Los Suenos Fishing Packages
Packages
Fishing Info
Seasons
Available Species
Accomodations
FAQ’s
The Los Sueños Resort & Marina has earned the right to be mentioned among the top sport fishing destinations in the world. Home to the best sport fishing boats in Costa Rica, the 201-slip Los Sueños Marina offers incredible offshore sport fishing year round, great inshore fishing, and overnight trips out to the seamounts, or FADs. With a 600-acre nature reserve, 18-hole golf course, 12 restaurants, spa, beach club and luxurious private condos & villas the Los Sueños Resort offers something for everyone. Check out our sample Los Suenos Fishing Packages below and then contact us to customize your own Los Suenos fishing vacation. Trust our local expertise and you’ll see why nearly 40% of our guests are repeat & referral anglers!
Los Suenos Fishing
Coast 2 Coast
Los Suenos Long Weekend
Fish & Golf – Los Suenos
Arenal & Los Sueños
FADs Marlin Fishing
Los Sueños Resort Location
Costa Rica’s Los Sueños Resort & Marina first opened to the public back in 2001, becoming the first government sanctioned marina in the country. The name ‘Los Sueños’ is Spanish for ‘The Dreams‘, and the impressive, polished 1,110-acre property is in fact a place where thousands of dreams have come true. Situated along the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, this groundbreaking project transformed the quiet fishing community of Herradura into a first-class sport fishing destination known around the world. For all Los Suenos fishing packages you will want to fly in and out of the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose (SJO). From there we will take you down to Los Sueños in a private, air conditioned van with a professional, insured English-speaking driver. The drive time between the SJO Airport and the Los Sueños Resort & Marina is approx 75 minutes.
Los Sueños Fishing Info
Nestled inside the aquamarine waters of Herradura Bay, which means “horseshoe”, is the Los Sueños Marina itself. Complete with 201 wet slips, 116 dry slips, a fuel dock, and an attentive staff this is arguably the finest marina in all of Central America. The marina, fleet of boats, and amenities at Los Sueños are so first class that every year they host the Los Sueños Triple Crown Tournament. This three-leg billfish tournament takes place every January, February, and March and typicallyl sees 40-50 of the finest boats in Costa Rica compete for prizes, pride, and of course a nice purse to the winners.
Most days, the run to the offshore fishing grounds will be 22-28 miles from the marina, which typically takes 45-60 minutes depending on the boat you fish on. Some weeks the best action can be as far as 40-45 miles away or as close as 12-15 miles. From the Los Sueños Marina you can fish famous hot spots like The Corner, The Craters, and The 26. When inshore fishing from Los Sueños you’ll still cover plenty of ground based on where the baitfish are and where the best bite is found. This can mean fishing river mouths to the north, reefs to the south, or crossing the Gulf of Nicoya to fish various islands.
Offshore fishing at Los Sueños typically consists of slow trolling plastic teasers and ballyhoo rigged on circle hooks. Most boats will set some variation of a spread with a plastic teaser or squid daisy chain just off the stern and then two to three lines with ballyhoo on each side of the boat. If you come across a pod of spinner dolphins that are swimming with yellow-fin tuna the crew will quickly take down the spread and allow you to start fishing with cedar plugs, poppers, or ballyhoo. Many dorado are caught while trolling for billfish, but if you spot a log or some other garbage flow you can slowly troll or cast around it to see if there are any hiding.
In Costa Rica the use of circle hooks is mandatory. All marlin, sailfish, and roosterfish are catch and release. Other edible species like tuna, dorado, wahoo, grouper, snapper, snook, and corvina can be kept and will be cleaned & filleted by your crew. We strongly encourage you to release all cubera snapper as well because they are a prized inshore species and very slow growing fish.
