Country Costa Rica Canton Quepos Population 21,938 (2013) | Province Puntarenas Elevation 5 m (16 ft) Postal code 60601 | |
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Weather 28°C, Wind E at 8 km/h, 66% Humidity Points of interest Manuel Antonio National, Espadilla Beach, Biesanz Beach, Snorkel Adventure Costa Rica, Parque Nahomi | ||
Quepos is a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica.
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Map of Puntarenas Province, Quepos, Costa Rica
The district has a population of about 22,000 people.
The town is about 60 km. south (in a straight line) from Costa Rica's capital, San José, but is 157 km from that city by road if going through the localities of Atenas, Orotina and Tárcoles.
Quepos is the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. The city is very tourism-oriented, having many bars and restaurants and a vivacious night-life.
The town is named for the native Quepo Indians who inhabited the place in the colonial era.
Quepos is well known thanks to being the gateway to a popular National Park and beaches in Costa Rica. Several years ago the country's park service imposed limits on the number of visitors to the park (600 per day, and it is closed on Mondays).
History
The area was home to the native Quepoa people of this specific Costa Rican region. In 1563, Spanish Catholic conquistadores, led by Juan Vázquez de Coronado, settled the area and founded the settlement of San Bernardino de Quepo. The local native Quepo people were then subsequently subjugated by Juan Vázquez and his conquistadores.
In 1746, the Quepo people that remained were transferred to a reservation which already contained another native ethnic group. Quepos offers fishing for numerous varieties of fish, especially Pacific Sailfish. Peak fishing season is from November to April for billfish.
Villages
Administrative center of the district is the town of Quepos.
Other villages are Anita, Bartolo, Boca Naranjo, Cañas, Cañitas, Cerritos, Cerros, Damas, Delicias, Espadilla, Estero Damas, Estero Garita, Llamarón, Llorona, Managua, Manuel Antonio, Marítima, Mona, Papaturro, Paquita, Pastora, Quebrada Azul, Rey, Ríos and Roncador.