Quepos, Costa Rica
The Quepos Vibe
The town of Quepos is a somewhat bustling spot on the Central Pacific coast. It serves as a gateway to Manuel Antonio.
It is not exactly charming, but it is the perfect jumping-off point for tons of activities. We like the hilly areas surrounding Quepos for beautiful views and tons of wildlife.
Map Of Quepos
The town is located on the Pacific coast in the Puntarenas Province.
It is south of Jaco and just slightly north of the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Quepos at a Glance
Nearest International Airport
Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose
Popular Things to Do
visit Manuel Antonio National Park, fishing tours, catamaran rides
Best Way to Get Around
Best Time of Year to Visit
Dry season is from late December until mid-April
Book Your Trip
Getting to Quepos
Flights to Costa Rica
The easiest way of getting to Quepos is by flying into the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose.
For flight booking we suggest Skyscanner. They are our go-to flight booking site for great rates.
OUR FAVORITE OPTION
We suggest renting a car and drive yourself. The highway from San Jose to Quepos is a well-maintained highway. You should have no issues if you are a somewhat experienced driver.
Keep in mind that the first highway is a toll road. You need to pay with cash, but they do accept dollars if you don’t have colones.
We usually pay with a $10 bill and the change (in colones) is enough to pay for the rest of the tolls.
About an hour into your drive you will cross over a river called Rio Tarcoles which is usually lined with people. Pull your car over and walk back onto the bridge to check it out. You’ll see huge crocodiles below waiting for a tasty meal. 
You do not need to rent a 4×4 for this route. The roads are all paved.
We partner with a local Costa Rican rental car company called Adobe for all our rental car needs.
We have a 10% discount plus other great perks for you if you would like to rent with them. Just click here!
CHEAPEST OPTION
If you are only going to Quepos and not planning on traveling to other places, the bus from San Jose to Quepos is your cheapest option.
The public bus will only cost you about $10 dollars and runs several times a day. It’s not the most comfortable and if it’s full you could be left standing for the whole ride, but hey, it’s cheap!
You can check out the full bus schedule here. As your destination put in “Quepos”.
MOST COMFORTABLE OPTION
If you have a small group, the most comfortable option is hiring a private shuttle.
We are big fans of Adobe Transfers and they are more than happy to stop along the drive so you can check out all the crocodiles at Rio Tarcoles or other viewpoints.
You can get get a price quote from Adobe Transfers here.
Fastest Option
Your other option is to fly. There is a small airport in Quepos and domestic flights from San Jose fly here.
Getting Around in Quepos
We like to have a car in Quepos just so we have more flexibility in our exploration and don’t need to stick entirely to tours. It’s always nice to be able to get around on your own.
If you do not feel comfortable driving to Quepos, but would like a car for exploring while in the area we suggest renting a car for a few days while in Quepos and using a shuttle to get to and from Quepos.
To do this just select “Quepos/Manuel Antonio” as your car pick up location when you reserve your car with Adobe through us. In the comments section of the rental car reservation, you can specify that you need the car delivered to you at your hotel. Adobe will deliver it to you free of charge if you are within 12 miles of their office location.