Puntarenas
Costa Rica's old Pacific port on the Gulf of Nicoya, the nearest Pacific beach to the Central Valley, about 100 km from San José, and a handy first or last stop with boat days out to the islands of the gulf.
- Fly into
- SJO
- Then about 100 km by road
- Best weather
- Dec to May
- Dry season on the Pacific
- The port
- Gulf of Nicoya
- Cruise ships, ferries and island boats
- Region
- Central Pacific
- Capital of the largest province
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Private transfer, about 4 hours
The old port on the Gulf of Nicoya
Puntarenas is the capital of the province of the same name, the largest in Costa Rica, which runs down most of the Pacific coast. The city was once a very important port. The main commercial port has since moved to Caldera, and Puntarenas is now a cruise stop and the place the ferry leaves from for the Nicoya Peninsula and the small islands of the gulf. It is the nearest Pacific beach to the Central Valley, a dark volcanic sand beach about 100 km from San José, which makes it a natural stop between the capital and the beaches further down the coast. Out in the gulf, San Lucas Island was once a prison island; the ruins can still be visited, and the island is now a national park. From Puntarenas we can also arrange a boat day to Tortuga Island, a river trip on the Tárcoles to see crocodiles, or a day at Carara National Park for the scarlet macaws.
Driest December to May
December to May is the dry season and the best time to visit, especially if your trip carries on south down the Pacific coast, where the rainy season can bring some feisty weather to the Osa Peninsula.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
About 100 km from San José
Where our clients go after Puntarenas
Puntarenas questions we answer every week
How far is Puntarenas from San José?
About 100 km, 1.5 to 2 hours by private transfer, which makes Puntarenas the nearest Pacific beach to the Central Valley.
Is Puntarenas a city or a province?
Both. The city on the Gulf of Nicoya is the capital of the province of the same name, the largest in Costa Rica, which runs from the Nicoya Peninsula down to the Osa Peninsula and the border with Panama. This page is about the city; Manuel Antonio, Jacó, Monteverde and the Osa Peninsula have pages of their own.
What is there to do in Puntarenas?
A boat day to Tortuga Island, a visit to the ruins of the old prison on San Lucas Island, now a national park, a river trip on the Tárcoles to see crocodiles, or a day at Carara National Park for the scarlet macaws.
When is the best time to visit Puntarenas?
December to May, the dry season, especially if you are carrying on south down the Pacific coast.
Where can I stay in Puntarenas?
We book Fiesta Resort, a large all-inclusive resort on a dark volcanic sand beach, with a big pool complex, family junior suites and an adults-only Relax Pool.
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