The day begins with a healthy shove from a Costa Rican tug, pushing us into dock at Puntarenas. The pier is well situated, providing direct access to the town beyond.
Determined to try and beat some of the heat, we head out early, making our way along the busy pier and turn left. This takes us along a relatively well-maintained street, heading west towards the end of the Puntarenas spit. There are a handful of stalls selling local food and goods of varying degrees of quality along the way – and none of the stallholders are pushy or aggressive.
About halfway down, the road has been closed so a makeshift fair can be assembled. We assume this is something to do with the upcoming Dia De Los Muertos[1] festivities (yes, they celebrate it is Costa Rica too). It is very different to what may be expected back in the UK (‘do you have a permit to do that?’).
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We never quite make it to the end of the Puntarenas spit, but somewhere short of the Faro de Puntarenas lighthouse we come across a raised viewing area that allows us to look back along the beach. The city of Puntarenas stretches away from the black sand, dwarfed by Island Princess[2] in the distance.
Note that the seafront walk does not pass any shops. If you want to go shopping in Puntarenas, you will have to head north, deeper into the town itself.
If it sounds hard to enthuse about Puntarenas, that’s because it is. The town has the feel of a seaside resort in decline, lots of shuttered, empty buildings between seedy bars and restaurants. There’s also a lot of rubbish everywhere, much of it washed up on the beach, which is a shame.
I guess that if you’re looking for a Magaluf (or Southend) alternative, Puntarenas may fit the bill.
Accessibility info
Batteries used: 70%
Terrain: The footpath along the seafront is quite well maintained, the only major bumps being the textured cement used for the sidewalk. That said, the streets leading away from the seafront look far less scooter-friendly with lots of very high kerbs, cracks and steps.
Public transport: Back in the day, there used to be a train service between Puntarenas and the Costa Rican capital, San Jose. Sadly, this service has been retired as historical accounts suggest it was a good day trip.
Taxis: Yes, they exist. No, we did not try one. No, they do not look wheelchair/scooter friendly.
Did we get a passport stamp in Puntarenas?
Yes! The port security officer stamped our passports as we re-embarked the ship.
Would we go back to Puntarenas?
There’s not really anything to see in Puntarenas. If we came back, it would only be as the gateway to more exciting adventures in the Costa Rican interior.
Other activities in Puntarenas
Isla Tortuga is the hot destination in Puntarenas, but there are a few other activities you might like to consider if you’re more mobile than we are:
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References
- ^ Dia De Los Muertos (en.wikipedia.org)
- ^ Island Princess (www.awin1.com)
- ^ Affiliate Disclosure Policy (www.journeyintodarkness.co.uk)