Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Quepos?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Quepos?

Many travelers spend two to four days in Quepos during their visit. After all, the relaxed town has plenty to explore such as the beaches, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife scene.

Located on the central Pacific side of Costa Rica, many visitors stay in the town of Quepos when visiting nearby Manuel Antonio National Park. The park has beautiful beaches and abundant wildlife, but Quepos is about 4.5 miles from the entrance to the park and you'll need to take a bus to get there.

Do you have one or two days to visit Quepos? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Quepos?

With a variety of sights and attractions, Quepos is a fairly popular choice for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to relax at the beach, dine out at amazing restaurants, enjoy an evening out, and browse the shops. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the relaxed town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to four days to enjoy the beach and other sights. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're here.

How to spend a day in Quepos

Don't miss Manuel Antonio National Park during your trip to Quepos, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Manuel Antonio Local Cooking Class with Botanical Garden Tour ($97)

The public transit in Quepos is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Quepos?

A weekend is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Quepos. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the beaches, the restaurant scene, the nightlife scene, and the quaint shops. To genuinely appreciate the relaxed town, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for two to four days here, after all. After all, As a small town, Quepos offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

Capuchin Monkeys Capuchin Monkeys

How to spend 2 days in Quepos

With a weekend (two to three days) in Quepos, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.

The beautiful beaches await you in Quepos, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Surf Lessons in Manuel Antonio ($66)
  • Beach Parasailing with Aguas Azules ($175)
  • Surf Lesson in Manuel Antonio with Sea Bros ($70)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Quepos, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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