Puntarenas, Costa Rica


Puntarenas, located on the north west coast of Costa Rica, is a very convenient location to sail into. The ship ties up beside a very long pier which provides a very easy walk of 500 meters, or there about, walk into town. The community of Puntarenas is stretched out along a sandy peninsula, ocean one side and river estuary on the other, and has a population of around 14,000 people.
Ocean near side, river far side - not a great location if a flood situation occurs.

Beach bar looking towards the ocean.

 
Restrooms back behind a beach bar, hammocks, perhaps to have a rest if you are planning to be out late, or for a quick nap maybe.

The town itself is quite small, is very easily accessed by a sharp left turn at the shore end of the pier, flat, and very easy to wander around over a sauntering couple of hours. Slow walking, with regular refreshment stops is highly recommended - high humidity with temperatures in the low 30s, which is not too uncomfortable providing you remember to keep your walking pace down to barely moving.
Best kept building in town.


Local restaurant - delivery vehicle at the kerb.


Local residential street

Laundry day at this house but the truck is not going anywhere soon

One of our refreshment stops was at a small convenience store where we purchased a couple cans of sofa and a six pack of ice cold beer - had to test one before it got too warm - delicious. Sat on a park bench, under a shade tree for maybe 30 minutes, and watched the world go by.

Someone is having an affordable vacation.

Puntarenas is an affordable coastal holiday spot for the local population and is not over developed like, say Puerto Vallarta, or similar. Quite the opposite in fact, small family run hotels, small bars,
neighbourhood convenience stores and similar are the norm here. And, very friendly, welcoming locals are quite free with their hola’s and buenos dias’s.

                                             Found this fixer upper if anyone is interested.

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