Hard to believe we are already here in April and have just completed our second Semana Santa while dealing with the CoVid crisis and its impact on our community, our beloved Costa Rica and the world at large. While so much of the world has been focused on the countless obstacles and hardships which we have collectively endured, the team and family at Marina Pez Vela is incredibly proud to be a beacon of light, hope and resiliency as we cross over the year anniversary from the closing of our borders in 2020.
This April -and the months ahead- there is a lot to celebrate, highlight and share with our community and including the ongoing tournament series for 2021 and some new additions to our commercial plaza.
Emilio’s Cafe and Faxas Cuban Cigars are both open for business here at Marina Pez Vela!
Marina Pez Vela brought in 2021 with some AMAZING experiences, energy and most importantly hope for a better year to come. There is tremendous energy at the project right now, some amazing new tenants, Costa Rica’s biggest Sportfishing tournament ever and February is going to bring more success stories and life to our community. We are so honored to be a part of the reactivation of our community, to be creating a public space to share with locals and tourists alike, and to be helping to demonstrate how we can all work collaboratively to create SAFE spaces where health protocols and security can allow us to share and create memories in this beautiful part of the world.
ROCKSTAR WAS HUGE
There are times when a name is just hype, times when the promise of something is bigger than the event itself, times where it’s all talk and no walk. AND THEN THERE WAS THE 2021 ROCKSTAR TOURNAMENT. 67 teams, more than $970,000 in prize money on the line, INSANE billfish bite with 364 anglers releasing 922 Billfish, including 37 blue marlin and 1 striped marlin in this two day extravaganza.
Here are the results.
Big Boat Division
First Place: Cabana with 3800 points
Second Place: Game Plan with 3500 points
Third Place: FishTank with 3400 points
Small Boat Division
First Place: Rockstar with 2100 points
Second Place: Gamefisher 2 with 1400 points
Third Place: Trifecta with 1300 points
Team Alaska, Good Times, Marina Pez Vela, and Kenneth Knock Development all took home prices in the Tuna and Dorado gamefish divisions.
Rockstar was much bigger than just the world class fishing, it was about the Marina, our community and all of the amazing teams who came to share with us showing the world we are BACK, that TOGETHER we can honor both protocol and health concerns, and still enjoy this amazing facility at Marina Pez Vela and the world class waters off our coastline!
While we can’t speak for the entire world, I think it is safe to say that never has a new year been welcome with as much hope, excitement, and communal sense of “good riddance” to the year we are leaving behind! 2020 was a challenge for the entire world and the family at the Marina, we are incredibly proud to have been a beacon of hope for our collaborators, our boat owners, and community at large. While 2020 was a year to endure for so many in our community, the hardest of times also brings out the BEST in us all as individuals, as a community, and as a project. Seeing the generosity, entrepreneurial spirit, resiliency, and love in our community has made us all remember just why it is we have chosen to live or visit this magical part of the world, and to be thankful during this 2021 ahead for the blessings which are part of anyone lucky enough to be reading this magazine and our updates.
So, onward and upward and there is PLENTY to be excited about in this fresh start in 2021.
March is a HOT month here at Marina Pez Vela and we are not just referring to the summer temperatures and booking tourism season. 2020 has been off to an insane start at both the project and in the area and we will take advantage of this new update to both recap some of our biggest events from the past and fill you all in on the activities to come here in March at the Marina.
2nd ANNUAL PESCADORA TOURNAMENT
We want to start by THANKING SAMANTHA MUMFORD and her entire organization team for an amazing success in the 2nd Annual PESCADORA tournament. This amazing event was a huge success in its first year and the event at the end of February was bigger and better here during its second incarnation. In addition to the record setting number of participants, tremendous female anglers and record setting fun, the PESCADORA represents so much more to the project and the area. Marina Pez Vela is about inclusion, changing perceptions, and letting the community, country, and world know that Sportfishing is much more than the tradition stigma of a “angler”. Marina Pez Vela is about inclusion, sharing this wonderful, and sustainable sport with families and our community and nothing represents this commitment than the PESCADORA and its amazing participants.
