Quepos (Costa Rica)

Quepos is a port town and the capital city of Aguirre Canton (in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province), with population around 22,000. The town is located approx 60 km (37 mi) south from Costa Rica's capital San Jose City. However, the road distance (through Atenas, Orotina and Tarcoles) is 157 km (98 mi).

Port Quepos (locode CRXQP) is usually included in the schedules of luxury cruise line brands, like Seabourn, Windstar, Star Clippers, Ritz-Carlton, Hapag-Lloyd, AOV-Atlas Ocean Voyages/fleet (Mystic Cruises), which fleets include smaller-sized expedition type ships, top-sail ships, superyachts.

The town is named for the Quepo Indians who inhabited the area in the colonial era. The region sheltered the native Quepoans of the specific region. Led by Juan Vazquez de Coronado, Spanish conquistadores settled Quepos in the mid-16th-century and in 1563 established the settlement (as San Bernardino de Quepo). The native people were subsequently subjugated by the conquistadores. In 1746, the remaining Quepoans were transferred to a reservation that already had another native ethnic group.

The current-day town's economy is tourism-oriented, with many bars and restaurants, as well as vivacious nightlife. Quepos is also the gateway to the Manuel Antonio National Park (1972-established, land area 1983 hectares / 20 km2). Currently, the park service of Costa Rica imposes limits on the number of park's visitors (600 per day) and the nature park is closed on Mondays. Recreational/sport fishing is also popular among foreign tourists.

Quepos tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Manuel Antonio National Park (officially Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio)