City or town
Things to see in Puntarenas (Costa Rica): 8 places and when to go
Puntarenas is a town in Costa Rica with around 57,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 8 places in and around it, mainly Nature (5), Wildlife (4), With kids (1). The best known are Gulf of Nicoya, San Lucas Island and Pájaros Island Biological Reserve. The best time to come is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Costa Rica · 9.9702, -84.8336
- Population
- About 57,000
- Places
- 8 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- Best time
- December to March.
- Also possible
- April to August and November.
- Nearest airport
- SJO San José (Alajuela), 69 km as the crow flies
What to see in Puntarenas
The places in and around Puntarenas, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Gulf of NicoyaBay in Costa Rica14 km
- San Lucas IslandNature · Wildlife8.7 km
- Pájaros Island Biological ReserveProtected area in Costa Rica23 km
- Parque Marino del PacificoPark in Costa Rica1.1 km
- PuntarenasBeach654 m
- Negritos Islands Biological ReserveNature reserve in Costa Rica17 km
- Bahía RicaHiking17 km
- Guayabo Island Biological ReserveProtected area in Costa Rica8.2 km
When to go to Puntarenas
The best time to visit Puntarenas is December to March; also possible: April to August and November. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanBest time11:29
- FebBest time11:41
- MarBest time11:56
- AprPossible12:13
- MayPossible12:27
- JunPossible12:35
- JulPossible12:32
- AugPossible12:20
- SepBetter not12:03
- OctBetter not11:46
- NovPossible11:32
- DecBest time11:25
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25. In January, 8 of the 8 places are at their best.
When to go to Costa Rica in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Puntarenas
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, San José (Alajuela)), 69 km as the crow flies. How to get around Costa Rica (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- La Sierra5 places36 km
- Quesada, San Carlos11 places59 km
- Cañas District8 places59 km
- San Carlos8 places59 km
- Alajuela11 places66 km
- Nicoya6 places71 km
And all of Costa Rica, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Puntarenas?
The best known: Gulf of Nicoya, San Lucas Island, Pájaros Island Biological Reserve, Parque Marino del Pacifico, Puntarenas. In all, 8 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Puntarenas?
December to March; also possible: April to August and November. In June there are 12 h 35 of daylight, and in December, 11 h 25.
How do you get to Puntarenas?
The nearest main airport is Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), 69 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Puntarenas as the destination and these 8 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- Costa RicaBefore travelling to Costa Rica: 8 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days: a valid passport is enough, plus, at i…
- Nature147 places for nature in Costa Rica, from Cocos Island to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: December to March. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.