FIRST ANNUAL ROOSTER RODEO – SATURDAY, MARCH 7
While the waters here are well known for the sailfish and marlin bite which attracts anglers from around the world, many fewer are aware that our inshore fishing and specifically the ROOSTER fishing here is world class. This amazing species is the focal point of the first ever ROOSTER RODEO, a one day inshore tournament focused on catching, tagging, and releasing these amazing species. To the novice, the Rooster fish is the one that looks like it has a MOHAWK with an amazing dorsal fin that sticks up like the crown of a roosters head. MPV has hosted several important satellite tagging expeditions and is leading the research on the conservation of this species and this tournament is all about celebrating its beauty and conservation. Learn more at marinapezvelatournaments.com.
9th ANNUAL QUEPOS BILLFISH CUP – MARCH 19-21
This is the longest running tournament at Marina Pez Vela, one of the most competitive and this will be the biggest and baddest year ever. The QBC is back with the kick off registration event on the evening of March 19th and two days of intense fishing competition. The QBC, which is the only event in Costa Rica that is a qualifying event for the Offshore World Championship, is going to have some new formats this year which retains all the fierce competition, but also opens it up to anglers looking for more fun than fight. With two divisions, the GUN and the FUN you can select whether to fish with the IGFA rules or in the FUN division where hook and pass rules allow for just about anyone to try their hand in tournament fishing. The QBC is also the first leg of the Marina Pez Vela Championship Series (Gun division required) with a chance at a bonus of $25,000 to the series champion who accumulates the most points between the QBC and the Marina Pez Vela open the following month.
WEDNESDAY MOVIE NIGHTS UNDER THE STARS
March has a total of 5 MOVIE nights so get your calendars ready and we will see you on:
March 4th: Bumblebee
March 11: Spiderman-Into the Spider-verse
March 18: Tomb Raider-Adventures of Lara Croft
March 25: Pokemon Detective Pikachu
March 31: Christopher Robin
Do not miss out on all the fun and action here and whether you are participating in the tournament or just looking for some great food in a beautiful setting, MPV is the place to be in March!
2020 is off to a BLAZING start here at Marina Pez Vela and February is going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever before with a few of our largest and most exciting events! February might be the shortest month of the year, but is PACKED with activities and events which bring our community together to celebrate and share. This focus on community, on inclusion and on creating a space for EVERYONE to enjoy is at the core of what Marina Pez Vela stands for and it is our great honor to share the insight to our February events calendar with our Quepolandia family.
Costa Rica’s BIGGEST SUPER BOWL PARTY!! Sunday, February 2
Central America’s largest open air screen, 6 restaurants, ENGLISH broadcast, ALL THE COMMERCIALS, a stunning sunset, star filled night and the opportunity to watch the glory of victory and the agony of defeat. Do we really need to ask you to come??? WELL, WE ARE!! Do NOT MISS the Super Bowl party at MPV on Sunday December 2nd. There will be all kinds of food and drinks specials at our restaurants and whether you are dialed into every play or not, there is no better place to enjoy what has become the largest sporting event in the world. Forget about cleaning up your house, spilled beer on the couch, or what the non-football watching fans in your family and friends are going to do—they can eat ice cream while you scream at the screen here along with a few thousand of your closest friends! Read More…
From the quiet tranquility and cool rains of our green season we emerge into the HOLIDAY MADNESS and explosion of another summer and peak travel season here at Marina Pez Vela. We are extremely excited about 2020 and all of what is to come both for the Marina as well as for our community at large. We will highlight some important news here for January and encourage you to visit our website, and to follow our social media on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date news and events.
THE ROCKSTAR, January 11 and 12, 2020
The title could not be more fitting. It has now become the largest and biggest payout fishing tournament in Central America!! This two day shoot out is full of fun, rock and roll concerts, fishing crazies, fun team uniforms, photoshoots, and some incredible fishing. The tournament has divisions for anglers of all ages and capabilities and is an event not to be missed. For our local community, even if you are not participating, do NOT miss the early morning energy, (come down for some coffee at sunrise and enjoy breakfast in the marina…more to come on that) and DEFINITELY be back from 4-6 with the boats coming in, weigh station drama and live music in the plaza. GET READY TO ROCK AND ROLL.
