Costa Rica > Travel companions robbed!

Today is a travel day. We are heading to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast. At half past eight, we leave Monteverde by bus, heading southwest. This road is also a dirt road, though there is some asphalt work underway. The question is whether this is good for the village. Monteverde will be more accessible to tourists, but can the nature of Monteverde handle an even larger influx of visitors? Better accessibility also opens the door for day trips from San José, which is not beneficial for the hotels and restaurants in the village. Opinions are divided. The route winds along the mountain ridge with beautiful views over the valleys. After two hours of bumping along, we reach decent roads again. We join the Pan-American Highway number 1, heading south. This is the main highway from North to South America. After a few kilometers, we turn right toward the coast. Along the way, we stop for coffee and pause to admire a group of macaws in the trees and, a little further on, a group of vultures.

Costa Rica - The main street of Quepos

Just after half past three, we arrive in Quepos, a tourist town near Manuel Antonio National Park. I buy a sandwich filled with chicken and wander through the town. Besides many tourist souvenir shops, there isn’t much to see. Fortunately, we soon drive on to the Villa Teco resort. It is located roughly halfway along the seven-kilometer road between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. The cottages are built on a hillside. I had hoped for a nice sea view, but the ocean is not visible. By chance, we have the lowest cottage and have to carry our luggage all the way down the steps. The cottage feels a bit cramped and dark. The rain outside doesn’t help. I also have the impression that the sandwich I ate this afternoon didn’t sit well. I leave my beer untouched and decide to go to bed early. I skip dinner; the rest of the group goes to a nearby restaurant. During the night, I wake immediately when Roelof returns. He tells us that two fellow travelers were robbed on the way back. At first, I think he’s joking, but he is serious. Near the hotel, they were threatened with a firearm and had their money taken. The shock lingers, and I gradually manage to fall asleep again.