How to Plan a Fishing Trip to Costa Rica — Step by Step

Costa Rica Fishing CompanyAugust 18, 2026

Step 1: Choose When to Go

Quepos fishes well all year, so the right season depends on what you want to catch. The dry season, December through April, is prime time for sailfish. The green season, May through November, brings blue marlin, big yellowfin tuna and some of the best inshore action of the year.

Dry season is also high season for travel, so flights and hotels fill up earlier. Green-season mornings are usually calm, which is when charters run, and the rain tends to arrive in the afternoon.

Step 2: Choose Your Charter

Inshore charters stay near the coast in calmer water and target roosterfish, snapper and jack crevalle — a great fit for families and first-timers. Offshore charters run out to blue water for sailfish, marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi. Our Half-Day Inshore runs 5 hours with departures at 7:00 AM or 1:00 PM; the 3/4-Day charters run 7 hours and return by 2:00 PM; the Full-Day Offshore runs 9 hours, from 7:00 AM to about 4:00 PM.

Every charter is private, so the boat is yours and your group's. If you are not sure which one fits, our inshore vs offshore guide and charter cost guide walk through the differences.

Step 3: Fly Into San José

Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José is the closest international gateway to Quepos and has direct flights from many cities in North America and Europe. If your flight lands late in the day, plan to spend the first night near the airport and travel to the coast the next morning.

Step 4: Get From San José to Quepos

By road, Quepos is about 164 km from San José — usually 2.5 to 3 hours via Route 27 and the Costanera (Route 34) along the coast, depending on traffic. You can rent a car or book a shared or private shuttle. If you prefer to skip the drive, domestic airlines such as SANSA fly from SJO to Quepos's La Managua airport (XQP) in about 30 minutes.

Step 5: Decide Where to Stay

Quepos puts you closest to Marina Pez Vela, where our charters depart, which helps on early mornings. Manuel Antonio, about 10 to 15 minutes away, has the beaches, the national park and a wider choice of hotels. Either works well; our Quepos vs Manuel Antonio guide compares both in detail.

Step 6: Plan How Many Days

Plan at least three or four nights in the area. Avoid fishing on the day you arrive, and keep one spare day in case weather or sea conditions move your charter. Many anglers fish one or two days and spend the rest on the national park, canyoning, an ATV tour or a catamaran cruise.

Step 7: Book and Prepare

Book your charter as early as you can, especially for the dry season; for short-notice dates, WhatsApp is the fastest way to check availability. The fishing license, rods, tackle and bait are included, and hotel pickup can be added when you book. Before you travel, check our packing checklist so you arrive ready for a day on the water.

Your Trip at a Glance

Here are the key facts, at a glance:

• Sailfish peak: December–April · Blue marlin: May–September
• Airport: San José (SJO)
• SJO to Quepos: ~2.5–3 h by road or ~30 min by air
• Stay: Quepos or Manuel Antonio (10–15 min apart)
• Trip length: at least 3–4 nights, plus a spare day
• Included: fishing license, rods, tackle and bait

More local fishing guides on our partner site: manuelantoniofishingcharter.com

• Trip Planning
• Costa Rica Fishing
• Quepos
• Quepos Travel
• San José to Quepos
• Sport Fishing