HIGH SEASON and LOW SEASON pattern is now very much a year round destination, with activities, tourism, dynamic events and a sense of community which seems to always evolve to a new level. December of 2018 was close to one of the busiest and most exciting years in the history of Marina Pez Vela. The Triathlon, 5th annual Bright Lights Parade, Manuel Antonio Vivo concert and holiday events were an amazing kick off to our 2018-2019 season, and January is going to be ON FIRE with some of the most fun events of the year.
ROCKSTAR IS BACK!
That’s right, put the kids to bed early, cover your eyes and your ears as the ICONIC PELAGIC ROCKSTAR TOURNAMENT IS BACK AND BIGGER THAN EVER! This two-day tournament (three-day event), starting on January 11th is going to be the largest tournament in prize money and participation that the Marina has ever seen, with the 3rd annual edition of this amazing event. Teams from around the world converge on the Marina for some of the most competitive angling on the planet and for some of the most FUN you can imagine in any fishing event on the globe. Live music nightly in the plaza at the marina will be welcoming the teams with the live weigh-ins, parties and storytelling of each day’s epic battles. With 4 divisions to compete, Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, and Tuna there will be big prize money and big ego on the line! If you are not already signed up, DO NOT MISS IT, and if you are not an angler, you will not want to miss the energy and fun each night in the plaza. Cash and prizes valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars will be on the line and nowhere in CR will there be more fun going on than at MPV! Read More…
September and October were a wild ride for us all, with some of our first real intense rains and storms of the year, as well as a month of national strikes which made for some interesting experiences for both our local community and nation as a whole. November brings with it the final days of our green season and the annual rains, along with it the first big events and energy for the coming high season of 2018 and 2019. Marina Pez Vela, as usual, is doing things bigger and better than ever and November is when all the activities start to roll out in full force. It is such an amazing experience to see how MPV has become a part of our community with locals, expats and tourists alike making the project a home base for dining, shopping, services and special events and our team and family here have already begun full planning to insure that we have even more to share with you all in the coming months!
For November here are a few highlights of what we have to come!
Dorado Derby, November 17
This is our first annual Dorado Derby Fishing Tournament which has been designed to be the MOST FUN TOURNAMENT in all of Costa Rica. This one day event, scheduled for November 17th, is all about anglers of all abilities and experience, friends, families and businesses coming together to enjoy a day on the water, some good times, great laughs and fun way to participate in an fishing tournament at MPV. There are amazing packages here for $1,750 which includes the boat, tips, entry fee for the team and participation in the pool for biggest Dorados of the day and it is a great way to get your business, family or friends out on the water and experiencing one of the big draws and magical parts of our area. The day will culminate with a live weigh in for all the teams in the plaza, awesome DJ, and a fish fry part to celebrate the winners, the losers, new friends and old. There is still time to sign up and join the party of the first annual DORADO DERBY. Contact the team at IFish to make your reservation now!
While it’s almost impossible to imagine a month with more activity than this past March with our amazing Quepos Billfish Cup, Semana Santa and the completion of Costa Rica’s second and final round to elect our next president… APRIL is even MORE ACTION PACKED!!! While tournament fishing is definitely at the forefront of our April calendar, there are some other important events and opportunities to share with the our community and we invite and hope to see all of you here sharing in the energy and excitement this month!
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
We have teams from around Costa Rica and the World coming to Marina Pez Vela this month and have created a two leg tournament series to insure the most fun and competitive fishing environment on the planet for these anglers.