Los Sueños Fishing Charters
Some of the best charter boats and captains in the entire world call the Los Sueños Marina home, including the legendary Bubba Carter, two-time Offshore World Championship winner Michael Alligood, and the famous Maverick Yachts. The charter fleet at the Los Sueños Marina consists of anything from a 26′ economical sport fisher to top of the line 50′-60′ luxury yachts and tournament boats. We have three tiers of fishing charters at Los Sueños: Small (26′-34′), Medium (36′-42′), and Large (45′-60′). All boats will come with a bathroom, but the Medium and Large boats typically have air conditioned salons. There are also several boats moored out in Herrradura Bay just outside of the marina that we fish with as well.
Every captain has a different personality and every boat has different pros and cons, so trust our local knowledge to hand pick the perfect fishing charter for your group. All Los Sueños fishing charters are private so the boat is 100% yours, we do not set up shared charters with strangers. All Los Sueños fishing charters include bait, tackle, gas, lunch, snacks, and drinks (beer/water/soda). A quality tip for your crew is generally 15%-20% of the cost of the charter. No matter your group size, budget, or saltwater fishing experience we will hand pick the perfect boat for your group.
When is the Best Time to Fish at the Los Sueños Resort & Marina?
The Los Sueños Resort & Marina offers some of the best fishing in Central America all year round. The traditional peak billfish season runs from November through April. The three leg Los Sueños Triple Crown tournament is hosted every year in January, February and March because the fishing is so consistently good and the weather is perfect. In recent years the billfishing has been every bit as good, if not better, in the months of May, June, and July so we truly enjoy great fishing year round. The peak variety and meatfish season (tuna, dorado, wahoo, grouper, snapper) runs from May through November. The months of May through September are when we offer our overnight trips marlin fishing at the FADs. Below you can review our Los Sueños fishing calendar, but keep in mind these are general patterns, not an exact science as every year is different. Rest assured no matter when you visit there is always going to be good action fishing from the Los Sueños Marina, but we will be your guides to help you pick the right season for the fishing you want to experience.
Available Species Fishing at Los Sueños
Offshore Fishing
Black Marlin
Blue Marlin
Striped Marlin
Sailfish
Yellowfin Tuna
Dorado
Wahoo
Inshore & Bottom Fishing
Roosterfish
Cubera Snapper
Jack Crevalle
Horse-eye Jack
Bluefin Trevally
Squirrelfish
Schoolmaster Snapper
Red Snapper
Lane Snapper
Mullet Snapper
Black Grouper
Broomtail Grouper
Barracuda
Mackerel
Needlefish
Los Sueños Accommodations
When you pull up to the cobblestone entrance of the Los Sueños Resort, a graceful tangle of towering green trees and manicured gardens greets you. A pleasant guard will usher you inside, and beyond it’s as if you’ve passed into another world. A palm-lined boulevard will lead you through a series of private residential communities that are home to luxurious, fully furnished condos and villas. There are nine different condo complexes to choose from ranging from 4-stars with rainforest and golf course views to spectacular 5-stars with ocean and marina views. The condos can be rented as one, two, or three bedroom units depending on your group size and dynamics. All condo units feature air conditioning, international cable TV, free wifi, full kitchens, washer & dryer, and a pool and gym area for each complex. For a more exclusive experience at Los Sueños you can rent a private villa includes all of the above in addition to a private pool, larger social and dining areas, and a fully equipped professional kitchen. The villas range in size from 3-bedrooms to 8-bedrooms and some feature panoramic ocean views while others are surrounded by lush rainforest and the golf course.
Los Sueños Resort Amenities
The Los Sueños property offers much more than the famous marina and luxurious accommodations. When you aren’t out fishing or in bed sleeping, the main focus of the property is the quaint marina village. Here you’ll find marine supply stores, car rental, Jimmy T’s convenience store, a liquor store, two banks with ATMs, restaurants, and of course a real estate office if you decide you need Los Sueños in your life more permanently. The well rated SIBO Rainforest Spa offers a full range of treatments and can be booked before you even land in Costa Rica. The famous “Fly Boats” of Los Sueños, the Maverick Yachts, also have an impressive new office and store at the Maverick Sportfishing Center. If you feel like being active on non-fishing days , there are also tennis courts and a beautiful 18-hole golf course on site. On top of all that, 600 acres are set aside for a nature reserve so you’ll have the opportunity to see scarlet macaws, tucans, monkeys, iguanas and more right on site.
