When the sun sets on Quepos and Manuel Antonio, the town pulses with nighttime activity. Hill-top restaurants in Manuel Antonio offer surreal sunset vistas over the Pacific. The “Pura Vida” culture seeps in while sipping a pina colada and taking in the breathtaking awe of a rainforest canopy at dusk. Nightlife along the Manuel Antonio road is cramped and parking is abysmal. So night hawks and action goers often find bars and restaurants and lower-rent places near the park’s entrance. Mar y Sombra, a restaurant-bar that by all accounts shouldn’t be there because it’s so close to the beach, is quite full at night. Sombra converts into a dance hall on weekends during dry seasons. Si Como No attracts a more mature group with its tasteful poolside bar, and the bar at Barba Roja restaurant is a very popular evening hang-out. The casino and sports bar at Byblos is low key and also offers billiards tables. Costa Verde’s roadside eateries (La Cantina/El Evion) draws large crowds and La Cantina has live music.

Hard-core party animals head to two town discos and a bunch of lively bars for dancing. Unlike Manuel Antonio, which is spread over a long distance, Quepos town square is compact and ideal for bar hopping. This four block downtown core area beckons all tourists in search of quality watering holes. Mar y Blues, next to L’Adventura Multiboutique has great hot dogs and beer. Wacky Wanda’s self titled “cheapest food and drinks” has the coolest, most refreshing air. On the next block check out Banco Bar and Dos Locos. Dos Locos restaurant gets a different kind of crowd searching for live acoustic music every Wednesday and Friday night. For the musical artist-in-residence ask about their open mike nights.

For dancing nightlife the real deal is either Disco Iris or Maracas. Disco Iris is in a grounded barge, approached across a gang plank. Locate Disco Iris right before the entrance downtown. The cramped dance floor is always overflowing with steamy dancers. Both clubs blast musical mixes of Latin, salsa, reggae and rock. Maracas is a popular dance club but it doesn’t open until midnight. Live bands sometimes play the clubs, although they are a bit more expensive. Follow the road south of town, past downtown, into the fishing industrial area.