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Experience the best of Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a Pacific port on a narrow sandspit in the Gulf of Nicoya, with a seaside promenade, a cruise dock and ferries to the Nicoya Peninsula.

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Puntarenas stretches along a sandspit about five kilometres long that pokes into the Gulf of Nicoya, with the sea on one side and an estuary on the other. In the 19th century it was Costa Rica's main Pacific port, when coffee from the Central Valley was carted down to be shipped abroad. Today a long seafront promenade, the Paseo de los Turistas, runs along the beach, and cruise ships call at the dock.

Car ferries cross the gulf to Paquera on the Nicoya Peninsula, and boats leave for Isla Tortuga and other gulf islands for snorkelling and beach days. Fishing boats shelter on the estuary side. Monteverde's cloud forest, the Carara reserve and the beaches near Jacó can all be reached by road.

Fish dominates the menu: ceviche, whole fried snapper and seafood soup are served in the open-air restaurants along the front, and a shaved-ice dessert called a churchill, made with syrup, milk and ice cream, is a local favourite. The town is hot and breezy, and the rains fall from May to November.

  • Free cancellation on 87% of experiences
  • 4.6 across the top 24

Top experiences in Puntarenas

Special offers in Puntarenas

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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.

Day trips from Puntarenas

33

Guided tours in Puntarenas

66

Walking and bike tours in Puntarenas

25

Food and drink experiences in Puntarenas

5

Outdoor and adventure activities in Puntarenas

39

Nature and wildlife tours in Puntarenas

41

Shore excursions from Puntarenas

21

Signature experiences in Puntarenas

Go beyond Puntarenas

  1. Miramar · 16 km

    Adventure Park and Hotel Vista Golfo

    4 hr4.7160 reviewsfrom $25
  2. Monteverde · 33 km

    Curi-Cancha Reserve

    3 hr4.81k reviewsfrom $30
  3. Monteverde · 33 km

    Selvatura Park

    5 hr4.5715 reviewsfrom $20
  4. Jacó · 46 km

    Tortuga Island (Isla Tortuga)

    9 hr4.74k reviewsfrom $55
  5. Jacó · 46 km

    Carara National Park (Parque Nacional Carara)

    4 hr4.81k reviewsfrom $31
  6. La Fortuna · 58 km

    La Fortuna Waterfall

    8 hr4.811k reviewsfrom $20
  7. La Fortuna · 58 km

    Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

    8 hr4.88k reviewsfrom $39
  8. Alajuela · 68 km

    Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm

    6–7 hr4.94k reviewsfrom $31
  9. Alajuela · 68 km

    Lake Hule (Lago de Hule)

    9 hr5.010 reviewsfrom $118
  10. Sámara · 77 km

    Samara Beach (Playa Samara)

    3 hr4.8239 reviewsfrom $49
  11. San José · 82 km

    Arenal Volcano National Park

    5 hr4.86k reviewsfrom $29
  12. San José · 82 km

    San Jose Central Market (Mercado Central)

    4 hr4.74k reviewsfrom $6

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