Marina Pez Vela Open, April 12-14
The actions starts with the MPV Open which is an open tournament where local anglers from Costa Rica and the world can register and compete in this three day event. Many participating in the OWC (offshore world championship) come early to “pre-fish” and the MPV Open provides an amazing platform for non-qualifying and participating teams to take part, warm up, win some money, and enjoy the world class waters of the area. marinapezvelatournaments.com/event/2018-marina-pez-vela-open/
Offshore World Championship, April 16 – April 20
The World Series, Super Bowl, Heavyweight Title fight and Olympic Gold medal round for the world of offshore fishing once again comes to Marina Pez Vela. This tournament brings teams from countries around the globe and requires participating teams to have won a tournament in the previous year’s qualifying circuit. Teams from as far as Australia and Brazil descend upon our community in a unique tournament where ALL teams are fishing on National Costa Rican Charter boats, with a rotation to a new boat each day to insure a level playing field. Daily dock socials, parties, weigh-ins for species which are not catch and release make for an incredible energy each morning and afternoon at the project and EVERYONE should come out to join in the activity and support their favorite teams from around the world. offshoreworldchampionship.com Read More…
March is one of the hottest months of the year both in temperatures and in important activities here at Marina Pez Vela and we are honored to share with our community all of the events and details to add to your calendars! The activities here are diverse and include two full weeks of tournaments, dance performances, live music, the iconic movie nights, Semana Santa, and will culminate with the April 1st elections for Costa Rica’s next president!
FISHING TOURNAMENTS
March and April are the two busiest months here at MPV for tournaments, both open to the public as well as some private tournaments. Whether you are an active angler or are just looking for some fun times, the tournaments at the project bring energy, world class anglers and always some amazing fish to see at weigh-ins, stories being told at the bar (where fish magically grow in size and strength) and the energy is electric all over the project. Read More…
It seems like the Christmas and New Year celebrations just run right through January and with all of the tourism and events here at Marina Pez Vela, February has appeared in the blink of an eye! With the blue summer skies, flat ocean waters and billfish bite back on, it feels like things are back to “normal” here at the marina with a vibrant schedule for the month and what seem like masterpieces painted each night with our live “SUNSET SHOWS”. The energy here at the project is palpable and growing each day and whether you are a local reading this monthly publication for the updates on the area or just picked up this magazine on your first visit to the area, do NOT miss out on the chance to come down and share in the essence of MPV where our local community, travelers from around the world and the finest project on the Pacific Coast all blend effortlessly into the tropical backdrop. February is another packed month with everything from smash mouth Football of the Super Bowl to a romantic Valentine’s Day concert…
We would like to send out a very special thank you to all of the men and women of Quepos and especially to our extended Marina Pez Vela family who worked tirelessly over the last month, cleaning out neighbors’ homes, hiking food and water into cut off communities, cooking hot meals and lending a hug and a hand where needed. October was not an easy month and we are proud that our Municipality, the private sector and countless volunteers from the community came together in this time of need. Let us all continue to help those who are rebuilding their homes and we pray and hope for a successful high season to lift everyone’s spirits
Now, here are a few things we can all look forward to in the months ahead.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Looking for turkey, cranberry sauce and some of mama’s pumpkin pie…..look no further. The Marina restaurants will be serving up traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 23rd to satisfy the cravings of the hundreds of nostalgic tourists and locals alike.
The long awaited, ever useful, always insight DOUBLE MONTH edition of Quepolandia is always a blast for those businesses and companies who are gearing up for a few slow and sleepy months in our rainy season…. NOT SO MUCH FOR MARINA PEZ VELA as packing in all the news, events, activities and developments at the project requires a weekly edition rather than bimonthly one! That said, and without further fanfare, here is some insight into what’s going on at MPV during September and October to add to your calendars and busy schedules!
BANCO PROMERICA AT MARINA PEZ VELA IS OPEN
This is huge news for the marina and for our local community. This location is a full service branch and is open until 7 pm Monday – Friday and until 2 pm on Saturdays. This is the ONLY bank in Quepos open after 5pm and is a great way to combine a sunset, dinner or some shopping/errands at the plaza and take advantage of your banking needs.
SEPTEMBER 15TH, COSTA RICA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Whether you were born and raised here, are an expat enjoying paradise, or a tourist just here on vacation, there is NOTHING like sharing in the pride of Costa Rican Independence Day. Costa Rica’s Independence Day is such a special time where local schools, communities and families celebrate the pride which is such intrinsic to this nation and its wonderful people. The Marina has always looked to compliment and support the civic activities and traditions which our local Municipality and schools coordinate on these events. This year’s 15th falls in on a Friday so plan on coming by MPV for a weekend full of faroles, typical food, dances, and events celebrating this amazing country and its heritage.
