# Marina Pez Vela: Quepos marina for yachts, sportfishing and day sails > Marina Pez Vela is the full-service marina on the Quepos waterfront, about 15 minutes by road from Manuel Antonio. It has over 250 wet slips, a fuel dock, a dry rack and a yacht yard, and it's where most Manuel Antonio catamaran tours and Quepos fishing charters board. Source: https://costaricasailing.net/marina-pez-vela/ Last checked: 2026-10-25 Location: Quepos, Quepos, Central Pacific, Costa Rica Type: marina, sportfishing, boat services Official website: https://marinapezvela.com/ Location: Downtown Quepos waterfront, about 15 minutes by road from Manuel Antonio Wet slips: over 250, on floating concrete docks, for boats up to 200 feet Depth: safe operating depth of 14 feet, in a basin protected by a coffer dam Dry rack: 40 spots for boats up to 38 feet Yacht yard: 200-ton Marine Travelift, repairs and an approved contractor network Radio: VHF channel 69 Rates: on the [official marina services page](https://marinapezvela.com/marina-services/) ## Quepos, not Manuel Antonio Marina Pez Vela is a working marina, yacht yard and waterfront plaza in the middle of Quepos, on Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast. From the docks you can watch fishing crews load ice and tackle, then turn around and see green hills rising behind the town. The one thing to get straight before you book anything: **the marina is in Quepos, not inside Manuel Antonio National Park.** Many catamaran cruises and fishing charters sold as "Manuel Antonio tours" board here. Quepos is the harbor; Manuel Antonio is the coastline a lot of those boats go to look at. The national park, beaches and hillside hotels are about 15 minutes away by road. That road is curvy, hilly and busy with tourist traffic, so allow more than the bare drive time and check whether your tour includes hotel transport. If you're staying in central Quepos, the marina can be an easy walk or a short taxi ride, depending on where your hotel is. ## Slips, fuel and the dry rack The marina lists over 250 wet slips on floating concrete docks, taking vessels up to 200 feet, with a safe operating depth of 14 feet. A coffer dam protects the basin from swell. Those are the marina's published figures, so a skipper should still confirm the assigned slip, draft limits and any restrictions for their own boat. Slips come with electricity, pump-out, dock boxes, fiber internet and digital TV. Around them you'll find garbage and recycling, public restrooms, parking, 24/7 security, a concierge and emergency services. The fuel station sells polished fuel, which the marina says makes it the only one in Central America to do so. For smaller boats there's a dry rack with 40 spots for boats up to 38 feet. A forklift that handles up to 25,000 pounds moves them in and out of the water. It suits owners who don't use their boat often enough to keep it in a slip. We don't print dockage figures because they change. For current marina rates and reservations, check the [official marina services page](https://marinapezvela.com/marina-services/), which has its own rates and reservation links. If you come across a rate sheet marked for a future year, ask the marina which one applies to your dates. ## The yacht yard The [yacht yard](https://marinapezvela.com/yacht-yard/) is the part of the operation boaters care about most. It's built around a 200-ton Marine Travelift, plus smaller forklifts for lighter boats. The yard lists electrical, mechanical, carpentry, paint, fiberglass and welding work, along with cleaning, sanding and polishing, and it works with a network of pre-approved outside contractors for jobs like prop scans, electrical refits and engine rebuilds. For an owner planning a refit or a seasonal haul-out, that can decide whether a Pacific passage or a maintenance window works. Ask the yard directly about your boat's specifications, lead times and contractor rules, and don't assume a slip booking includes a haul-out slot. Service estimates come through the yard's request form. ## Sportfishing Quepos is one of Costa Rica's best-known sportfishing ports, and the marina is a big part of that. Offshore waters hold billfish and other large pelagic species, while inshore fishing has its own targets. What's biting changes through the year, so a local captain's advice beats any calendar. The marina hosts major billfish tournaments. In April 2026 it hosted the Bisbee's Costa Rica Offshore, the first edition of that tournament held outside Mexico. Its [fishing page](https://marinapezvela.com/fishing/) has the tournament calendar and a weekly fishing report. Tournament weeks are fun to watch, but they also fill berths and hotels, so check the dates before you plan an arrival around one. If you're booking a charter, ask