This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Puntarenas.
Puntarenas is located on the west coast of Costa Rica and is a large port town that services the tips of the Nicoya Peninsula. The majority of people don't stay here or consider it a touristy town, many of them are passing through on the many boats that leave to Paquero so that they can arrive at the surfing town destinations of Montezuma, Playa Santa Teresa and Mal Pais; other than this, there is not a great deal to do here.
The town itself is quite large and spans over quite a large area, so when choosing your Puntarenas hostel, keep in mind the proximity to the ferry, the bus station, and the shops located in the downtown area. In the main area you will find all of the amenities, groceries, and travel needs that you might require. On days where the port ships dock, you will find an abundance of different arts and crafts in and around stalls. The beach here is also not bad and you can spend a day on the beach enjoying some of the wildlife such as the brown pelicans that are frequent in the area. You can also take a tour with one of the local companies to Isla Tortuga for the day and explore the island.
For getting around Puntarenas -- the place is quite large -- there are red cabs with yellow triangles on them and they are fairly inexpensive. The taxis here are metered, so it prevents you from getting ripped off by cab drivers when trying to get around.
Written by local enthusiast for Puntarenas hostels
Globetrotter
