Costa Rica Day 5: From the Mountains to the Sea

As amazing as our time in La Fortuna was, it had to end at some point so that we could make our journey across the continental divide and over to the Pacific coast.  Drive time from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio was just about 5.5 hours, including a stop for lunch at a soda along the highway (amazing Pollo Casado!).  Our driver, Andreas, took us through the cloud forest, past Jaco, Costa Rica's own Playa Hermosa, the Palm Oil plantation near Parrito, and of course over the famed crocodile bridge, where a real-life jungle cruise was touring right next to the dozens of crocs!

When we arrived in Quepos, we noticed immediately the comparably dense development both in Quepostown and along the highway towards Manuel Antonio beach.  Our hotel, La Mansion, was out on the peninsula a bit, with an amazing view of beaches to the North and South of us.  This place is literally a converted mansion, with winding stairwells, an oversized dining room turned into a restaurant, and complete with a bar built into a cavern, dubbed the Bat Cave.

La Mansion also had the first swim-up bar that I was ever able to utilize, another bonus!  Even the views from inside the pool were a bit ridiculous, but we decided to be spoiled and soak in paradise!

At the recommendation of Carlos at the front desk, we had dinner at Victoria's back up on the main road (a quick, $8 cab ride), which is an Italian restaurant that the Ticos raved about the pizza.  Quick to see what their interpretation of good pizza was, I enjoyed the thin-crust concoction with fresh pineapple and ham.

A little nightcap of Cacique & OJ with some Toros teletica in the background, and our fifth day was spent!