Why go
- City in Costa Rica.
- Served by Tambor Airport (TMU).
History
Puntarenas is a city in the Puntarenas Province, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. As the seat of the Municipality of Puntarenas canton, it is awarded the title of city, which comprises the Puntarenas, Chacarita and El Roble districts. As the city of the first canton of the province, it is the capital city of the Puntarenas Province as well, according to the Administrative divisions of Costa Rica.
Where to stay
de, Arenal Volcano National Park, 702 Road, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica · nayaragardens.com
Ruta Nacional Secundaria 160 771, Provincia de Puntarenas, Tambor, Playa, 11500, Costa Rica · barcelo.com
X5G8+PRG, C. 1, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica · facebook.com
Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Cocal, Costa Rica · puertoazulhotel.com
75 metros norte del restaurant La Ostra, C. 13, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60001, Costa Rica · cabinasmidey.com
Av. 2 Costado Sur Estadio Lito Pérez, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica · cabinasconfortpuntarenas.com
X5F3+V4R, Avenida 2, Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Carmen, Costa Rica · alamarcr.com
Indoor
M8JQ+VCW Junto al, Hotel Villa Caletas, Puntarenas Province, Jaco, Costa Rica · zephyrpalace.com
X5F6+X26, Av. 4 Avenida 4, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica · hoteltiogacr.com
X5JW+FP9, 17, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Barrio La Chanchera, Costa Rica · marymarcr.com
X5G2+765, P.º de los Turistas, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Carmen, Costa Rica · hotelyadrancr.com
60101 Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica · ourstayexperience.com
Diagonal al Banco Nacional, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica · hotelaldeachorotega.com
C. 44, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Barrio El Cocal, Costa Rica · facebook.com
Av. Central, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica · cabinasmadeleine.com
P.º de los Turistas, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
X5H8+855, Costado norte de la Catedral, contiguo Escuela Delia, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica
X5H9+RF2, Av 3, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica · facebook.com
X5H9+CW6, Av. Central, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica
X5JX+9P3, Cocal diagonal a la plaza de deportes, Provincia de Puntarenas, Barrio La Chanchera, 60112, Costa Rica
X5G5+86M, Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
75 m. oeste de San Lucas Beach Club, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Carmen, 60101, Costa Rica
Av. 2A, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Carmen, 60101, Costa Rica
C. 5, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Paseo de los Turistas 400 oeste del hotel tioga, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
X5G6+MRF, Puntarenas Province, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
X5G9+7FG Salón El Imperial, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
X6J2+Q44, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, Barrio La Angostura, Costa Rica
north of the Civil Registry, Supreme Court of Elections, 25 meters, Puntarenas, 60101, Costa Rica
25mtrs oeste Cruz Roja, Provincia de Puntarenas, Puntarenas, 60102, Costa Rica
Indoor
Indoor
Restaurants & places to go
Fast Food · soda y pulperia Opening hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00, 09:00-18:00; Sa, Su 06:30-18:00
Mexican, Grill, Restaurant · Mexican/Grill restaurant · Puntarenas, 60101 · facebook.com
Japanese, Pastry, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00 Features: air conditioning · kasarestaurante.com
Regional, Burger, Chicken, Sandwich, Italian, Seafood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: vegetarian options · Paseo de Los Turistas,… · puntarenas-typical-sea-food.negocio.site
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Pizza, Italian, Pasta, Restaurant · Opening hours: We-Mo 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-21.00 Features: takeaway, delivery · Avenida 1 Dr. Sergio Fallas Badilla,…
Chicken, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Sandwich, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Fried Chicken, Fast Food · Fried Chicken fast food
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Coffee Shop cafe
Fish, Restaurant · Fish restaurant
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant
Fish And Chips, Restaurant · Fish And Chips restaurant
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi restaurant
Ice Cream · ice cream · Calle Central, Puntarenas
Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating, vegetarian options · Calle 13, Puntarenas
Cafe · cafe · Calle 3 - Francisco de Paula Amador, Puntarenas
Food Court · food court
Indoor
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 06:30-20:00
Mexican, Fast Food · Mexican fast food
Regional, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · Paseo de los Turistas, Puntarenas
Burger, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Pizza, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · Avenida 1 - Sergio Fallas Badilla, Puntarenas
Chicken, Fast Food · Chicken fast food · Calle 1, Puntarenas
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · Calle Central, Puntarenas
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Coffee Shop cafe
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · Barranca
Sushi, Restaurant · Sushi restaurant
Ice Cream · Features: outdoor seating
Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating
Cafe · cafe · Avenida Central - Centenario, Puntarenas
Food Court · food court
Fast Food · fast food
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · Avenida 4 - León Cortés Castro, Puntarenas
Burger, Cafe · Burger cafe
Pizza, Restaurant · Pizza restaurant
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant · Avenida 4 - León Cortés Castro, Puntarenas
Chinese, Restaurant · Chinese restaurant · Calle Central, Puntarenas
Ice Cream · ice cream
Restaurant · restaurant
Cafe · cafe · Avenida 3, Puntarenas
Fast Food · fast food · Avenida Central - Centenario, Puntarenas
71 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
La Fortuna Arenal Airport (FON) 61 km to the centre
La Fortuna, A, CR — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (LACSA, CAL Cargo Air Lines) · direct flights to 2 destinations incl. Quepos, San Jose (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 2 direct destinations
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Tambor Airport (TMU) 33 km to the centre
Nicoya, P, CR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 3 airlines (CAL Cargo Air Lines, Euro Exec Express, LACSA) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. San Jose (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 1 direct destination
- CAL Cargo Air Lines 5C (CNA, DHT) · 1 route: San Jose
- Euro Exec Express RZ (CNA) · 1 route: San Jose
- LACSA LR (CNA) · 1 route: San Jose*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Chacarita Airport (JAP) 6.8 km to the centre
Puntarenas, P, CR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Cóbano Airport (ACO) 42 km to the centre
Cóbano, P, CR — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Aranjuez Airport 9.3 km to the centre
Miramar, P, CR
San Agustin Airport 11 km to the centre
Puntarenas, P, CR
Getting there by ferry
Ferry a Playa Naranjo
Ferry terminal · 1.6 km from the centre
Ferry Paquera
Ferry terminal · 1.6 km from the centre
Naviera Tambor
Ferry terminal · 1.6 km from the centre
Terminal Ferry Playa Naranjo
Ferry terminal · 16 km from the centre
Terminal Ferry Paquera
Ferry terminal · 18 km from the centre
Ruta Puntarenas - Isla San Lucas
Ferry route
Ruta Puntarenas - Playa Naranjo
Ferry route
Ruta Puntarenas - Paquera
Ferry route
Ruta Puntarenas - Isla de Chira
Ferry route
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Tambor Airport (TMU); 14 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: FON has direct flights to 2 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Quepos, San Jose). By water: 5 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Ferry a Playa Naranjo, 1.6 km); routes include Ruta Puntarenas - Isla San Lucas, Ruta Puntarenas - Playa Naranjo, Ruta Puntarenas - Paquera.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Tours & experiences
Sightseeing