The prize gem of the Los Sueños Resort & Marina however is their 4.6-acre beach club. The oceanfront club features a large free-form swimming pool, complete with a shallow kids section and lined all around with beach chairs and umbrellas. You’ll also find a spacious jacuzzi, a man-made white sand beach, large scale outdoor games, beach volleyball, a play area for children, an activity and yoga pavilion, and a soccer field. The Beach Club also offers the Al Fresco Restaurant, which can be enjoyed on the outdoor patio area or at the swim up bar so you never have to leave the pool!
Los Sueños Golf
Los Sueños is home to one of the top golf courses in Costa Rica, the 18-hole La Iguana Golf Course. Designed by Ted Robinson, the 6,698 yd, par-72 course uses the natural landscape of the property to create both visually stunning and technically challenging holes. Your round starts in the rainforest by the condo communities, then you wind further back into the untouched reserve before finally ending with the final four holes having ocean views. Throughout your round you’ll have the opportunity to see 150 species of birds, monkeys, iguanas and the lush rainforest that made Costa Rica so popular decades ago. The golf experience also features a pro shop, PGA-qualified golf pros, driving range, practice green, locker rooms, and Taylor Made rental clubs should you choose not to bring your own.
| Designer | Ted Robinson |
| Year Opened | 1999 |
| Course Length | 6,698 yds, Par-72 |
| Green Fees | $169-$190 |
| Rental Clubs | $69 – Taylor Made |
| Closest Airport | SJO Airport (1.5 hrs) |
| TEE | RATING | SLOPE |
| Gold | 73.4 | 137 |
| Blue | 71.2 | 134 |
| White | 69.5 | 129 |
| Red | 71.3 | 128 |
Los Sueños Dining & Nightlife
The Los Sueños Resort is not an all inclusive property, but finding great food and refreshing libations couldn’t be any easier. Head down to the marina village where a series of shops and restaurants are centered around an open-air courtyard. Dining options include La Lanterna (Italian Steakhouse), Bambu (Asian-fusion), and the Dolce Vita Cafe which serves sweets, gelato, and Costa Rica coffee. For happy hour, take the stairs up to The Hook Up Bar & Grille from 4-6 pm, where you can enjoy views of Herradura Bay with the boats in the marina right below you. The Hook Up has plenty of TVs and airs most major sporting events, so it’s a great place to enjoy drinks and watch the big game in an energetic sports-bar environment. If you feel like being lazy, or are too tired from fighting billfish all day, you can actually order room service from any of the restaurants on the resort and they’ll deliver it right to your private condo or villa.
If you choose to leave the property, there are numerous local options just minutes away. You can drive your golf cart down to Playa Herradura where you will find a handful of beachfront restaurants, which is a great place if you want a more traditional Costa Rican dining experience. You also have the option to take a taxi into the popular beach town of Jacó, which is just five minutes to the south. Jacó has a reputation of being a surfing and party town, but in recent years plenty of high end dining options have opened, including the impressive open air Jaco Walk food court. Jaco is also the place to go for nightlife as you’ll find casinos, bars, and late-night dance clubs.
Los Sueños Dining & Nightlife
- Canopy zip-line tour
- ATVs
- White Water Rafting
- Horseback Riding (beach or rainforest)
- Guided Tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Guided Tour of Carara National Park
- Catamaran Cruise + Full Day at Isla Tortuga
- Poas Volcano / La Paz Waterfall Garden / Coffee Plantation
- Surfing
- Golf
What Our Guests Love
About Fishing at Los Sueños
The Los Sueños Resort & Marina remains one of our most popular fishing destinations because it is less than 1.5 hrs from the SJO Airport. That means no overnights in the city, no domestic flights, and little time wasted in country.
