Puntarenas Fun Guide

Ambiance of the Islands

Puntarenas means “sand point,” but it is really a peninsula that juts into the Nicoya Gulf between a river and an estuary. This narrow spit has only five avenues, bisected by 37 streets. Most of the action is on the east end and along the Paseo de Turistas.


Characterized by typical island ambiance, the town has wide streets and sidewalks. Lighter colors than seen in most Costa Rican towns lend the feel of a Mexican port town

It is also cleaner than most Costa Rica cities.

Few buildings are more than two stories high. And unlike San Jose architecture, best described as shabby except for a few buildings such as the main post office, the architecture of Puntarenas is as colorful and eclectic as the vibrant spirit of its varied mix of people.

The Paseo de Turistas

Puntarenas is the kind of place for people who like the beach but don’t want to get sand in their shoes. Along the south side and facing the Nicoya Gulf, the Paseo de Turistas, or Tourists Boulevard, is a broad sidewalk with gracefully ornamented stone benches, food kiosks, bars, and music.


It is reminiscent of the malecon in Mazatlan (minus the high-rise resorts), and makes Puntarenas a truly cosmopolitan beach. Strolling along the Paseo, sampling ceviche and local beers, dancing and partying is a major part of a Puntarenas holiday. Especially on weekends and major holidays such as Christmas and Easter, when many josefinas (people who live in San Jose) visit.


From a shaded bench, the constant sea breeze is invigorating. It’s a great way to relax and pass the afternoon, reading or writing or meditating on the vista of Nicoya on the far side of the gulf.


Or you can walk out to the end of a long pier for a view of Puntarenas itself. At night, it is well illuminated by large white globes.


The main beach, Playa Galadanardo, currently enjoys banda azul (blue flag) status, which is awarded only to the cleanest beaches here. Sand is brown and powdery, and the beach is deep and stretches as far as a digital camera with a 16x zoom can see. There are lifeguard stands and a place to change and store your clothes

Things to Do and See

Even though it is a working town, Puntarenas attracts tourists with an assortment of sights, and the town is compact enough that you can see most of them in a single day.


The most recent addition is a tropical aquarium featuring fish from the Pacific coast as well as sting rays and other giant marine life from Isla de Coco. The Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) is another unique attraction; concerts are held here during high season.


With rook-like towers on the corners, the Marine Museum is home to intriguing nautical oddities. It is practically across the street from a distinctive cathedral made of red stone and mortar that looks like something from a pirate movie. Stone benches in the courtyard offer a place to pause and enjoy the steady breeze during a stroll around town.


The local mercado does not sell souvenirs or arts and crafts, just produce, so is not as interesting a place to visit as the one in San Jose

(Buy your souvenirs at stands along the beach.)

A day-long cruise on a big catamaran or yacht will include snorkeling off an island in the Nicoya Gulf. The Rio Tarcoles, teeming with salt water crocodiles, and the rainforests of Carara National Park make great day trips.


Bird watchers will not want to miss the more than 200 species in Guacalillo Mangrove Swamp in the river’s mouth. (But the water is too polluted for swimming in the river and estuary.)
Puntarenas' Virgin of the Sea Festival

The biggest fiesta of the year in Puntarenas is the Virgin of the Sea Festival, which takes place around the third weekend of July. Thousands of locals flock to the malecon to celebrate and witness the blessing of commercial fishing boats by the local priest. Make reservations several months in advance for this fiesta, which dates back to 1913

Things to Eat and Drink

Seafood runs riot along the Paseo and in nearby restaurants. Bar Chirripo is the best in town, just a few blocks from the pier and the blue and white port master?s building with the four cannons that once protected the harbor.


Chinese restaurants are scattered along Calle Central, the main drag in town. Chung San, two blocks west of Parque Victoria, has the best Chinese

(Don't miss the old bandstand in the park.)

The expansive veranda of Guga’s makes for a romantic dinner. For international fare as well as seafood, Capitan Moreno and Caribbean Breeze have been recommended by many as the top restaurants on the Paseo.


You can dine for around $15 and up in most restaurants. If on a budget, try the kiosks and sodas. Soda Crucero, near the pier, has good food and is practically on the beach

Where to Party

Several discos are in town, whose streets are lined with little hole-in-the-wall bars. Loud music booms from the large bars on the corners in the busy part of town. And on weekends, the Paseo is the place to party. Big hotels like the Fiesta often have theme nights and other activities for their guests.

Hotels in Puntarenas

The Fiesta has all-inclusive packages and over 170 rooms. Others to check out include Villas Palma del Mar, Tioga and the Yadran.


Budget cabinas and rooms are concentrated a few blocks inland on the east side of town. You can also get cheap rooms along the beach, at the Hotel Imperial near the pier, for example, though these will be noisier on weekend nights

Getting There

The bus costs about $3 and departs on the hour to and from San Jose. If driving, take it easy while crossing the mist-covered mountains; the road is good, but trucks often slow traffic down to a crawl.


Ferries depart from the far tip of the peninsula for Playas Hermosa, Naranjo and Paquera in Nicoya.