Manuel Antonio · Nightlife

A Fairchild C-123 cargo plane — one of the aircraft tied to the 1980s Iran-Contra arms network — parked on the ridge about 150m above the beach and built into a two-level bar and restaurant with a dumbwaiter running drinks up to the terrace. Come an hour before sunset for a seat facing the Pacific.

A hilltop mirador restaurant and bar on a 90-acre farm, open daily 11:15–21:30, with sunset views over an empty private beach. Turn off the park road opposite the Amigos del Río building and follow the track 800m; it is unlit, so drive it before dark or take a taxi.

Wood-fired grill on the ridge road with live reggae and Latin sets from the house band, the Jungle Boys — the most reliable live music on this stretch. Call +506 2777 0384 to check who is playing before you walk up.

The sportfishing crowd's bar at the Quepos marina, with happy hour at the bar 17:00–19:00 daily and a kitchen that will cook a fish you caught that morning. Open from 7am to 10pm, so it doubles as the last kitchen standing on the waterfront.

The marina's commercial plaza is where the area's evening actually happens: Cuba Libre and The Butcher Block both run to 10pm, Gabriella's does oceanfront dining Tuesday to Sunday 16:00–22:00, and the whole strip faces the sunset. It is about 10 minutes by car or bus from Manuel Antonio village.