One of the most frequent comments we receive from our guests is that they underestimate how luxurious and beautiful the Los Sueños Resort is. Many of our groups are ‘guys trips‘ where the main focus is fishing and what boat they are on, but once they are here we often get asked about seting up a return trip with wives and family.
A perk for all of our CAF anglers is that we set you up with a golf cart and our private chef breakfast service when you stay at Los Suenos. The golf cart makes the resort much easier to explore and is your main mode of transportation between your condo and hte marina. Having breakfast cooked for you right in your own condo or villa each morning is something all our groups love!
The Los Sueños Marina is home to some of the best captains and fishing boats in all of Central America. From the famous Maverick Yachts to some phenemonal American captains, when you fish at Los Suenos you are guaranteed to fish with a top-tier charter operation.
What We Love
About Fishing at Los Sueños
The Los Sueños Resort has nine different condo communities and countless luxury villas for guests to enjoy. The condos range in size from 1-bedroom to 3-bedrooms, while the villas range from 3-bedrooms to 8-bedrooms. From honeymoons to weddings, family trips to corporate retreats – we are able to customize your itinerary to fit the needs of any group.
All the accommodations at Los Sueños are nice, but there are varying levels of luxury and different price points that allow us to customize every Los Sueños fishing package for each group. Budget-conscious anglers can fill up a 3-bedroom condo to help share the cost, while those looking for more exclusive experience can select 5-star condos located right above the marina or a decadent private villa.
Whether it’s a long weekend or a full week-long trip, Los Sueños’s location just 90 minutes from the SJO Airport makes these trips easy to plan. It’s also easy to combine with a few nights at the Arenal Volcano or even a few days of tarpon fishing on the Caribben Coast.
From 27′ sport fishers to the newest 50′ Maverick Yachts, our fleet of boats at the Los Sueños Marina is as good as it gets. We’ve literally hand-picked every boat that we work with so our CAF anglers are always fishing with top-tier captains & crews.
Costa Rica Fishing FAQs
Do I need a fishing license to fish in Costa Rica?
YES. All anglers need a fishing license to fish in Costa Rica. These are sold by the Instituto Costarricense de Pesca y Aquacultura, or INCOPESCA as they are known here. Unfortunately their website has functionality and language issues so it’s not easy to use, so you can buy the license in the morning right before you fish for the first time. The cost is $15 for one week or $30 for one month and it must be paid in cash.
How many people will be on my fishing boat?
All fishing charters booked by Central America Fishing are private, so the boat is 100% yours. We do not set up any shared charters.
What is the standard tip for a fishing charter in Costa Rica?
A standard tip for a charter fishing crew in Costa Rica is 10%-20% of the cost of the charter. Most captains are paid a low salary with the idea they’ll earn more tips the more they fish, but many mates rely 100% on tips for their income. Tipping in USD or Costa Rican colones is fine. We recommend giving the entire tip to the captain and let him divide it up with the mate.
Can I bring my own fishing gear?
OF COURSE! Even though our private charters provide all the fishing tackle and bait you’ll need, you are always welcome to bring your own lures, reels, and even rods if you want to catch fish using your own tackle. Fly anglers are always encouraged to bring their own fly gear.
Which fish in Costa Rica are catch and release and which ones can I keep to eat?
By law, all billfish in Costa Rica are strictly catch and release. While not a law, we also strongly encourage releasing all roosterfish, tarpon, and cubera snapper as they are such prized inshore species. Other species like tuna, dorado (mahi), wahoo, snappers, groupers, corvina, snook can be kept and enjoyed for a fresh seafood dinner.
Can I bring fish back home with me to my own country?