While there is a lot to report and update everyone for here at Marina Pez Vela, nothing is more important than extending our thanks, congratulations and love for all the Mothers out there in our community. We have a fantastic month of activities in the project and in the waters just outside and we hope that everyone can share and create some memories with their mothers here at Marina Pez Vela.
MOTHERS DAY EVENTS AT MPV
Saturday, August 12 at 6:00 pm in the amphitheater at Marina Pez Vela we will have a live concert with Roger Morales and company. Roger made national news with his amazing run on a program on Teletica, Cantando por un Sueno, and his amazing voice and personality which exemplifies the best our community and has blessed our community ever since. Access is FREE and we encourage you to reserve in advance for seating at our restaurants which will have a great view and setting so you can have a special dinner with your Mom and listen to the best voices from our community.
SUMMERTIME is here.. at least for our friends up north and what was once a sleepy time of year here in Costa Rica has become an important season for our marina, tourism sector and community. Costa Rica is an incredibly popular destination for the summer season with families, groups and travellers discovering the proximity, beauty, peaceful nature and diversity that the country has to offer. Here are some of the important highlights to mark on your calendars and to take note of in the project.
4th of July HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE U.S. OF A!
The July 4th celebrations here in Costa Rica have become some of the biggest parties of the year as the vibrant expat population, visiting tourists and locals join together to celebrate and enjoy the friendships we have all been able to build here in paradise. The Marina invites EVERYONE to join us here at the project as our restaurants will be running specials menus with everything from hot dogs to BBQ, with drink specials around the house! There will be activities for the kids and families to enjoy and a traditional fireworks display @ 8PM to close out the evening—or get things started depending on how your plans go! Stay tuned to our Facebook page or main website for more details on the schedule and events! It is IMPORTANT to note that locals, Costa Ricans, Canadians and EVERYONE are invited. The US Citizens living and visiting here love this place as we are treated like family and there is no greater honor for the expats, than celebrating a bit of their own history with their friends and families here in their new home!
AHHH… There is nothing quite like those first rains and the changes in the seasons here in paradise. Mangos in full bloom, Watermelons and Cantaloupes sweeter than sugar, the crowds and peak tourism season washing away with the first refreshing downpours of our transition into green season. It has been an incredibly eventful year at the Marina and while the transition of our seasons certainly means the end of our traditional high season for tourism the activities, events and growth at Marina Pez Vela isn’t slowing down at all. May and June bring some ongoing traditions, some very big World Cup Qualifying games, an important new tenant to our Commercial Plaza and a renewed opportunity for locals and tourists alike to become part of the culture of this amazing project and community.
RADIO 2
If you haven’t already been listening…wake up and tune in!!! Radio 2, one of Costa Rica’s most iconic radio stations is continuing its live broadcasts from the Marina every Thursday night from 5-7pm. The program has hundreds of thousands of listeners both here in country and online at radiodos.com and is a great way to enjoy a fantastic happy hour at the Runaway Grill, have some laughs and share any news, events and stories with the Evan Luck and the MPV team. The program is about promoting the marina and our community to the world and we invite locals with important news, events, fundraisers and charities to drop by so we can help share this amazing community and project with all the listeners stuck in traffic wishing they were with us watching the sunset!
OLE, OLE, OLE, OLE…TICOS, TICOS…
Thats right, the chants are coming as our march to the next World Cup in Russia 2018 continues. After a blazing start, Costa Rica managed to salvage a key point in their last series of qualifying games in Mexico and Honduras and are now preparing for two HUGE home games on June 9 vs Panama and then again on June 13 vs Trinidad and Tobago. We will have the big screen out for both games and hope to see everyone with their camisas, vuvuzelas and national pride ready to cheer on the SELE! Anyone who got to experience the last epic world cup run knows just how magically it can bring this country together so mark your calendars and come share and support the Sele and Marina on June 9th and 13th.