DECEMBER IS HERE and MARINA PEZ VELA has a TON OF NEWS and EVENTS to report! The transition into both the dry season and the high season is in full swing and perhaps the first thing that comes to mind in this time of the year are the magical painted sunsets which we are marveling at nearly each evening from the Marina. The colors, boats, clouds, and at times, what seem to be fires in the sky are magical and bring locals and tourist alike out to marvel in the beauty and magic of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. With the change in weather and in overall tourism flow, we get back into the swing with some of our most iconic events here at the Marina and in our community, which we will outline here along with some BIG NEWS.
TRIATHLON
The closing even of the COPENAE Triathlon series is back to Quepos this year and is the first weekend of the month. This is a HUGE event for a host of reasons. First, the triathlon brings in over one thousand athletes to the community along with all their friends, family and support staff. This has become boom economically for the area during what is traditionally a very slow weekend in early December. We want to encourage the entire community to get out and support this event the days and evenings prior as well as the morning of the event. This is a great positive kind of tourism for our area, healthy athletes, role models, and families celebrating health, wellness, and a competitive athletic environment which is inspiring many in our local community to get involved in running, biking, swimming, and sports in general. The family at Marina Pez Vela also would like to remind and request that EVERYONE here work to coordinate to minimize traffic and for those who are driving to be VERY CAREFUL and respectful of the athletes. This is a great event for our community and our support as a project and community to insure a fun, safe and supportive environment is crucial.
BRIGHTLIGHTS 2019: DECEMBER 7th
HUGE NEWS and BIG CHANGES to BRIGHT LIGHTS THIS YEAR. 2019 will have our first BRIGHT LIGHTS PARADE ON THE MALECÓN INSTEAD OF INSIDE THE MARINA. This amazing community event has outgrown the marina and in past years we have had to close the doors for safety and security which leaves large parts of our community out of the event. BRIGHT LIGHTS was conceived and has always been about our community more than the marina and this 2019 we are working with the Municipality and the main stage, concerts, live circus, and parade of floats will take place on the Malecón. Special aquatic floats will be parading along the malecón in the water and we encourage and welcome EVERYONE to come out and make this year’s BRIGHT LIGHTS bigger and better than ever as it continues its natural path as a QUEPOS event. The Marina will remain open this day, our restaurants and shops will be providing services, specials and even a view of part of the fireworks at the close of the night. The floats which will be featured in the malecón will be on display ALL MONTH here at MPV so if you can’t make the big night, you can come by the marina anytime in December to enjoy in the holiday spirit.
MOVIE NIGHTS ARE BACK
One of our most enjoyable traditions here during the starry nights of the dry season is free movie night at MPV. The tradition continues this year with an important change. MOVIE NIGHTS are going to be each WEDNESDAY in December. It is a great way to celebrate “hump day” for a happy hour and meal here at the project and a beautiful night at the best movie theatre in Costa Rica! Stay tuned to our facebook page and website for the list of this month’s movies or check the schedule on page 62 and remember, ITS FREE AND FUN!
PESCA SEAFOOOD
We are very proud to announce that we have a BRAND NEW restaurant at the marina, PESCA SEAFOOD HOUSE. PESCA is located in the heart of the plaza and is offering an amazing selection of fresh seafood, executive lunch specials, cold drinks and warm hospitality. PESCA is totally new concept, focused on becoming a part of what makes Quepos and the Marina so popular. Great seafood, casual environment, great value, and a local team of owners and operators who work to make every client feel at home. If you have not had the chance to try it yet, make plans to come down, marvel at a sunset, and enjoy some amazing new food at PESCA. You can check them out on facebook or any of the social media sites and read all the RAVE reviews facebook.com/Pescaseafood/.
