Making the most of Puntarenas
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Ships dock in the town center. Stroll the beach or Paseo de los Turistas, the aptly named Tourists’ Stroll, a pedestrian boulevard on town's southern edge. Day-visit cruise ships arrive at the eastern end, where souvenir stalls and sodas, informal lunch counters, greet passengers.
A free Tourist Train shuttle may take passengers to the end of the long pier, where there is a tourist info center.
Take a printable map with you.
Puntarenas attracts thousands of tourists each year, chiefly as a central point for exploring the many beautiful beaches and islands in surrounding areas.
Getting around
Independent tour operators are plentiful where passengers leave the ship.
Limon's Aerial Tram ride is at Rain Forest, a 1,000-acre nature reserve beside Braulio Carrillo National Park.
The Original Canopy Tour lets everyone soar through rain forest high above the forest floor, although this adventure requires good fitness.
Most large cities have taxis, normally inexpensive for journeys nearly anywhere in town. Their meter is called "la maria"; ask drivers to turn it on as soon as you enter the car.
Find Costa Rica bus schedule information.
Outside the towns, protection against mosquito bites is very important. The CDC recommends lightweight long pants, long sleeved shirts and insect repellents with high concentrations of DEET.
Nearby places
Playa San Isidro, 8km south of Puntarenas, is the central Pacific coast's first ‘real’ beach. Beachcombers from Puntarenas like it, but surfers often continue 4km south to Boca Barranca, reportedly home to the world's third-longest left-hand surf break.
Food and shopping
The large-ship dock area has become a pleasant place for a stroll. Restaurants and shops line the Malecon, a pedestrian waterfront walkway north of town.
Eating out in Costa Rica is straightforward: kitchen hygiene standards are generally high wherever you go, so the risk of food poisoning is small. Expensive restaurants do not necessarily offer the best food; try smaller establishments called sodas, which locals tend to frequent, for food that is as authentic as it gets and often equal to or better than expensive venues.
Money
Costa Rica uses the Colón(es), at about 575 Colones for 1 US Dollar. ATMs are found in most places and normally dispense US Dollars and Colones.
Staying connected
Spanish is Costa Rica's main language, though English is widely used in areas with international tourists.
Call 911 for emergencies in Costa Rica.
Free WiFi is available at the dock.
Opening Hours and
Shopping is open Mon-Sat 0900-1800/1900, although hours can vary between areas.
Puntarenas is among the seaside towns celebrating Fiesta de La Virgen del Mar, the Festival of the Virgin of the Sea, on the Saturday nearest July 16. Fishing boats and elegant yachts sail around the harbor seeking the Virgin's protection for another year at sea, bedecked with lights, flags and fanciful embellishments. The event also has boat races, a carnival, and plenty of food, drinking and dancing.