BANCO PROMERICA TO OPEN AT MARINA
We are incredibly excited to announce the opening of a full service branch of Banco Promerica here at Marina and it is going to be an amazing addition and service for locals, tourists and business owners. Promerica will be the only private bank to operate branches in both Manuel Antonio and Quepos, showing its strong commitment to this community. Now you can shop, dine and bank all at the same time, right here at the Marina.
LEYENDAS DE QUEPOS
Absolutely amazing!!! I had goosebumps!! History, Dance, Music and Culture all wrapped into on marvellous performance!!
To associate all these comments to a locally produced and performed modern dance presentation is not what you might expect, but thanks to Carlos Ovares and Corporeos, a group of local youth who have become professional dancers at an amazing level, we can all enjoy an amazing performance. LEYENDAS de QUEPOS is a beautiful presentation in a bilingual format that allows for Costa Ricans and non-spanish speaking tourists or residents to journey through the history of our community from the Indians and first explorers through the development of the Marina. Fantasy, history, music and dance come together in a stunning presentation. PLEASE GET OUT and support this amazing group representing the best of our youth. There will be shows at COPAZA and private performances can be arranged as well with the funds raised going to COPAZA and the ongoing effort to create safe spaces for our community to enjoy the magic of the arts, music, culture and apprenticeships. For more information about performance dates and how to support please visit the Facebook page for Teatro Copaza, facebook.com/teatrocopaza.
The summer is here, the marlin and tuna bite is on, and tourists are shopping, dining and soaking up the views. April is an incredibly busy month for everyone here in the area and the schedule at MPV is no exception. During the month of April the Marina will be hosting two international billfishing tournaments, weekly live radio shows from the Runaway Grill, free outdoor movie nights and Semana Santa specials for all of our guests and patrons. We are incredibly grateful to our local community, staff and visitors for all the support in helping to make this project so special and the team and family at Marina Pez Vela continue to renew their commitment to creating the most dynamic and unique facilities anywhere in Costa Rica.
FIRST ANNUAL MARINA PEZ VELA OPEN: April 19-21
In the days leading up to the Offshore World championships, (which will also be hosted at Marina Pez Vela) we are very proud to announce a unique opportunity for anglers from around Costa Rica to challenge themselves in a prize money tournament against the best teams from around the world. The MPV OPEN is open to everyone. There is still time to sign up and get your team the chance to have some fun, win some money and measure your skills against the best teams from around the globe. For more information: marinapezvelatournaments.com.
2017 OFFSHORE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: April 23-28
Marina Pez Vela and Costa Rica will once again play host to the most prestigious fishing tournament in the world, the Offshore World Championship. This is an invitation/qualification only event with teams from around the world converging on the Marina Pez Vela and the Manuel Antonio area to compete for what is equivalent to the gold medal in the Olympics of billfishing. There are daily activities and weigh-ins so whether you are an angler or not, make sure to mark the dates and come and share in the atmosphere at MPV during this iconic event.
RADIO DOS WITH EVAN LUCK
If you haven’t come to join in the fun at the Runaway Grill, you should start now! Every Thursday from 5-7 pm, Evan Luck, the iconic voice of the classic rock station 99.5 comes to broadcast his show live from Marina Pez Vela. The Runaway grill has a vibrant happy hour with great specials every day, and with the live broadcast there is always a great crowd. This month, with Semana Santa and all our tournaments, every Thursday is going to be loads of fun and is a great way to start winding down the work week, share some laughs and a magical sunset with friends or guests. You can listen live here in Costa Rica on 99.5 or tune in anywhere in the world at radiodos.com.
MOVIE NIGHTS UNDER THE STARS
April has one of our best outdoor movie lineups ever! This is a great way for tourists or locals to enjoy the public areas at the marina, take advantage of the weekly specials at any of our restaurants and just share in a stunning setting and a free night of entertainment. See this month’s schedule in Quepolandia or on our website at marinapezvela.com.
