Puntarenas, Costa Rica - The Rich Coast

Hola / Buenos Dias, Como Estas. Today we will visit the home of the TICOS.

Costa Rica means “RICH COAST” in Spanish. Hailed as the Switzerland of the Americas, Costa Rica occupies a unique position, lying between two oceans and two continents. On both coasts, tropical rainforests rise to the mountains of the interior, many of which soar over 13,000 feet above sea level. In the west, a seemingly endless succession of brown-sand beaches forms the nation’s Pacific coast. Puntarenas (Sand Point) in Spanish is your gateway to Costa Rica’s wonders and to its capital city of San Jose.

Puntarenas was discovered by Hernan Ponce de Leon in 1519 was first known as Villa Bruselas. Puntarenas is the capital & the largest city in The Province of Puntarenas on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The port of Puntarenas was developed in 1840, when Coffee production & its export boomed. Please make it a point to try the Costa Rican Golden Bean Coffee in Costa Rica.

General Information Republic of Costa Rica:-

Time:  -6.00 GMT

Currency: CRC – Costa Rican Colon (1 USD = 590 CRC)

Dialling Code: (506)

Airport:  Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose

Official Language: Spanish, English is spoken in major parts of Costa Rica & all Travel Guide, Hotels, Restaurants, Cab Drivers are well versed with English.

Cab Travel: Always prefer to ride in official taxi, which in Costa Rica are RED in color with a yellow light on top. It is easy to recognize them with their number plates. Number plates start with T (Taxi) & Province Code (TSJ – San Jose), (TL – Limon) etc. All Cabs have meters.

Coral & Island Princess docked at Puntarenas, Costa Rica

• Major Points of Interest in Puntarenas:-

1. Rain-Forest
2. Tarcoles River Cruise
3. San Jose – National Theatre & National Museam
4. Sarchi Village
5. Volcanoes

•  Rain-Forest:

From Puntarenas ride through the beautiful & Gorgeous Costa Rican Countryside before arriving at the tropical rain-forest. Here you can board the Open Air Gondola’s & glide to the top of the Canopy and experience the rich beauty of Costa Rican Rain-Forest spread over a 222 Acre Conservation Park. Enjoy the lush landscape, giant trees, hanging gardens, waterfalls and panoramic ocean views. Look out for Scarlet Macaws and other wildlife. Walk the Nature Trail through the Park and visit The Serpertarium, view the bright colored tropical flowers in the Heliconias and visit the Medical Plant Garden. In the Rain-Forest you will also notice the effort taken by the Costa Rican Govt. for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw. The more adventurous group can enjoy 10 Platform Zip-Line in the Rain-Forest.

• Tarcoles River Cruise:

Tarcoles River is also called the Grande de Tarcoles River or Rio Grande de Tarcoles. The Tarcoles River sits on Guacalillo Estuary, which is noted for its Mangrove Forest. This particular mangrove forest is one of the most important in the mid-Pacific Coast for the conservation of the Scarlet Macaw. Though this endangered bird species spends most of the day in the forest, they rest in the mangroves. The estuary is also home to hummingbirds, herons, egrets, pelicans and one of the largest crocodile’s colonies in Central America. Board a river cruise & experience the nature right next to Crocodiles which are easily close to 15 feet long. The unique thing here is that the Crocodiles are named after famous boxers, so you have Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Manny Pacquiao to name a few.

On a FAM Trip (Tarcoles River Crocodile Safari)

• San Jose & Sarchi Village:

From Puntarenas, head up the Pan American Highway to the city of San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. As per Global Destinations Cities, San Jose is the sixth most important destination in Latin America. San Jose has many beautiful theatres with European inspired architecture and they serve as cities major tourist attraction. The must visit are The Metropolitan Cathedral, The National Theatre (Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica) & The National Museam (Museo Nacional de Costa Rica). Shopping is San Jose could be a bit on expensive side and my personal advise if you looking for genuine souvenirs, it is worth buying from small towns outside of San Jose or Punterenas or Sarchi.

The town of Sarchi is approx. 50 kms from San Jose and is Costa Rica’s most famous craft centre. It was at this village more than a century ago, that local artists began decorating their traditional oxcarts in intricate, vivid designs. Once the oxcarts are constructed, the wheels and axle are created using the “hoop tire” method, a process developed in the early 19th century in which the iron wheel fittings are shrunk to produce an extremely tight fit that binds the various wheel parts and axle together. The carts are then painted in the traditional designs and bright colors which have made of Sarchi, the birthplace of Costa Rica’s artisans. In July of 2006 the World’s Largest Oxcart was built in Eloy Alfaro’s workshop.  It is 42 feet long, 12 feet high and weights more than 1 ½ tons. The oxcart is now on display in Sarchi’s central park. Do not forget to visit Grecia’s metal church which is made entirely of pre-fabricated red steel plates.

On a FAM Trip with Theo & Bruce in Sarchi 

• Volcanoes:

The 2 active volcanoes to be visited are Arenal & Poas.

