Details About Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Puntarenas, meaning “Sandy Point”, is the largest city in the central pacific region of Costa Rica with an estimated population of 37,500.  Puntarenas is located 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, and is roughly two hours drive from Juan Santa Maria International Airport. 

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Puntarenas was the first harbor in Costa Rica and held most of the coffee exportations for many years.  Today Puntarenas serves as a stopover port for cruise ships and is still an important commercial fishing port for the area.  There is also a ferry making travel between the Nicoya Peninsula and the main land more convenient.

There are many wonderful restaurants and hotels with unique architecture and a colorful atmosphere.  Weekend and holiday visits are an old tradition among the Ticos, or locals.  The Paseo de los Turistas is a famous, tree-lined boardwalk that comes to life with street vendors, discos, bars, and cafes offering fresh seafood.  Puntarenas is famous for their annual ten-day carnival celebration on Paseo de los Turistas with music, dancing, and cultural and sporting events in February or March.  Other attractions include the Casa de la Cultura for excellent plays and concerts, Museo Historico Marino, Parque Marino del Pacifico, and the central plaza around the Catholic church is a must see.

So many beautiful beaches and national parks and nature reserves surround the area of Puntarenas.  One easily accessible area to explore is the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula via ferry, which runs from 5:00 am – 10:30 pm and holds approximately 33 cars and is just over an hour each way.  Once on the peninsula, there are many beaches to explore, including Mal Pais, located at the southernmost tip of the Nacoya Peninsula.  Mal Pais has plenty of water sports to offer, including surfing, sports fishing, scuba diving, kite surfing, and snorkeling.

With so much to offer, Puntarenas is a great destination for locals and tourist alike.  For more information on the city of Puntarenas, Visit Here.