What an amazing September and October we have enjoyed here in the area and what was once an incredibly sleepy time of year has become something of a phenomenon in the area. WHALES WERE EVERYWHERE and this amazing experience has become an integral part of extending the tourism season here in Costa Rica and also creating an opportunity for tens of thousands of Costa Rican families to take advantage of the green season rates and explore this part of the country. As we roll into November, we have some AMAZING activities right on the horizon and it is never too soon to start marking dates, planning and making sure you are part of the action.
THANKSGIVING
Arguably everyone’s favorite Holiday as our “turkey day” knows no religion and is a day of feasting, football, friendship, and family. What’s not to love and the Thanksgiving tradition is quickly gaining more and more popularity here in Costa Rica as locals get invited to share and experience the warmth of this special day with expats and tourists alike. The marina and our restaurants will once again be rolling out the red carpet with both traditional Thanksgiving Day meals and some non-traditional ones as well for people who want to share in the love, but not in the tryptophan induced naps after 5 pounds of turkey and stuffing. After your Turkey Day feast or in the days leading up to and after make sure to stop by Gelataria Amorosi here in the Marina for some Pumpkin Pie Gelato which is too die for…and if they still have their Whiskey Cream, it is worth two scoops!
AHHH…September and October…the DOUBLE EDITION of the Quepolandia. This wonderful time of year where we typically have the rainiest of weather, the slowest of tourism numbers, and the best kept secret in all of Costa Rica. What is that secret you ask? Come close so I can whisper it to you…Thats it…A bit closer…“THESE ARE TWO OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, SERENE, COOL, AND ENJOYABLE MONTHS TO SPEND IN THE MANUEL ANTONIO AREA!” Looking to spend all day tanning, maybe February is for you. Hoping for packed restaurants and bars…Semana Santa will be here soon enough. For anyone reading this article you are either a local (congrats) or one of the lucky visitors who braved the ‘rainy season’ fears and will get to experience this town, the rainforest, and Marina Pez Vela in some of its purest forms. Don’t let the sleepy feel and sometimes rainy weather fool you, there is PLENTY going on and lots to get ready for in the coming months as these tranquil days are the restful periods before our 2019-2020 madness starts again before you can blink an eye.
Whale Watching
What was once a quite natural phenomenon has become a PILLAR of our low season tourism flow and an incredibly important financial push for our community. Whale Watching is at its FULL PEAK during September and October and it is one of the most amazing experiences you can ever witness. These majestic creatures are part of the longest mammal migration cycle on the planet and we get to watch the first steps of it with the mothers and calves in the waters right off our shore. Marina Pez Vela is proud to be promoting and a launch pad for this important experience and in addition to all the promotion we do as a project, we are also proud to be giving courses from Marine Biologists, MINAE, and some of our local residents about sustainable practices and how to understand these species, educate our tourists, and protect these amazing animals. Do NOT miss out on the opportunity to experience these whales up close and you can reach out to our team at ifishquepos.com for more information on a tour, private boat charter, or personalized experience.
August is a very special time here in at Marina Pez Vela and in Costa Rica as it is the month of MOTHERS DAY! While most of our monthly schedules revolve around fishing tournaments, massive events, movies under the stars, etc. in August we have a month dedicated to allowing our local community to enjoy the space of Marina Pez Vela, focus on families and the last days before the more intense seasonal rains tend to visit in September and October. Marina Pez Vela has and will continue to dedicate a great deal of our time, energy and resources in to creating a year round tourism destination with dynamic activities for those who are visiting us regionally and internationally but we also have a very firm commitment to our local community and creating time and space for locals and expats alike to enjoy this marvelous public space. August is one of those months and we will highlight some of the events taking place, special dates and activities to enjoy.
