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Illustration of a sportfishing boat with a sailfish jumping offshore
SPORTSFISHCOSTARICA · PACIFIC SPORTFISHING CHARTERS

Los Sueños fishing charters, plus Quepos and Golfito: pick your boat day.

Eight Pacific fishing trips with links to live prices and availability, from a half day off Herradura to a full-day Quepos billfish run. Each card names the dock or meeting point and says whether the price is per boat.

Pick Species & Season View Live Options · #1 Pick ↗

Pick species & season

Choose a target and a month. The charters, calendar and season board below light up to match.

Species
Month
  • ✓ 8 Vetted Local Operators · Named Meeting Points
  • ✓ Free 24h cancellation on 7 of 8 top picks
  • ✓ Secure checkout with trusted booking partners
Season calendar

Species by month

You can fish the Pacific year-round. Crews generally treat December to April as the main sailfish season off the Central Pacific, and the rainy months (May to November) as good for mahi-mahi and tuna, with calmer mornings. Inshore species like roosterfish and snapper are caught all year. Seasons vary, so ask your captain what is biting for your dates.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
SailfishMain season Dec–Apr off the Central Pacific
Mahi-mahiRainy months, May–Nov
TunaRainy months, May–Nov
RoosterfishInshore, caught all year
SnapperInshore, caught all year

Typical windows as described in our season notes. Fishing varies year to year, so confirm with your captain for your dates.

Charters

Los Sueños Tours & Fishing Day Trips Worth Booking

The best Los Sueños day trips on the water: eight charters and fishing trips from three Pacific hubs: Los Sueños/Herradura, Quepos and Golfo Dulce. Charter prices are usually per boat, not per person. Filter by trip type:

01
BEST VALUE BOAT DAY

Half-Day Inshore Fishing Trip from Playa Herradura

HERRADURA · 5 HRS

Five hours along the coast with live bait for roosterfish, snapper, mackerel and barracuda. A captain and mate run the boat; drinks, fruit, snacks and cold beer are on board.

Departs
Bus stop at Playa Herradura (just north of Jacó)
Check
Private boat priced per group; fishing gear, live bait and drinks included. Confirm your fishing license plan with the crew.
RoosterfishSnapper
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
02
FULL-DAY OFFSHORE

Jacó & Los Sueños Full-Day Sport Fishing Charter

LOS SUEÑOS · 9 HRS

A full day offshore aboard La Patrona with a Central Pacific tournament captain. Lunch, drinks, snacks, bait, tackle and safety gear are included in the charter price.

Departs
Playa Herradura beach; arrive 15 minutes before departure
Check
Private charter priced per boat, not per person. Fees and taxes included.
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
03
MORNING INSHORE

Jacó & Los Sueños Half-Day Inshore Sport Fishing

LOS SUEÑOS · 5 HRS

The same crew's shorter trip: five hours working the reefs and points near Los Sueños, with bait, tackle, drinks and snacks included.

Departs
Playa Herradura beach; arrive 15 minutes before departure
Check
Private charter priced per boat. Good if you want the afternoon back for the beach.
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
04
INSIDE THE MARINA

Private Fishing Charter at Los Sueños Marina

LOS SUEÑOS MARINA · 4 HRS

A four-hour private charter run by Costa Cat Cruises from the public charter dock inside Los Sueños Marina. Built for small groups of up to 4 anglers, including families and first-timers.

Departs
Public charter dock, Los Sueños Marina, Herradura
Check
Up to 4 people; drinks, snacks and parking included.
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
05
35-FT EXPRESS BOAT

Deep Sea Fishing Charter in Jacó with Bob Marlin Sport Fishing

JACÓ · 8 HRS

Eight hours on a fully equipped 35-foot express boat targeting marlin, mahi-mahi and other offshore species, with a bilingual crew that has fished Jacó for over 30 years.

Departs
Beach parking lot past the small bridge; the captain meets you there
Check
Private charter; lunch, drinks and snacks included.
Mahi-mahi
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
06
QUEPOS BILLFISH

Full-Day Offshore Fishing Expedition from Marina Pez Vela, Quepos

QUEPOS · 9 HRS

A family-run crew on a 45-foot Viking heads offshore from Quepos for a full day, with a catch-and-release approach to billfish. Lunch is included.

