Quepos Open-Water Swim in Costa Rica on 28 November

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COSTA RICA · QUEPOS · OPEN-WATER SWIM

Quepos, the Pacific coast town next to Manuel Antonio National Park, hosts the Quepos open-water swim at Parque Nahomi on Saturday 28 November 2026. The ticket page lists seven race categories, from a 400-metre children’s swim to a 5,000-metre long-distance swim.

The race is called Circuito Aguas Abiertas Quepos 2026, “Open Waters Circuit” in Spanish, and the bank BAC presents it. Regular entries cost between about US$66 and US$108, and this guide shows every price in dollars, plus what is still unconfirmed.

What the Quepos Open-Water Swim Is

Aguas abiertas means open water, which is swimming in the sea, a lake or a river instead of a pool. Swimmers in the Quepos open-water swim follow a marked course, usually between buoys, with boats or paddlers watching over them.

The Quepos open-water swim is listed as Circuito Aguas Abiertas Quepos 2026 and takes place on Saturday 28 November 2026 at Parque Nahomi. The word circuito suggests a series, but the ticket page names only this one date.

The page names the bank BAC as presenter, and its event name carries the year 2026. Price lines for “2025 winners” show that the swim also ran last year.

Race Distances and Categories

The ticket page lists seven categories for the Quepos open-water swim. The children’s races cover 400 and 800 metres, the recreational race 800 metres and the adult races 1,500, 2,500 and 5,000 metres.

Their Spanish labels are Infantil A, Infantil B, Recreativo, Juvenil, Distancia Corta, Distancia Media and Distancia Larga. The Juvenil line gives no distance, so ask the organiser how far teenagers swim.

The page does not say whether the Quepos open-water swim uses loops or one long course. It also gives no course map, so swimmers should ask where the buoys will sit.

How to Get Tickets and What They Cost

Tickets are sold on eticket, a Costa Rican online ticket platform. The page states that prices are in Costa Rican colones and that the platform’s service fee is already included.

At about 454 colones per dollar, regular entry costs 29,900 colones (about US$66) for the three shortest races. Juvenil 13-17 costs 32,600 colones (about US$72).

The regular price is 41,200 colones (about US$91) for the 1,500 m swim and 43,500 colones (about US$96) for the 2,500 m swim. The 5,000 m swim costs 48,900 colones (about US$108).

Four reduced price lines exist: 2025 winners in first place, 2025 winners in second or third place, special groups and Medisport. For the 5,000 m swim they are 26,500 colones (about US$58), 37,700 colones (about US$83), 44,400 colones (about US$98) and 42,200 colones (about US$93).

The page does not explain who counts as a special group or how Medisport members prove their status. Ask the platform before you pick a reduced price, because a wrong choice could cost you the entry.

Use only the platform’s own page to pay for the Quepos open-water swim, because we found no other seller. Strangers who offer entries on social media may be selling something that does not exist.

Quepos and Parque Nahomi

Quepos is a small port town on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the country’s best-known parks. It has a waterfront promenade, a marina and a bay, but the organiser has not said where the swim course lies.

The ticket page gives Parque Nahomi no street address, and its map pin sits in the town of Quepos. Check the start area with the organiser before you book a hotel next to it.

The 5:00 a.m. start of the Quepos open-water swim is early for a spectator or a swimmer who is not a local. Plan to be on site well before the first heat, with a light, a towel and a ride arranged the evening before.

Our Quepos fishing-tournament guide and our Marlin Invitational guide cover the town’s marina side. Both describe Quepos as the base for the Manuel Antonio area.

Getting to Quepos From San José

Quepos lies southwest of the capital, San José, and most visitors drive or take a bus from there. Ask your hotel for the current drive time, because Saturday traffic toward the coast can change it.

Because the Quepos open-water swim begins at 5:00 a.m., the safest plan is to sleep in Quepos or nearby Manuel Antonio on Friday night. A driver who leaves San José before dawn crosses mountain roads in the dark.

International visitors usually land at Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José, which our guide to new US flights to Costa Rica covers. Our San José expat guide explains the capital for a first stay.

We found no official shuttle, parking plan or road closure for race morning. Ask your hotel in Quepos how to reach the start in the dark.

Tips for US Visitors

The US State Department says to “exercise increased caution in Costa Rica due to crime.” It also warns visitors not to leave valuables unattended on the beach or in a room that is not locked.

A Quepos open-water swim creates exactly that risk, because swimmers leave bags and phones on the shore. Bring only what you need, use a hotel safe and ask where the organiser keeps gear bags.

US citizens do not need a visa for stays shorter than 180 days, but a return ticket is required. The State Department adds that officials may permit stays of up to 180 days but are not required to do so.

The State Department also notes that dengue, Zika, chikungunya and malaria are present in Costa Rica and recommends insect repellent. It says tap water is often not safe to drink, so bottled water is the better choice.

Costa Rica keeps the same time all year. After US clocks fell back on Sunday 1 November, it is one hour behind New York and level with Chicago.

The US Embassy in San José can be reached at +506 2519-2000, and its after-hours emergency line is +506 2220-3127. Our Costa Rica travel costs guide lists prices in US dollars for hotels, buses and meals.

Weather and Sea Conditions

Any Quepos open-water swim can change or stop because of lightning, swell or river runoff after heavy rain. The organiser has not published a weather plan, so ask what happens if conditions are poor.

Our Costa Rica weather and climate guide shows the seasons month by month. Check the forecast on Thursday and Friday before race day, not on the morning of the swim.

Make a Weekend of It

Manuel Antonio National Park, near Quepos, closes every Tuesday and opens Wednesday to Monday, 07:00 to 15:00. Foreign adults pay US$16 plus sales tax.

Tickets are sold only through the park’s website. With the Quepos open-water swim on Saturday morning, Sunday or Monday works well for the park, but book the ticket before you arrive.

Our Costa Rica sports guide lists other races and tournaments across the country. Our Costa Rica coverage collects all current stories for visitors and residents.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The page starts the swim at 5:00 in the morning, yet a hidden tag in its code says 11:00. Ask the platform to confirm the time of your own race before you travel.

The page gives no course, entry deadline, cut-off time or rules on wetsuits, safety boats, age limits or medical clearance. We found no organiser website for the Quepos open-water swim, so the company running it is not confirmed.

More: Costa Rica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Quepos open-water swim?

The ticket page lists Saturday 28 November 2026 at 5:00 a.m. at Parque Nahomi in Quepos, Costa Rica. That is 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and the start time should be confirmed for your race.

How much does the Quepos swim cost?

Regular entries run from 29,900 colones (about US$66) to 48,900 colones (about US$108). The service fee is included, and 2025 winners and other groups pay less.

Do US citizens need a visa for Costa Rica?

Not for stays shorter than 180 days, according to the State Department, but a return ticket is required. Officials may permit stays of up to 180 days without being required to.

Sources: eticket Costa Rica, event page Circuito Aguas Abiertas Quepos 2026 presentado por BAC (date, time, venue, categories, prices in colones), accessed 1 November 2026; US Department of State, Costa Rica country information (advisory, entry, health, embassy), accessed 1 November 2026; SINAC, Manuel Antonio National Park visitor information, accessed 1 November 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief