PARADISE ON EARTH
10/23/2008 10:34:47 AM by Yoshi Sanz
Designed to be the first and largest full-service marina in Costa Rica, the first phase of construction of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos is nearly complete and ready for its global close-up.
Photos courtesy of Marina Pez Vela
Costa Rica is on the verge of luxurious, ocean-bound and environmentally friendly facelift thanks to the arrival of Marina Pez Vela, one of the most anticipated projects to hit the area this century. According to project founder Harold Lovelady, an avid sportfishing enthusiast who saw a need for a full-service marina in the area, the first phase of construction in Quepos includes 100 slips, accommodating yachts up to 200 feet in length, which are scheduled for completion during the first quarter of 2009. He reports dredging is well underway, state-of-the-art cofferdam breakwater is nearly complete and dock installation by Bellingham Marine began in October.
The marina is being built with an emphasis toward environmental protection, including the use of recycled steel and a state-of-the-art septic treatment system. The entire project will meet or exceed all American and Costa Rican building codes and standards. “Marina Pez Vela has been designed to meet the needs of the international sport fishing and ocean-going yacht community,” says Lovelady, a sportfishing enthusiast and current resident of Quepos whose passion for fishing in the flat tranquil waters of Quepos coupled with a need for a full-service marina in the region ignited the project. “We will also have the first and only full-service boatyard south of San Diego.”
Located along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Quepos is a tropical oceanside village with open-air cafés, intimate restaurants, boutique shops and a legendary port. Surrounded by tropical rainforests, it is an ideal starting point for activities that range from surfing and sailing to kayaking, scuba diving, white-water rafting, zip lining, canopy tours, nature preserves and hiking and lounging on the beach. It is also recognized as having the finest offshore and inshore fishing in all of Central America. Calm waters and temperate climate provide ideal fishing conditions year-round and boast waters full of Pacific sailfish, marlin, tuna, dorado, roosterfish, grouper, cubera and wahoo. Minutes from Quepos is the world-renowned Manuel Antonio National Park and an upscale resort area with beautiful white-sand beaches, five-star hotels, casinos, shops, restaurants and spectacular views.
Marina Pez Vela will provide a safe haven and base of operations for fishing along the Pacific coast of Central America, in effect opening thousands of miles of ocean that was nearly impossible to fish previously as well as offering world-class facilities that include more than 300 concrete floating slips accommodating boats from 35 to 200 feet; a full-maintenance and repair boat yard with 75 ton and 200 ton travel-lifts; a dry storage facility for boat storage up to 35 feet; high-speed fueling operations; 24-hour security; clean electrical power; ample freshwater; high-speed Internet access and satellite TV: concierge services and numerous recreational facilities; and direct and frequent commercial air access from San Jose.
Phase II, which includes the remaining 208 wet slips, dry storage and boatyard, is scheduled for completion during the third quarter of 2009. Future plans for Marina Pez Vela call for one-, two- and three-bedroom residences; a boutique hotel with spa, restaurants and shopping; and up to 150,000 square feet of retail space including marine-related services such as bait-and-tackle, deli and marine parts and supplies.
Pricing for wet slips begins at $175,000 and dry slips begin at $125,000. For more information, visit MarinaPezVela.com or call 1.866.PEZ.VELA.