Billfishing is incredibly hot, the Tuna bite is on, tournaments are in full swing and the plaza is at maximum occupancy and full of special events, offers and new tenants! Marina Pez Vela is definitely the place to be and we are so proud to see the evolution of an environment which is bringing together our local community and their families, tourists visiting this region, anglers from around the globe and more and more national visitors from San Jose. Ultimately the public space, services and environment here is becoming part of the lore and culture of Quepos and Manuel Antonio and there is a lot more to come and enjoy!
QUEPOS BILLFISH CUP WRAP-UP
Marina Pez Vela welcomed some of the top anglers from Costa Rica and the USA to compete in the 6th annual Quepos Billfish Cup. The competition and prize money in this event is growing each year and the 2017 event saw some incredible anglers and a hot bite in the rich waters off the coast from Marina Pez Vela. After a tight heat after the first day of fishing, two teams began to separate themselves from the pack during Day 2 and never looked back. The Fish Tank and Billfish, battled to an epic finish with the team from Billfish clinching victory with an incredible final day which included 15 sails AND 3 marlins to bring home first place. The final day’s frantic fishing pace was followed up with an amazing closing ceremony and awards event. Our home team the BILLFISH took home first place and a big check!
Final Standings
1st place: Team Billfish
2nd place: Team Fish Tank
3rd place: Team WyBulu
Individual awards
Top Angler: Matt Rabenstine of Billfish
Top Female Angler: Laura Jessen of Fish Tank
Junior Angler: Sebastian Holman of Show Time
The tournament is more than just fun for the participating anglers but also for the community at large and we encourage everyone to share in the upcoming Marina Pez Vela Open and Offshore World Championships, both scheduled for April of 2017!
NEW MARINA TENANTS:
We have two new openings to announce here at the project and with their opening we have the entire commercial plaza running at maximum occupancy! This month is the grand opening of our newest retail store Bambamboo! This unique shop offers custom and hand-painted clothing with a focus on organic materials such as bamboo, hemp and organic paints and dyes. The line is super unique, comfortable and environmentally friendly so stop by for a present for that someone special or something for yourself!
The Double Hook Sports bar is now also officially open for business on the top floor above Mercato del Porto. DoubleHook and its team offer more than just a stunning setting with magical sunsets each night. They have a great menu for those looking for a casual meal or some delicious bar food to help with those cold beers and drink specials. They have over a dozen flat screen televisions and live feeds of virtually every sporting event you can imagine so whether you are looking to watch some March Madness, a local soccer game or spring training, Double Hook is the place to be.
FESTIVAL DE AGUA
In March, we will be hosting the month long Festival de Agua, featuring local school groups, folkloric dance presentations, art displays, and concerts with some up and coming bands. Be sure to check out www.marinapezvela.com and the Marina Pez Vela Facebook site for more information on each weekend’s activities. And remember we also have Outdoor Movie Nights every Friday at 7 pm, Free of Charge.
SUMMER IS BACK AND MARINA PEZ VELA IS THE PLACE TO BE!!! February is one of our busiest months so go ahead and start marking your calendars to share in some of these great events.
QUEPOS BILLFISH CUP: February 2-4, 2017
The Quepos Billfish Cup or (QBC as we call it) is our signature fishing tournament and promises to be bigger than ever this year. The expansion of our slips and growth of the marina’s reputation around the world has some of the top angling teams from Costa Rica and around the world lining up to participate and we are one of the featured tournaments in the Amateur Fishing Club series for Costa Rica this year as well. This year’s tournament kicks off 3 days of fishing on February 2nd and each night we will be welcoming the anglers back to the marina with dock socials, entertainment and the always exciting weigh in for non-release species. If you are an angler, there is still time to sign up your team and join the fun, and if not, do not miss the opportunity to come and share in the energy as the leaderboards unfold each day. For more information: marinapezvelatournaments.com
SUPER BOWL PARTY: Sunday, February 5, 2017
IT’S BACK!! Costa Rica’s largest Super Bowl party is at our doorstep and we hope everyone makes plans to come out and share in one of the largest sporting events in the world! Whether you are a football fan, commercial junky or people watcher, this is a fantastic event and the largest screen in Costa Rica will be streaming the live feed with the original English broadcast from start to finish. That’s right…amazing football game, check…6 restaurants to choose from, check…New DOUBLE HOOK SPORTS BAR, check…spectacular sunset, check…Super Bowl under the stars, check. If there is a better place to watch the game and share with family and friends, we invite you to go find it!
