Quepos
- Summary: The central Pacific's sport fishing hub; offers many adventure sports and is the gateway to Manuel Antonio
- Landscape: Beaches, Rainforest
- Attractions: Damas Island, Manuel Antonio National Park, Sport Fishing
- Activities: Nature Tours, Shopping, Waterfall Rappelling
- Caters to: Budget Travelers, Couples or Honeymooners, Families, Nature Lovers
- Quick Facts: 110 miles from San Jose ; 82 feet above sea level ; Warm days with light sea breezes ; 69-89 F
Quepos Snapshot
A coastal town celebrated for its world-class sport fishing, Quepos is the gateway to the pristine beaches of Manuel Antonio. The town is filled with restaurants, bars and shops, and hosts a lively outdoor market on Saturdays.
read more closeSport fishing charters are extremely popular in Quepos, famous for its abundance of Pacific sailfish, marlin, wahoo, roosterfish, tuna and mahi mahi. Sailfish can be boated year-round, though peak season runs from December through April. Pacific sailfish average 100 pounds, and during peak season an incredible 40 hits a day are common. The area's new Marina Pez Vela is Costa Rica's largest full-service marina, complete with 100 floating slips, with more slated to open in 2011. Charters can be arranged from $450 for a half-day to $1200 for a full day of fishing.
For the non-angler, Quepos offers everything from canopy tours and waterfall rappelling, to ATV excursions on rugged country roads. The town has a range of accommodations to suit all budgets, which make for an excellent base when sightseeing the beaches and national park of Manuel Antonio, located just four miles south.
Brief History:
Quepos was originally home to the Quepoa Indian tribe until the 1800's when it was colonized by farmers from the Central Valley. The settlers transformed the area into a productive banana plantation and the docks were used to ship bananas worldwide. African oil-palms replaced bananas in exports in the 1980’s, but low salaries and scarce employment resulted in a lackluster commercial port. Today, the docks in Quepos are used to service the sport fishing industry, which is its major attraction.