MOTHERS DAY
As mentioned above, August is about celebrating the amazing women who give us life, sustain us all guide us with their love, wisdom and unwaivering support. Mothers Day in Costa Rica, August 15, is actually a NATIONAL HOLIDAY in Costa Rica with everything and everyone in the nation stopping to pay tribute. This year, Mothers Day falls on a Friday so you can bet that many will be taking a long weekend and treating Moms all over the country to some love and attention,. While there is no planned event at the marina, due to the inability to count on a starry evening for Mothers Day, all of our restaurants and shops will have specials running well before the big day so you can plan a special dinner, sweet dessert, family tour or pick up something at one of our boutiques to show your appreciation. Start your planning now and make reservations at Z Gastro, Gabriellas, Runaway Grill, Mercato del Porto, Sunrice or Double Hook for the best seating and specials.
July… SUMMER is here… or wait, WINTER is here… still can’t get used to this whole summer being winter, but unlike decades ago, when Quepos and Manuel Antonio truly went into a hibernation mode in the months after Semana Santa until Christmas, we now enjoy a robust mid-season here with travelers from around the world coming to Costa Rica. The increase in families, school summer trips, and other exploring the “green season” and all its magic have become something special, and here at Marina Pez Vela, while the fishing tournaments have ended, the ACTION IS JUST GETTING STARTED for another month full of reasons to come out to MPV!
COSTA RICA’S BIGGEST JULY 4TH PARTY IS ON AT MARINA PEZ VELA!
Sure we are in Costa Rica, sure Independence Day here is in September, but this IS our local English speaking paper, this is a melting pot of locals and expats, and when have we ever been one to not embrace any excuse for an amazing party! As in all of our activities, July 4th at Marina Pez Vela is an all-day event and one for ALL of the family. There will be games, inflatables, and a host of activities for all the kids to enjoy around the plaza starting at 3pm, just as the heat of the day starts to fade. At 6pm, the party kicks up a notch with the insane music of Kin Rivera Jr who will jam away through the sunset and until the epic fireworks display closes out the night at 8pm. All the restaurants here will have specials, some featuring traditional bbq and summer eats, along with their regular menus and options. Marina Pez Vela is a melting pot and this is a party for ALL to enjoy. So whether you are an expat who ran from the USA, a local looking to experience a bit of US culture, or just someone looking for some cold drinks, great food, good fun and amazing music…DO NOT MISS JULY 4th at MPV.
SUMMER IS HERE… That feels incredible wrong to say after the hot dry months of March and April just ended, but as the North American Spring melts into Summer time, things here in Quepos, Manuel Antonio, and Marina Pez Vela also evolve into a whole new vibe of family travel, amazing events and activities. One of the beauties of this area is that what was once a definitive “on/off” switch after Semana Santa has visually disappeared. While there are certainly some slower times for tourism, both in the area and here at the marina, there is ALWAYS something going on to enjoy. The transition into our “green” season, while welcomed by virtually everyone for the lushness and cooling trends, is far from break, just a new season to take part in! Here are some of the highlights for May and June here at Marina Pez Vela.
Pelagic Pura Vida Inshore Classic Tournament, May 24 – 26
The enormous success of the Pelagic Rockstar tournament which has become an annual event here at MPV during February, has led to a new incarnation of the Pelagic Tournament Legendary Fun. This year on May 25th there will be a one day Pura Vida Inshore Classic. This tournament is solely focused on the bountiful inshore fishery here with cash and prizes for either the most Roosterfish Release Points (points managed by length of each fish released) as well as a slam division for the combined weight of 3 total fish weighed in at the Marina Pez Vela scale. Weighable fish include Snook, Snapper, Corvina, Tripletail, Amberjack, Sierra Mackerel, Grouper, and Jack Crevasse. There are a host of individual jackpots and is going to be a fun-filled shoot out of some the most enjoyable inshore angling on the planet. Read More…
March Madness may be over, but April is going to include celebrations of all shapes and sizes here at Marina Pez Vela, as we embrace the last month of our peak travel season, dry season under the stars, and get ready to welcome the cooling first rains of May! It seems like every month is action packed here at MPV, but with each passing year, the team at the project, along with our guests and tenants find new ways to reinvent this space and build on the synergy between the community fo Quepos/Manuel Antonio and the marina. April 2019 will be another fun filled time as we forge another stitch in the fabric of our community.
