Quepos sits closer to productive offshore water than almost anywhere else in Costa Rica, and Marina Pez Vela gives you a modern base to fish from. That combination is the whole story.
Welcome to Quepos, the beating heart of Costa Rica's sportfishing scene and home to Marina Pez Vela. Tucked along the Pacific coast, minutes from the jungle of Manuel Antonio, Quepos combines natural beauty, a modern marina, and some of the best offshore fishing anywhere.
The epicenter of offshore and inshore fishing
Quepos earned its reputation because of geography. The continental shelf drops away close to shore, so the deep, nutrient-rich water that holds marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, roosterfish and snapper is a short run out rather than a half-day slog.
That matters more than it sounds. Less running time means more fishing time, and it means a half day inshore charter is genuinely productive rather than a consolation prize.
Marina Pez Vela
Opened in 2008 and still expanding, Marina Pez Vela is one of the most modern marinas in Central America. Over 200 slips, fuel docks, 24/7 security, customs and immigration on site, plus restaurants and shops with an ocean view.
It also hosts the Offshore World Championship and the Billfish Cup, which is a reasonable proxy for how good the fishing is. Tournaments go where the fish are.
Seasons, and what to expect
Quepos fishes well year-round, but the calendar has a shape:
- December to April. Peak billfish. Sailfish and marlin action is at its best.
- May to September. Excellent dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
- Year-round. Roosterfish, snapper and other inshore species stay active close to shore.
If you are picking dates purely for fishing, aim at the December to April window. If you want good fishing and fewer people, May and June are underrated. The month by month calendar walks the whole year, and the complete sportfishing guide covers costs, rules and how a day runs.
More than fishing
What makes Quepos work as a trip rather than just a fishing stop is the jungle behind it. You are minutes from Manuel Antonio National Park: hiking, surfing, waterfalls, monkeys, sloths and toucans. Fish in the morning, be in the park by the afternoon.
The town itself has good local food and a decent night out, and it is friendly in the way small Costa Rican coastal towns tend to be.
Booking a day
We run daily from Marina Pez Vela aboard a 45-foot Viking with a bilingual crew and a captain with over twenty years on this coast. Have a look at the full day offshore charter if you want billfish, or the sunset coastal cruise if you would rather just be on the water.
Everyone fishing needs a Costa Rican fishing license, which is quick to sort out. The FAQ explains how.
If you want to know what you are likely to catch, we wrote a companion piece on the top five fish you can catch off Quepos.
Ready to get out there?
Every charter runs from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos aboard a 45-foot Viking with a local crew. Have a look at what we run, or ask us a question contact.
