Puntarenas is an enchanting port town and a regular stop in many tourist itineraries. Anyone who plans to catch the ferry to the beautiful beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula, or visit any of the others in the Central Park will go through here, since it's a major transport hub.
A short 62 miles from San Jose, the long and narrow peninsula has plenty of attractions for you before heading out to your other destination. The center of town is marked by the central park. But the Paseo de los Turistas is, perhaps, the most colorful place of all. This long street holds everything from the more upscale restaurants and hotels to midi-priced kiosks that serve seafood and traditional fare.
Vendors line the street with their offers of seashell necklaces, bright beach towels and all sorts of souvenirs. You can buy a Churchill or granizado anywhere. It's a tall glass of shaved ice covered in granadine, with a spoonful of powdered and condensed milk each. You can even top it with ice cream. It's the way to go when you visit El Puerto, as Costa Ricans refer to this coastal city.
Paseo de los turistas
Puntarenas is 3 miles (5 km) long but just a few blocks wide. The best way to see it is following the waterfront boulevard known as Paseo de los Touristas (Tourists' Avenue).
Paseo de los turistas
Dozens of vendors gather around the walkway offering souvenirs and all kinds of trinkets. Restaurants, cafes and sodas line up featuring typical seafood dishes and the catch of the day. Be sure to try a whole fish cooked the way you like it or a delicious plate of rice with shrimp. If you wonder how they make them taste so good, they'll tell you the secret is in the freshness.
Many local tourists also come looking for the famous Churchill, a sweet-tooth's fantasy. It's a refreshing mixture of a snow cone and ice cream topped with insane amounts of caramel. It's meant to be dessert but it's so filling and delicious that many have it as a main course too.
Puntarenas' biggest assets are the commercial ports and well-developed tourist infrastructure that attracts dozens of cruise ships every year. The migrant visitors spend a day in town or travel by land to the many attractions the country has to offer.
Parque Marino del Pacifico
At one end of this vivid area, lies the Marine Park of the Pacific. This is a center where the area's marine and coastal diversity is used for study, reproduction, education and recreation.
The largest fish tank in central and South America, labs, museums, exhibits, an auditorium and a live mangrove, is a great way to get to know all about the area you're going to be moving around in.
Parque Marino del Pacifico
Also, there are labs, videos, games for children and a souvenir store. Everything lies within the 7.41 acres that make up the park. A total of 28 tanks, containing around 50 marine species, show a bit of everything that lies beneath the waters of Costa Rica's Pacific, some of Coco Island's own phenomenal creatures.
The Marine Park in Puntarenas is a must-see during your stay in town. The site combines an aquarium, water museum, investigation center and learning facilities under the motto of environmental research and education through recreation.
One of the main attractions, Crocodile Territory, features six live reptiles for you to explore up close and personal. Many of the marine species found in the country's Pacific coast are displayed in glass aquariums that imitate their particular habitats.
If you don't get a chance to scuba dive during your visit to Costa Rica be sure to see the next best thing at the Marine Park. You'll catch a glimpse of ocelo, jewel and fine spotted moray, urchins, anemones, white-tipped sharks, balloon fish, stars, blue spiny lobster, elegant sea horses, and many other species of underwater marvels.
Geographical Division 
