Guanacaste Fishing Packages



Packages



Fishing Info



Seasons



Available Species



Accomodations



FAQ’s

Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific region, known as Guanacaste, is home to some of the best fishing towns in the country. From the legendary hot spots like Playa Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo, to the new Marina Papagayo, there is no shortage of quality captains and fishing boats in this region. Known as the ‘gold coast of Costa Rica’, this is the hottest and driest region of the country and home to many of the country’s best beaches. Whether your group prefers a private villa or condo, a romantic boutique hotel for a honeymoon or anniversary, or a luxury all inclusive beach resort we’ll make your Costa Rica fishing vacation is a great one. Review our Guanacaste fishing packages below to get an idea of what is available to you, then once you contact us we’ll work with you one on one to create your own customized vacation package. Trust our local expertise and see why nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests!

All Inclusive Paradise

Fish & Golf – Westin Playa Conchal

Coast 2 Coast

Tamarindo Fishing Vacations

Fish & Golf Tamarindo

5-Star Costa Rica

Where is Guanacaste?

The Guanacaste province of Costa Rica constitutes the entire northwest Pacific region of the country. Named after the national tree of Costa Rica, the Guanacaste tree, this is the hottest and driest region of the country. Covering almost 4,000 sq miles, due to the year round sunny weather and endless beaches this has also become the most developed region of Costa Rica. What where once popular surfing towns like Tamarindo or fishing villages like Flamingo are now major tourist draws with beachfront resorts, condos and private villas. Farther north in the Gulf of Papagayo you’ll find the exclusive Peninsula Papagayo which is home to the Four Seasons, Andaz Papagayo, an Arnold Palmer golf course, and the new Marina Papagayo. To service the growing number of tourists visiting Guanacaste, Costa Rica opened the Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in 1995 and has since expanded it several times. Flying directly into the LIR Airport in Guanacaste versus the SJO Airport in San Jose saves you hours of time as the drive time to most major beaches like Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal, and the Gulf of Papagayo is just 1-1.5 hrs.

Guanacaste Fishing Info

The Guanacaste region of Costa Rica is the farthest west point of the country, and therefore the closest to the continental shelf and the offshore fishing grounds. In season, the run to the offshore fishing spots can be as short as 15-20 miles. During the months of December through April, when this region experiences strong seasonal winds, the boats tend to run south to fish behind a huge mountain that blocks the wind and offers calmer seas. This part of Costa Rica offers fantastic inshore fishing as the entire coastline is dotted with reefs and islands, which is why it’s one of the top SCUBA diving destinations as well. From the Catalina Islands near Flamingo to the Gulf of Papagayo in the north, this area can pump out some massive roosterfish.

The charter fleet in Guanacaste is home to some of Costa Rica’s oldest charter operations. Here you can find anything from a 26′ economical sport fishers and center consoles to top of the line 50′-60′ luxury yachts and tournament boats. In towns like Tamarindo the boats still leave from the beach, but farther north in the Gulf of Papagayo you’ll find Costa Rica’s newest marina, the Marina Papagayo. We have three tiers of fishing charters in Guanacaste: Small (26′-34′), Medium (36′-42′), and Large (45′-60′). The Medium and Large boats typically have air conditioned salons. Every captain has a different personality and every boat has different pros and cons, so trust our local knowledge to hand pick the perfect fishing charter for your group. All Guanacaste fishing charters are private so the boat is 100% yours, we do not set up shared charters with strangers. All Guanacaste fishing charters include bait, tackle, gas, lunch, snacks, and drinks (beer/water/soda). A quality tip for your crew is generally 15%-20% of the cost of the charter.

In Costa Rica the use of circle hooks is mandatory. All marlin, sailfish, and roosterfish are catch and release. We strongly encourage you to release all cubera snapper as well. Other edible species like tuna, dorado, wahoo, grouper, and snapper can be kept and will be cleaned & filleted by your crew.

Guanacaste Fishing Calendar

Guanacaste is the hottest and driest region of Costa Rica and offers great weather 12 months a year. That said, its fishing season varies greatly from hot spots like Los Sueños and Quepos in the southern part of the country so understanding the fishing seasons is extremely important. Hot and sunny doesn’t always equate to great fishing conditions as this part of the country receives very strong winds from December through April. For most of Costa Rica, the peak billfish season runs from November through April but in Guanacaste the best fishing is in our green season from May through November. If you do visit between December and April you will have to run south to get behind one of the massive extinct volcanoes that will block the wind. Below you can review our Guanacaste fishing calendar, but keep in mind these are general patterns, not an exact science as every year is different.

Available Species Fishing in Quepos

Offshore Fishing

Blue Marlin

Sailfish

Yellowfin Tuna

Black Marlin

Striped Marlin

Dorado

Wahoo

Inshore & Bottom Fishing

Roosterfish

Cubera Snapper

Jack Crevalle

Horse-eye Jack

Bluefin Trevally

Squirrelfish

Schoolmaster Snapper

Red Snapper

Lane Snapper

Black Grouper

Broomtail Grouper

Barracuda

Mackerel

Needlefish

Guanacaste All Inclusive Resort & Accommodations

The Guanacaste region is referred to as the ‘gold coast’ of Costa Rica due to its year round sunshine and endless string of beaches. This is the most developed region of the country, so visitors can fly directly into the LIR Airport and be at their beach hotel within 1-1.5 hrs. It’s in this part of the country where you will find the big chain hotels and all inclusive beach resorts that offers tons of on-site amenities and dining options. If that isn’t your style we also have several fantastic boutique hotels that cater to adults and couples. Last but not least, Guanacaste has no shortage of private luxury condos and villas to rent if you have a big group that wants your own space while avoiding the crowds. We will hand pick the best fit for your group once we start working on your customized fishing vacation together.

Guanacaste Day Tours & Non-Fishing Activities

Our Guanacaste fishing packages don’t need to be all fishing, all the time. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, there are several great eco and adventure tours available in this region of the country. The list includes:

Canopy zip-line tour
ATVs
White Water Rafting
Horseback Riding
Guided Tour of Rincon de la Vieja National Park
River float trip through Palo Verde National Park
Catamaran Cruise + snorkeling
Surfing
Golf
River float fly fishing trip
Snorkeling
SCUBA Diving