Last month of MOVIE NIGHTS
With the end of the typical dry season we also have our last series of FREE MOVIE NIGHTS here at Marina Pez Vela. It is so common for families, couples, and friends to be looking for something to do on Friday nights and this is a great way to share under the stars, enjoy some of the great food and shopping at MPV, and relax with some great cinema on Costa Rica’s largest outdoor screen
Friday, April 5th: Aquaman
Friday, April 12: Spiderman – Un Nuevo Universo
THURSDAY, April 18th: Marco Ramirez
Friday, April 19: Hombre de Fe
NOTE: We have a special Thursday night movie, a Costa Rican film based on one of the nation’s most iconic pieces of literature, Marco Ramirez during Semana Santa, and Friday, April 19th will be our LAST movie night as on the 26th of April we will be hosting the final leg of the Marina Pez Vela Championship Series of Fishing that weekend.
More than just the temperatures are hot this time of year, the recreational and competitive angling going on at MPV is at an all-time high and March kicks off the first leg of the Marina Pez Vela Championship series this year! In addition to all the public tournaments, MPV is also hosting private tournaments organized by groups of friends, professionals and anglers and whether you are looking to compete at the highest levels or want to create a new and fun way to share with friends and family, our team at IFISH Quepos can help you organize and create a memorable tournament experience. While the high season brings the world’s finest anglers to the project, Marina Pez Vela is MUCH MORE than just an anglers marina and our community events, movie nights, gastronomic offerings and services continue to play a prominent role in the lifestyle of the area and our visiting tourists!
Marina Pez Vela Tournament Series
2019 is on inaugural year linking our two signature tournaments, the Quepos BillFish Cup and the Marina Pez Vela open into a series of tournaments with prizes and Offshore World Championship qualification among the most coveted of opportunities. The MPV Tournament series uses a video release verification format with release points awarded to both teams and anglers. Each of the two tournaments are 2 day events, which have both the scoring ability for sailfish, blue and black marlin, as well as exciting game fish divisions for Dorado and Tuna, along with daily jackpots to raise the stakes even more. The first of the two events is the Quepos Billfish Cup scheduled for March 15-17th and the series wraps up with the MPV Open, which runs April 26-28th. Read More…
After and AMAZING New Year’s CELEBRATION and a January PACKED FULL of activities, Rock Star Fishing Tournament and all the energy it feels more like the 63rd day of December vs the start of February, but who are we to complain for a celebration that lasts a few months instead of a few days! The good news, for those of you who enjoy a great time, is that February keeps the action going all month long here at MPV with a full slate of activities and big events! Let’s get to it and mark your calendars to join us here at MPV!
LA PESCADORA: February 21-23
The first annual Pescadora Fishing Tournament is the first women’s only fishing tournament here at MPV and is lining up to be one of the most successful and well attended tournaments to date. Anglers from all over Costa Rica and the world are coming to the area to enjoy some healthy competition and a WHOLE LOT OF FUN. MPV is home to some of the top female anglers in the world, and as is evidenced by the amazing performance in the open tournaments, female anglers are quickly taking their positions as some of the finest “fisherwomen” in the world. The Pescadora is welcoming anglers of all levels, but is certainly not your typical gimmicky female angler event. Organized by our local legend Samantha Mumford, La Pescadora promises to be a huge success, more fun than we can imagine and a great opportunity to expose and encourage more women and girls to get involved in this amazing sport. Come and join in the fun and support this first annual event.
VALENTINE’S DAY
Ahh, the day where lovers love to be in love. We want to invite everyone to join us for a Iive concert with Roger Morales, our local talent who always amazes us with his stunning voice and traditional Musica de Plancha. Whether you are coming with your significant other, spouse or just with friends and family to celebrate a day for friendship and love, there is no better spot to celebrate than MPV. While we can sometimes lose the importance of this holiday, love and friendship is at the core of everything we do at MPV, where a community and our visitors celebrate and share in a magical space. Join us and make reservations at one of our restaurants for a special dinner and a beautiful concert. Read More…