If you really want to enjoy your catch our best advice is to eat it while it’s fresh here in Costa Rica. We understand many of you love the idea of a Costa Rican seafood dinner in the comforts of your own home, so the good news is there is no law against it and people do it all the time. However – we do not have the final say in this so there are some things you need to keep in mind:
1 – Unlike some other popular fishing destinations, in Costa Rica there is no service that will package and ship fish home for you. If you want to bring fish home with you you’ll have to do it yourself in your own luggage. Our best advice is to bring down a soft sided, leak-proof cooler, have your fish frozen completely solid, wrap them in newspaper, and then check your cooler as part of your luggage since it will stay cooler in the cargo hold of the plane versus in the cabin as a carry-on. If you don’t have a cooler or forget to bring one, you can purchase affordable plastic coolers here in local grocery stores.
2 – While Costa Rica does not prohibit you from bringing fish fillets home with you, your international airline might. We strongly recommend you confirm this with your airline (in writing if possible) or you may have the fish confiscated from you at the airport check-in.
3 – Even if your airline lets you fly the fish home, your local customs may have an issue with you bringing in meat products from a foreign country. In our experience most customs agents don’t seem too interested in you bringing back frozen fish fillets from your fishing vacation to Costa Rica, but it can depend on the agent and depend on the day.
What if there is bad weather on our fishing day?
First of all, it is extremely rare to have a fishing day cancelled due to bad weather. Costa Rica is too far south for hurricanes, and on top of that we custom design every single one of our Costa Rica fishing packages to factor in not only where you’ll have the best fishing but also the best weather & sea conditions for the time of year you visit us.
It does happen every once in a while however, so if the captain, local marina, or government deem the conditions are unsafe the trip will be cancelled. The first course of action is to try and reschedule you, but if that is not possible you will be refunded in full.
Please note that rain and dark clouds are not considered bad weather. We are in the tropics and rain is a common occurrence here so that is not a cause for cancelling the trip. Many great fishing days happen in the rain – as they say the fish are wet anyway!
Why Fish With CAF?
We have been fishing, living, and traveling around Central America since 2003. Plan your trip with local experts to make sure you are in the right place, at the right time, and on the right boat. We’ll help you fish for what you want, the way you want.
Free vacation planning + the best direct rates. No booking fees!
Personalized service from pre-arrival to 24/7 in-country support.
Hand-picked accommodations, fishing captains, expert guides for the best vacation experience.
Nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests. CAF puts you on the fish!
We are proud to have a global reach and have hosted anglers from 14 different countries here in Central America!
About the Author
I first visited Costa Rica during a semester abroad in 2003 and instantly fell in love with the language, culture, and natural beauty. I caught my first roosterfish on that trip, and ever since then I knew that I wanted to live here. After graduating in 2004, I worked for a year in the corporate world, but I was unhappy and unstimulated, so I returned to live in Costa Rica full time in 2005. Today I can proudly say that I’ve been in Costa Rica for half of my life, I met my wife here, and my two boys were born here so they are “Ticos”.
I’ve been working in the sport fishing industry in Central America for twenty years, I’ve had articles published in fishing magazines, hosted fishing TV shows, fished in several tournaments, and I’m a four-time IGFA trophy club member. I am however most proud to say that 40% of our anglers are repeat and referral guests. I’ve personally visited every destination, hotel, and fishing lodge that we partner with so that your next vacation with us is one of the best you’ve ever had.
Chris Atkins - Angler & Owner of Central America Fishing
All fishing vacations booked with Central America Fishing include the following:
- Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
- VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into SJO
- Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
- Luxury, private accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and fishing lodges.
- Private fishing charters
- All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
- All Costa Rican taxes
- Free quotes on travel insurance
- Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
- 24/7 support once you are here in country
Most Popular Fishing Packages
– COSTA RICA –
Los Suenos Fishing
Costa Rica Tarpon Fishing
Costa Rica Fly Fishing
– PANAMA –
Panama Sport Fishing
Panama Tuna Fishing
Panama Fishing Lodges
– BELIZE –
Belize Fly Fishing
Belize Permit Fishing
Belize Tarpon Fishing
– GUATEMALA –