The Story behind Marina Pez Vela

State-of-the-art Marina Pez Vela is now approaching four years in operation and has quickly become an economic boon to the surrounding area and a draw for fishing enthusiasts from around the world. Situated in the formerly sleepy fishing village of Quepos, Marina Pez Vela is only about 4 kilometers from Manuel Antonio National Park. Until the construction of the new marina, the village was home only to a dilapidated pier that had been originally constructed by the United Fruit Company and used for the exportation of bananas.

Since the construction of Marina Pez Vela, visitors from around the world flock to the area to enjoy snorkeling and sailing tours, world class sport fishing, and surfing. The marina is also a welcome draw for boating and yachting enthusiasts.

The mastermind behind Marina Pez Vela is Harold Lovelady, a Texan who retired from a career in telecommunications and arrived in Quepos more than a decade ago. While Lovelady had dreams of spending his golden years fishing off the coast of Costa Rica, he quickly realized that while the tourist town of Quepos was certainly busy, it was in desperate need of a marina. Thus, the idea behind Marina Pez Vela was born.

It took more than a decade, but eventually Lovelady's idea of an impressive new marina in Quepos came to fruition. Today, Marina Pez Vela is considered a world-class facility and boasts a slate of amenities. The first phase of the 55+ -acre marina was opened in 2010 with 97 docking slips.

At the heart of Lovelady's plans was the construction of a marina that would replace the aging pier with its substandard and unsafe facilities. Marina Pez Vela now boasts a formal fuel dock to make it easier for large vessels, including yachts, to fill up at the marina. In addition to the dock that is capable of accommodating vessels up to 200 feet, the marina also offers numerous other amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi, potable water, and a fully stocked marine store. The marina also features a state-of-the-art sanitary pump-out station at each slip. No fees are charged for the use of the station. In keeping with the tradition of conservation in Costa Rica and to ensure that the beauty of the area is preserved, Marina Pez Vela also offers waste removal and recycling services to each boaster.

While it may have been a long road to get there, the construction of Marina Pez Vela has been a welcome addition to Quepos.