Departs
Outside FADS restaurant, first floor of Marina Pez Vela, Quepos (fishing licenses sold there)
Check
All sales final: this listing cannot be cancelled or refunded. Book only once your dates are fixed.
Sailfish
Verified · Viator
  • All sales final · check date
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
07
MANGROVE & WILDLIFE

Damas Island Mangrove Fishing Tour from Manuel Antonio

QUEPOS · 6 HRS

A boat ride and calm-water fishing through the Damas Island mangroves for red snapper, snook, jack crevalle and grouper, with monkeys and egrets along the channels.

Departs
Meeting point in the Damas/Quepos area, shown on the live listing
Check
Rods, bait, tackle, life jackets and snacks included. Adult rate from age 6.
Snapper
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →
08
GOLFO DULCE

Golfo Dulce Whale Watching, Snorkeling & Fishing from Puerto Jiménez

PUERTO JIMÉNEZ · 4 HRS

A shared half-day on Golfo Dulce, the gulf Golfito sits on: look for whales and dolphins in season, snorkel, and choose fishing. Gear and a snack are included.

Departs
In front of Marisquería Playa Blanca, next to the pier in Puerto Jiménez
Check
Shared tour with child rates from age 3. Golfito itself has no bookable listing; this departs across the gulf.
Verified · Viator
  • ✓ Free cancellation
  • Secure checkout · Viator
Book Now · See Availability ↗ View Live Options ↗ Details →

More Pacific charters

More Los Sueños tours and other ports from our experiences page. Each opens live dates.

  • UVITA · FULL DAYFull-Day Bahia Uvita Sportfishing Tour

    Private high-speed boat for up to 6 guests, 20–40 miles offshore.

    See Availability ↗
  • TAMARINDO · PRIVATE 28-FTDeep Sea Fishing Private Charter in Tamarindo - 28' Century

    Five hours from the beach in front of El Chiringuito; crew tip not included.

    See Availability ↗
  • FLAMINGO · HALF OR FULL DAYHalf-full Day Sport Fishing Tour from Flamingo Beach

    Marina departure with optional pickup in Flamingo and Potrero.

    See Availability ↗
  • PUERTO JIMÉNEZ · 8 HOURSFishing or Snorkeling and Whale Watching drinks and appetizers

    Private Golfo Dulce day: fishing or snorkeling and whale watching.

    See Availability ↗

What To Pack For A Boat Day

From our essentials page: sun, spray and swell are the three things to plan for.

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Season board

When to Visit Los Sueños: Month-by-Month Guide

MonthTypical WeatherCrowd & Demand LevelBest Experiences & Seasonal Events
JanDryHighPeak sailfish talk; book charters early
FebDryHighCalm, clear offshore days
MarDry, hotHigh (Holy Week some years)Start early to beat the heat
AprDry to transitionMedium-HighEaster week books out
MayRains beginMediumMorning trips, afternoon showers
JunRainy afternoonsLow-MediumAsk crews about mahi and tuna
JulShort dry spellMediumA good shoulder-season month
AugRainyMediumSeas can build; half days are safer bets
SepVery wetLowFewer boats out; flexible dates help
OctWettestLowLowest demand; check sea conditions
NovRains easingMediumConditions improve toward month end
DecDry season returnsHigh (holiday peak)Holiday weeks book out early

BOOKING URGENCY RULE

Private boats are limited, so December to April and holiday weeks fill first. Seven of the eight picks offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before; the Quepos offshore expedition is final sale.

Check Live Dates & Availability ↗
Fishing plans

Curated Los Sueños Itineraries That Actually Work

Switch between our 1-Day, Weekend, 3-Day, Family, and Couples blueprints. Each block is sequenced around real transfer times and links directly to the bookable experience.

One Fishing Day in Los Sueños

Fish the morning, keep the afternoon.

  1. 01 · 6–7 AM

    Half-day inshore from Herradura

    Roosterfish and snapper near the coast.

    Verified on Viator Book the Half Day ↗
  2. 02 · ALTERNATIVE

    Private charter inside Los Sueños Marina

    Four hours, up to 4 anglers.

    Verified on Viator Book the Marina Charter ↗
  3. 03 · AFTERNOON

    Back at the beach in Herradura or Jacó

    Lunch and a swim.

    Verified on Viator See Meeting Point ↗
Marina stays

Where to Stay in Los Sueños (3 Vetted Tiers)

Stay near the dock you'll leave from. These are Agoda partner stays at our three main ports; rates change daily, so check today's price for your dates.

TIER 01 · ON THE MARINA

Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort

Herradura (Los Sueños)

A large resort on Herradura Bay beside Los Sueños Marina, so charter docks are a short walk away.

Check Rates at Los Sueños Marriott → Live rates on Agoda
TIER 02 · QUEPOS BASE

Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge

Manuel Antonio (Quepos)

A hillside resort on the Manuel Antonio road, a short drive from Marina Pez Vela.

Check Rates at Si Como No → Live rates on Agoda
TIER 03 · GOLFITO

Hotel Casa Roland Golfito Resort

Golfito

A Golfito hotel on Golfo Dulce, a base if you're fishing the South Pacific.

Check Rates at Casa Roland → Live rates on Agoda
See Where to Stay →
Dock rules

Real boats. Real meeting points.

We compare charters on boat, hours, what's included, cancellation terms and whether the price is per boat or per person. We never invent catch reports, star ratings or awards. Meeting points and inclusions come from each operator's live listing.

  1. 1

    Per-boat pricing flagged

    Most private charters are priced per boat; we say so on each card.

  2. 2

    Final-sale warning

    The Quepos offshore expedition is all sales final; every other pick offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

  3. 3

    Golfito, honestly

    No partner sells a Golfito departure, so we point you to Golfo Dulce trips from Puerto Jiménez instead.

  4. 4

    Verified links only

    Every Book Now button opens a live listing with dates and terms.

Last updated & link-audited: Oct 29, 2026 · About · Disclosure

Angler questions

Before you book a boat

Where is the best sportfishing near Los Sueños?

Los Sueños Marina in Herradura is the main Central Pacific hub, about 90 minutes from San José. Inshore trips work the reefs and points near Herradura and Jacó; offshore trips run out to deeper water for billfish, mahi-mahi and tuna.

How much does a fishing charter in Los Sueños cost?

On our list, a private 5-hour inshore boat out of Herradura is From current operator rates a 4-hour charter inside Los Sueños Marina is From current operator rates and full-day offshore charters are From current operator rates Charter prices are usually per boat, not per person.

Is a half-day or full-day trip better?

Half days (4–5 hours) suit first-timers, families and inshore species like roosterfish. Full days (8–9 hours) give boats time to run offshore for billfish.

Do I need a fishing license in Costa Rica?

Yes, anglers need a Costa Rican sportfishing license. Some crews help arrange it; in Quepos the listing says licenses can be bought at Marina Pez Vela. Confirm with your operator before the trip.

Can I keep the fish?

Billfish such as sailfish and marlin are catch-and-release. Rules for other species vary, so ask your captain.

Can I fish from Golfito?

None of our booking partners lists a Golfito departure. The closest bookable option is a Golfo Dulce trip from Puerto Jiménez, across the gulf from Golfito.

Is fishing good for kids?

Yes, if you pick calm water. The Damas Island mangrove trip near Quepos and the Golfo Dulce half day (child rates from age 3) are the easiest for families.

What should I bring?

Polarized sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a light long-sleeve layer, seasickness tablets if you need them, and cash for a crew tip.

Can I cancel if the weather turns?

Seven of our eight picks offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The Quepos full-day offshore expedition is final sale. Captains may also reschedule for unsafe seas.

The Costa Rica Sportfishing Insider Guide (2026)

A printable cheat sheet: eight Pacific charters with docks, hours, per-boat pricing notes and cancellation terms, plus five ready-made fishing itineraries.

  • Eight charters with meeting points
  • 1-day, weekend, 3-day, family and couples plans
  • License, tipping and season notes
Or open the printable guide now
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