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHTS: Every Friday @ 7pm
Marina Pez Vela is more than just a place to come and fish or shop, as our family here is focused on making sure that our community of locals and tourists takes an ownership and can take pride in having a world class facility that welcomes all families. We are continuing our FREE MOVIE NIGHT, every Friday @ 7pm. If you haven’t come to take part, it is a very magical setting that starts with one of the daily auburn sunsets over the Pacific and as Mother Nature dims here lights, the feature presentation starts. All of our restaurants here, Runaway Grill, Z Gastro Bar, Falafel Bar, Mercato del Porto, Gabriellas, Sunrice and the Double Hook are open and ready to serve you, and the kids will line up for the best Gelato in Costa Rica at Gelateria Amorosi, before, during and after the show!
RADIO DOS LIVE: Every Thursday 5 – 7 pm
EVAN LUCK and the rest of the team here are broadcasting live again from the Runaway Grill every Thursday night from 5-7pm. Runaway has an awesome and lively happy hour and the live broadcast around Costa Rica and the world on radiodos.com combines some great classic rock music with some entertaining guests, fishing reports and laughs with the local gang. Come down and share with friends and family, enjoy some amazing food and drink, and share in PARTY WITH EVAN, SCOTT, JERRY AND CREW! Also, if there are special or community events going on that you want to share with the world, you can email Scott or our team at the marina to see if we can get you on the air!
WELCOME to 2017 at Marina Pez Vela!!!! The new year brings a new chapter to Marina Pez Vela as well as the continuation of some of the more popular and iconic events which have become a part of our community culture and our team is committed to ensure your experience with each visit to the project improves each year.
NEW SLIPS ARE OPEN!
As anyone who has visited the project can see, we have completed the expansion of our slip facilities and are officially open for business with a total of 91 new slips at Marina Pez Vela. The expansion was led and built by a team of Costa Rican engineers, technicians and building crew (many from right here in Quepos) and was delivered on time and to the highest global levels of quality. We are incredibly proud of the work that was completed and even more excited about the enormous positive impact this is going to have on the Marina and our community. The marina has more than doubled in total linear feet of dockage and now has the capacity to welcome more full time and transient boats, which will bring more tourists, jobs, investment and visits to our community.
OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHTS: EVERY FRIDAY 7PM
WE are VERY excited for another season of outdoor Friday Night Movie Nights on our giant, inflatable screen. Our line-up for January is included in this month’s Quepolandia, and you can always get the latest news about the movie of the week, special events and happenings at the project, by visiting our Marina Pez Vela website and Facebook page.
With our 91 new slips completed and our commercial plaza now full of fabulous restaurants, shops and tour companies, we are incredibly excited for what is going to be an AMAZING DECEMBER and kick-off to the high season. Make sure to start planning your month now, so as to not miss any of these amazing events. And please join us for a sunset, a Thursday night happy hour with the RadioDos show live with Evan luck, or outdoor movie night.
BRIGHT LIGHTS BOAT PARADE: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9th
The third annual Bright Lights boat parade promises to be bigger and better than ever this year. This year’s event is going to include the traditional boat parade, circus performers, fireworks display and a lot of fun with our expanded commercial plaza and a chance for everyone to celebrate the start of our holiday season. Charters are available so that you can enjoy the event FROM THE WATER and be a part of the action. Reach out to the team at iFish Quepos for details on a private or shared charter boat or to sponsor and decorate a boat.
