A dual-stage sand and gas separator for use within a wellbore of a fluid producing well is disclosed. During sand separation, fluid is ported into a vortex housing and across a vortex cup which imparts a vortex motion on the fluid to separate solids from the fluid. Some of the solids are filtered by a sand filter screen, while heavier solids are diverted down hole by a diverter plate. The fluid pass internally through the vortex cup into the gas separation housing. During the gas separation phase, a sump is created by the transfer tubing and gas is separated from the fluid and ported away from the tubing.