to say that honor goes to shillmac; she's got about 15 trips under her belt and is even building a home in CR. I'm sure we'll all get invites!

Hi
<u>Do not change $$ in the airport!!</u> i can't understand how the CR authorities allow them to actually con tourists - who get a negative first impression of CR...
last month, at the airport they've given a rate of 530 per $US if you changed a larger sum it became 531 0r 533, and that persuaded some people to change more than they thought only to discover that in a remote village like Tortuguero the rate is 588 per $US...

aby

We went through the park last year and found that the tour guides that the park provides are awesome! From my recollection, that option is offered when you enter the park. We took the bus to most places since the town is so easy to navigate. You will love Manuel Antonio! Also on the exchange rate...we found that the best rates were from the credit card company so we used our card whenever we could. Also - a good really cheap meal rec is La Angel (or something close to that name) it is across the street from Super Joseth. The fresh fish is great (I am a super picky healthy eater) and we both ate for around $7 - $10. If you have binoculars you should bring them for your park day. Have fun!