whether it's inshore or offshore, private or shared, which boat and crew you'll get, what safety gear is aboard, and whether fishing licenses are included. The marina's own tour desk says its fishing trips don't include licenses or tips. See our [sportfishing section](/sportfishing/) for more. ## Catamarans and other tours You don't need to own a boat to use Marina Pez Vela. It's the boarding point for most of the area's catamaran and sightseeing trips. [Planet Dolphin](/planet-dolphin/) runs catamaran trips along the Manuel Antonio coast from here, and [Iguana Tours](/iguana-tours/) sells a catamaran and snorkeling outing as well as a separate mangrove trip that leaves from a different spot. Ocean King, the big catamaran run by Manuel Antonio Catamaran Adventures, also boards here, and so do [Sunset Sails Tours](/trimaran-sunset-sail-tours/). The marina also has its own [tours and activities desk](https://marinapezvela.com/tours-and-activities/), which lists fishing trips, a catamaran tour with snorkeling, jet ski and small-boat tours along the Quepos and Manuel Antonio shore, and parasailing, plus ATV and rafting trips with transport from the marina. Operators come and go, so treat any list as a starting point. Check the operator's own booking page for the meeting point and the boat you're assigned. Several companies share the waterfront, so know the name of your company's desk before you arrive. ## A good spot even without a booking The commercial plaza has places to eat, shops and spots to sit by the water, which makes the marina an easy alternative to another afternoon by the hotel pool. Families who like watching boats can spend an hour here without committing to a full day at sea. The docks are working areas, though: public access is different from berth access, and kids should be watched near the harbor edge. ## Arriving by yacht from abroad Clearing into Costa Rica takes more than reserving a slip. If you plan to clear in at Quepos, the marina asks you to work with an authorized port agent, and its [entry requirements page](https://marinapezvela.com/costa-rica-entry-requirements/) names the agents it works with. It says customs and immigration want at least 48 hours' notice before arrival. To start a reservation the marina asks for scanned copies of the boat's registration, liability insurance, the passports of everyone aboard and a power of attorney for the captain. Requirements depend on your boat, crew and route, and they change, so contact the marina before you arrive rather than relying on an old blog post. The marina's radio channel is VHF 69. ## When to go The Central Pacific's drier months run roughly December to April, and the rainy months bring afternoon showers, which is why many day tours leave in the morning. Swell, rain and water clarity vary in every season. Humpback whales pass this coast in two seasons: southern-hemisphere whales from about July to October and northern-hemisphere whales from about December to March. Dolphins are often seen offshore, but no sighting is guaranteed. Yacht crews should use detailed marine forecasts and the marina's port instructions, not a general travel-weather summary. ## How it compares Each of Costa Rica's marinas serves a different stretch of coast. Northern Guanacaste has the Papagayo and Flamingo sailing scene, [Los Sueños Marina](/los-suenos-marina/) at Herradura is closest to San José, and Golfito's [Banana Bay Marina](/banana-bay-marina/) and [Fish Hook Marina](/fish-hook-marina-lodges/) sit in the calm Golfo Dulce. Quepos makes sense when your plans center on Manuel Antonio, offshore fishing or a stop on a coastal passage between north and south. It isn't a departure point for Tamarindo, Playas del Coco or Santa Teresa trips. See our [marinas section](/marinas/) for the full list and the [Central Pacific](/central-pacific/) page for nearby trips. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Marina Pez Vela in Manuel Antonio? No. It's in the town of Quepos, about 15 minutes by road from Manuel Antonio. Many Manuel Antonio boat tours board at the marina. ### How big a boat can Marina Pez Vela take? Its wet slips take vessels up to 200 feet, with a safe operating depth of 14 feet. Confirm your assigned slip and draft with the marina before arrival. ### Can I get my boat hauled out and repaired there? Yes. The yacht yard has a 200-ton Marine Travelift and offers mechanical, electrical, paint, fiberglass and other work. Request an estimate through the [yacht yard page](https://marinapezvela.com/yacht-yard/). ### Where do I find current slip rates? On the [official marina services page](https://marinapezvela.com/marina-services/). For boat tours, check each operator's own booking page. ### What radio channel does the marina use? VHF channel 69.