Discover Quepos: 5 Compelling Reasons to Visit Costa Rica's Coastal Gem

1. Location and amenities: The city is located 3 hours from San José, just 165 km along the highway. The area is renowned throughout the country and internationally for its sport fishing, with species including marlin, snapper, greater amberjack, wahoo, dolphinfish, yellowfin tuna and roosterfish, among others. The beautiful canton has a great variety of open-air attractions, restaurants, bars, hotels, shops, galleries and spectacular beaches. On your way for a visit, you can also stop in at Atenas, Orotina, Tárcoles and Playa Jacó.




2. Whale watching: Yet another attraction in the area are the giants of the Pacific, humpback whales. Every July, they delight tourists as they come to the region, staying until November. You don’t have to go very far to witness the exuberance of nature. Strategically located in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific, Quepos has the tourism infrastructure in place for amazing whale and dolphin watching.






3. Beaches and mountains: Quepos has a wealth of opportunities to explore, from its beautiful seafront to the adrenaline-pumping activities on offer all around the town. Before coming to Quepos, you can enjoy recreational fishing in tilapia farms or spend some family leisure time at a local water park. The village of Londres offers a strategic point to enjoy a horseback ride and explore its dense forests. If beaches are more your style, there are many near the Manuel Antonio National Park, just waiting to be discovered. These include Cocal, La Macha, La Vaca, Pará, Biesanz, Playitas, Las Gemelas, Del Rey, Savegre, Matapalo and Linda. The activities on offer include kayaking, surfing, sport fishing, rafting, catamaran tours, horseback tours to waterfalls, day- and nighttime hikes, visits to mangroves and observing the plant and animal life.




4. Cuisine: Quepos is a hidden treasure of delicacies that will have you licking your fingers. Many are traditional dishes from the Pacific coast. If you visit the region, you may encounter dishes like ceviche made from clams or piangua (a mollusk with a black shell, abundant in the mangroves of Quepos), as well as better-known ceviche options made with fish or shrimp. The delicious casados, meals featuring rice, beans and meat, always include vegetable sides called picadillos, which may be made from green papaya, potato or chiquasquil, a tree leaf with a spinach-like taste. If you haven’t tried a garlicky dolphinfish fillet or a whole fried snapper, you know what to ask for on your next culinary detour.






5. Capture the best moments: When you leave, you’ll take plenty of magical moments spent with your family or friends. Quepos has the perfect spot for you to take the perfect vacation photo.
   
   
   • Paradero Nahomi: just 200 m from the Quepos pier, it’s a hidden gem. Towards the south, you can take in the city of Puerto Quepos, along with Bahía Maracas to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. This is the perfect spot to take in the sunset.

   
   

   • El Malecón: one of the canton’s iconic spots, a 450 m stretch with three perfect photo angles that can’t be missed: one in front of the giant Quepos sign, another with the Pacific Ocean behind you, and another with the Quepos Marina as a backdrop.

   
   

   • Punta Catedral: located within Manuel Antonio National Park, the panoramic lookout used to be an island, but is now connected to the continental mass by a sandy stretch. The spot offers impressive views surrounded by lush vegetation.

   
   

   

   • Catarata Portalón: located 30 minutes south of Quepos, it is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the canton. It’s the perfect place to spend a day with your family or friends and enjoy a refreshing swim.

   
   

   • Playa Linda: located just 30 minutes from Quepos, also towards the south. In addition, it is located between Playa Matapalo and Dominical, two more beautiful beaches you can enjoy. The beach is an excellent option for picnics or a memorable photo session.

   
   

What’s keeping you from checking these destinations off your list?