Sidebar #65 - Puntarenas Province

Puntarenas is, without a doubt, the most geographically diverse province in Costa Rica. Puntarenas extends all the way from the Nicoya Peninsula near Guanacaste to the Monteverde Cloud Forest in the north to the southern border with Panama. It hugs much of the Pacific coastline in Costa Rica. 

Due to its diverse and coastal nature, Puntarenas is home to a number of travel hotspots. These include the aforementioned Monteverde Cloud Forest, but also places like Manuel Antonio National Park, the Osa Peninsula & Corcovado National Park, as well as famous surf towns like Jaco, Dominical, and Santa Teresa. Outside of Guanacaste, Puntarenas is probably the province in Costa Rica most synonymous with tourism.



Because of its large geographic area, I wouldn’t say that Puntarenas has as distinct of an identity as some of Costa Rica’s other provinces. However, Puntarenas is known for seafood, especially ceviche, and a traditional shaved ice-esque dessert called a Churchill or Granizado. Puntarenas’ capital is also its namesake and largest population center, the city of Puntarenas, which is on the coast due west from San Jose.

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