PUNTARENAS

At just four meters above sea level, the city or port of Puntarenas features extensive beaches for enjoying sea and sun. Historically the place for national tourism and recreation, it offers a variety of quality tourist services appealing to international visitors as well. Puntarenas now boasts 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 on the Nicoya Peninsula, as well as tours around the islands and mangrove swamps in the Puntarenas estuary.

ISLA CEDROS

With an area of under 200 hectares, this island's irregular coastline makes for very attractive scenery. It has two main beaches: Langosta and Gringo. Its forests are of fine wood, coconut palms and shrub. Organized tours to the island are available.

ISLA VENADO

This 440-hectare island stands out among the other islands in the Gulf of Nicoya because of its sea-green color. The island's inhabitants live off agriculture and fishing. Abundant seabirds nest on the island and in the mangrove swamps near the Jicaral estuary.

ISLA CHIRA

The largest (43 km2) and most populous island in the Gulf of Nicoya, Isla Chira offers more services than the others, including schools and a college. There is a large mangrove swamp on the northeast part of the island. An ecotourism association made up of women from the island offers basic accommodations, food, and fishing and mangrove-swamp tours.

PUNTARENAS ESTUARY

Forming part of the inner Gulf of Nicoya, this estuary stretches eight kilometers. Its irregular coastline features a beautiful mangrove swamp, a wildlife refuge that serves as a nesting ground for different birds. The estuary's calm waters also give anchorage to all kinds of fishing boats, sailboats and tourist yachts that lend the maritime scenery special interest and appeal. This is a good place for waterskiing.

VIRGIN OF THE SEA FESTIVAL

Each year on July 16, boats adorned with flowers and colorful streamers commemorate the long-ago day when a group of fishermen, castaways at death's door, were rescued just after calling upon the Virgin for help. The festival features various aquatic and sporting competitions, as well as all kinds of recreational activities for kids and grownups alike. The event is also celebrated in Quepos.

PUNTARENAS CARNIVAL

Parades, seaside concerts and many other recreational activities create an ideal environment for sharing culture with the people of Puntarenas. The carnival takes place in February, during the dry season-perfect weather for enjoying the beach and all the carnival's events.

HISTORICAL MARITIME MUSEUM

Located in Puntarenas' old quarter, this museum was restored to also accommodate the House of Culture, an amphitheater and the public library. The House of Culture features month-long painting and sculpture exhibitions, while the amphitheater offers monthly plays, dance and music.

Archeological information displayed allows visitors to learn about the first settlements of the region's indigenous groups: how they obtained food by making use of the area's various resources, their burial practices, and the interchange and trade relationships they established. The historical information provided centers around the city of Puntarenas; though the Puntarenas province comprises parts of Costa Rica's Northern, Central and Southern Pacific zones, the city of Puntarenas has experienced a distinct and more independent growth than the rest of the province.

The museum also displays information on the region's various natural resources, such as its wetlands, forests, marine species, land animals and birds. It explains the importance of the Gulf of Nicoya and its islands, and tells of the natural wealth of Isla del Coco, including tales of the island's treasures and pirates. The museum's hours of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 9:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The Sagrado Corazón de Jesús urban park and the Puntarenas Cathedral, built in 1902, are located in the same area.

PARQUE MARINO DEL PACÍFICO

Inaugurated in 2002, this park is located at the site of the old train station and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its main attraction is its fish tanks, which exhibit typical species from the Pacific, including from around Isla del Coco. The park also has a restaurant and souvenir shop.

RÍO BARRANCA MOUTH

This spot is very popular with surfers wanting to conquer its long left wave-one of the most famous in the world. It's also a great place for walking and observing the seascape.

ESPARZA

A historic city, Esparza was sacked several times by English pirates, and is the oldest city in the country to remain in the spot where it was founded. Among its historical buildings are the Esparza Church and the Torres School. Offering various services, the city is a must-stop for travelers to enjoy refreshments.

RÍO TÁRCOLES

The lower basin of this 118-kilometer-long river, particularly around the bridge on the coastal highway, offers a special attraction: crocodile-watching. Several river tours are available to observe these large reptiles.

PURA VIDA GARDEN AND WATERFALL

Located in Bijagual de Turrubares, this spot is stunningly beautiful. To get there, take the turnoff on the left after entering Carara National Park. The 200-meter waterfall here is one of the tallest in the country. Colorful gardens, trails and swimming holes may also be enjoyed.

PLAYA TAMBOR

This beach is located inside the Bahía Ballena, which at the same time has Playa Pochote in its northeastern extreme. It is a beautiful and extense beach, excelent for bathing and enjoying walks, horse ridings and aquatic sports. This bay has the particularity of having two alligator-shaped points. Tambor has leafy coastal vegetation, and a wide range of touristic services wich allow tourists to enjoy from cheap lodging to all-included luxury hotels. Therefore, there are many recreative facilities such as golf, sport fishing, aquatic sports and mountain biking among others.

PLAYA SANTA TERESA

This beach is very extense, with surfing-appropiate swell. It has a wide coverage of coastal vegetatio and beautiful rocky sectors such as Peñón de Arío, located in the north. Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Preserve can be watched toward south of Santa Teresa beach. Besides bathing and taking the sun, this beach is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and camping.

PLAYA MONTEZUMA

The rocky sectors and clear sandy beaches make this coast extremely beautiful. Plentiful vegetation is the habitat of numerous animal species, congos and many birds may be observed. The central beach of Montezuma is a beautiful and small inlet, the main beach is found towards the north of the central one, and is prolonged for hundreds of meters unitl it gets to a rocky sector, where a road communicates with other beaches such as Cocal. In Montezuma one can enjoy horseback rides, mountain bike, diving and sport fishing tours and other night time activities.

SAN MATEO CITY

At 254 meters above sea level, San Mateo is a picturesque city that maintains a rural-community feel. It stands out in Costa Rican history as a rest stop for Mora y Cañas' troops on their way to do battle with William Walker, as well as a "napping point" for hundreds of oxcarts loaded with coffee on the trip to Puntarenas and then packed with goods for the return to San José. It was in these lands that gold was first found in Costa Rica.

JACÓ

At just seven meters above sea level, the city of Jacó has a large beach for enjoying sea and sun. Its proximity to San José makes it one of the most visited beaches in the country by both Costa Ricans and foreigners. Shaped in a pleasant curve, its four-kilometer-long beach is bordered by hills at either end. Swimming with caution, due to strong currents, and surfing are the favorite activities here. Visitors can walk or ride horses along the beach, rent mountain bikes or scooters, or take a turn around a go-cart track. Boat travel is possible from Jacó to Playa Escondida, a well-known beach among surfers.

QUEPOS CITY

The seat of the Aguirre canton, Quepos maintains an important relationship with banana production activities in this part of the country; old Banana Company structures are still preserved to this day. The city offers a variety of accommodation, dining and recreation options, as well as spectacular scenery of the coast. Its wharf serves as a departure point for sport-fishing and recreational boat trips.

RÍO SAVEGRE

This clean, clear river is the perfect place for visitors to enjoy whitewater rafting (Class III) or swimming in calmer spots, as well as the lush greenery and many birds along its banks.

Source: Content and Images from Costa Rica Tourism Board - www.visitcostarica.com