Arenal – The Volcano last erupted in 2010 & since than the Arenal’s Volcanic activity has been decreasing with no reports of explosion. Visit the Rivers of Joy, Hot Springs & Spa and enjoy the generous hot springs of Rio Perdido. “Río Perdido”, or quite appropriately, Lost River, is perfectly hidden by its host canyon and a canopy of dense flora. This is a place where highly mineralized, geothermal heated waters flow from underneath massive boulders. Not far from the generous springs, the hot water is quenched, as the river pours into the larger and cooler “Río Blanco”. This specific place is considered to be magical by the locals. Here, a third body of water -a small stream- falls 80 feet from its cliff top finale, into the Río Blanco, making it an impressive point of convergence; a beautiful act of nature were waters meet. Please note that it’s a 3 hour drive from Puntarenas to Arenal Volcano & the trip can be strenuous.

Poas – Poas Volcano is an active stratovolcano in Central America. It last erupted 2013 but the activity has been on continuously since 2009.  The road to Poas is a colorful one, and you will view sweeping coffee plantations and incredible valleys, plus sugar cane and strawberry fields. The volcano is a magnificent natural wonder, with a truly unique character. Sitting at 8,500 feet above sea level, it is boasts one of the few active craters in the Americas and is famed for its geyser-like eruptions of gas and ash. The main crater, which is usually active with smoke discharges, features an enormous pit measuring 1.5 km in diameter and 300 meters deep. At the bottom of the crater, there’s a hot, circular lagoon that measures 350 meters across, where water temperatures range between 40ºC and 70ºC (110-150 F). Please note that from Puntarenas the drive to Poas is approx. 2.5 – 3 hours depending on the Traffic & landslide activity.

Based on personal experience I would like to let everyone know that on your visit to Costa Rica always keep handy few things as the weather changes dramatically. It’s advisable to carry Rain Poncho, Incest Repellent, Sunscreen, Hat/Cap and Sweater/Fleece (as weather gets cooler at mountain elevation.

Always advisable to wear comfortable clothes with comfortable closed toe shoes and long pants. Remember to carry a bottle of Water & do not forget your Cameras & Binoculars in a small back pack. The grounds can be un-even in the forest & countryside so advisable to watch your step & stay in a group.

Advisable Tour Operators would be:  

• Elite Eco-Shore Excursions

Address: - Calles 5 y 7, Ave. 7, 150mts. Oeste Edif. INS, San Jose, Costa Rica. Operation.cr@elitetourscr.com, www.elitetourscr.com

P - (506) 22-57-5961, F - (506) 22-57-6053

• Swiss Travel, Costa Rica

Phone: (506) 2282-4898, Costa Rican Toll free number: 800-3298687
All off-hours: 8384-6286
Fax:   (506) 2282-4890
 info@swisstravelcr.com, www.swisstravelcr.com

I have personally dealt with them as a member of Shore Excursions Team of Princess Cruises & have always had good experience & good reviews from the guest, but you are free to choose from the multiple options available in Costa Rica. Please read all reviews & ratings before choosing any (even the one’s recommended by me)

•  Cuisine Delights in Costa Rica:

Costa Rican cuisine is known for being flavorful, yet fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruits & vegetables. Rice and Black Beans are a staple of most traditional Costa Rican meals. My personal favourite has always been Costa Rican style Fried Red Snapper served with Patacones (Fried Plantain) with Salad and Black Beans & Rice. I prefer to go local when traveling rather than restaurants as the real taste of the cuisine is at a local joint with the local Imperial Beer Michelada.

Red Snapper with Patacones (My Favourite Local Delicacy)  

• Surfing:

Costa Rica is a surfer’s paradise & Playa Grande is the major surfing hub in Costa Rica. Playa Grande is a beach town on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It is internationally popular as one the best surfing spots in Costa Rica as well as being home to the Leatherback Turtle.

Playa Grande’s beach boasts a sandy bottom and waves big enough to surf, but not big enough to prevent a comfortable swim. There are multiple surf breakers starting at the river mouth and running towards Hotel Las Tortugas.

• Hogar Christiano Girls Orphanage, Puntarenas:

If you get time please do visit the Hogar Christiano Girls Orphanage in Puntarenas. It is a girl’s orphanage which is Catholic Run & on my last visit in April-2012, it housed close to 50 girls all between the age group from 1 month to 18 years. It was founded in 1918 by Fr. Jose Daniel Carmona.

I have always cherished my visits here & always has been a pleasure to be a part of this Family. The Orphanage is doing a great job of looking after & providing for these girls. Please try to visit & spend at least an hour of your life there & I can guarantee that that memory will be cherished forever.

Me at Hogar Christiano Girls Orphanage with Vivi

I hope that my post has been informative for people traveling or looking forward to the beautiful Coastline & Rain-Forest of Costa Rica.

Please await another adventure shortly, until than “PURA VIDA”!!!

Kinny31