Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula in the Gulf of Nicoya. Located in Costa Rica’s largest province, Puntarenas, it is the largest city in the Central Pacific. It is located120 kilometers (74.5 miles) west of the capital, San Jose. Puntarenas means ‘sandy point’ in Spanish.

For years this city was a major sea port. However, now it is mostly used as a stopover port for many cruise ships that sail the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Still used as an important commercial fishing port, Puntarenas offers visitors and locals a variety of fresh sea foods such as shrimp, lobsters, fish, etc. Some of its specialties are camarones al ajillo (shrimp scampi), pescado entero (a whole fried fish), and ceviche de corvina (bits of fresh fish marinate in lime juice with onions, peppers and spices).

There are an abundant tourist attractions available such as horseback riding, hiking, recreational cycling, adventure tours, architectural and historical sites, bird watching, photography, sport-fishing and many cultural activities. There is also a Marine Museum across from the beach that exhibits many of the local sea creatures that Costa Rica has.

One of Puntarenas’s most interesting features is the "Paseo de los Turistas'. This is a tree-lined promenade adjacent to the beach. This area turns into a colorful street on weekends, as people from all over flock the popular restaurants, discos, cafes, bars and hotels that are found here.

There are many beautiful old unusual buildings found all over the place. Puntarenas also has a lovely old church. During peak tourist seasons, visit the Casa de la Cultura for some excellent plays and concerts. A good time to visit for festivals is during the Festejos Populares in November, and the Fiesta del Virgin del Mar in July. During February and March, the city has annual carnival celebrations as well.

At just four meters (13 feet) above sea level, Puntarenas features extensive beaches for enjoying sea and sun. These beaches stretch along Puntarenas’ entire coast between the mouth of the Río Barranca and the place known as La Punta (“The Point”), where this extensive length of shoreline ends. The area between the wharf (Cruise Ship Terminal) and La Punta is the preferred place for swimmers.

Puntarenas has a cruise ship terminal at the remodeled Puntarenas Wharf, which has a series of piers and docking areas from which ferries depart for established tourist destinations such as Paquera and Cóbano, as well as tours around the islands and mangrove swamps in the Puntarenas estuary.

Its port is now in Caldera, which is just down the coast and is one of the main ports in the country. There are also scheduled ferries that carry vehicles and passengers from Puntarenas to the Nicoya Peninsula.

Puntarenas is generally hotter than the Costa Rican Central Valley, with daytime highs ranging from 30°C to 35°C (86°F to 95°F.)

Puntarenas is frequently used as a central point when exploring the many beautiful beaches and islands in the surrounding areas, such as Playa Naranjo, Playa Mal País, San Lucas, Cedros and Jesuita. Many national parks and nature reserves are also close by, like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Santa Elena Forest Reserve, the Cabo Blanco Reserve, the Corcovado National Park, the Carara National Park and the Manuel Antonio National Park. Visiting Puntarenas on the weekend or during local holidays is also a tradition among Costa Ricans.

The spectacular area of Puntarenas is one of the most beautiful and natural treasures of Costa Rica. Located very close to the Central Valley and just two hours away from the Costa Rica capital, Puntarenas City’s location is perfect for stopovers and excursions.