Puntarenas port

[libno]

Hi,

We are doing the PanamaCanal cruise on Island Princess later this month and having been to Costa Rica before on the Cribbean side, I do not wish to do another tour there. Can anyone tell me if we can walk off the ship and just stroll Puntarenas, or do we have to take a tour. I am not talking about seeing the whole city just getting a feel for the place without going on a tour.

Marise:D

[movc]

Puntarenas is a small beach resort area though the beach isn't that spectacular. Try wikitravel and cruiseportwiki for more info.

[pilotdane]

Just look up Puntarenas on Google Earth or Maps. You'll see one long pier on the peninsula. That's where you'll dock and it's right in the center of "town" so you can do as much or little walking around as you want.

[thinfool]

The real port in the area is Puerto Caldera, a heavily industrial port that is rarely used for cruise ships (not never, just rarely).

 

Puntarenas is basically a jetty or pier constructed on the other side of the bay to service cruise ships. The Chinese funded it's construction because no one else would.

 

Puntarenas has several local artisan kiosks, an internet hotspot and a taxi stand at the end of the pier. It might take you 20 minutes to browse thru it. Otherwise the village at the end of the pier has small businesses that don't seem to appeal to ship pax.

 

Non-ship tours are easily available when you disembark the ship for very nice prices. The vendors that can access the pier to sell you a local tour must have insurance and guarantee your return to the pier at least 2 hours prior to sailing time (or so we were told by our tour guide "Charlie").

 

Puntarenas, while still tropical, is, IMO, far more scenic and interesting than the 'mosquito coast' areas of the Caribbean.

 

I hope this is somewhat informative and that you have a wonderful time.

 

BTW, does your itinerary include San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua?

[libno]

The real port in the area is Puerto Caldera, a heavily industrial port that is rarely used for cruise ships (not never, just rarely).

 

Puntarenas is basically a jetty or pier constructed on the other side of the bay to service cruise ships. The Chinese funded it's construction because no one else would.

 

Puntarenas has several local artisan kiosks, an internet hotspot and a taxi stand at the end of the pier. It might take you 20 minutes to browse thru it. Otherwise the village at the end of the pier has small businesses that don't seem to appeal to ship pax.

 

Non-ship tours are easily available when you disembark the ship for very nice prices. The vendors that can access the pier to sell you a local tour must have insurance and guarantee your return to the pier at least 2 hours prior to sailing time (or so we were told by our tour guide "Charlie").

 

Puntarenas, while still tropical, is, IMO, far more scenic and interesting than the 'mosquito coast' areas of the Caribbean.

 

I hope this is somewhat informative and that you have a wonderful time.

 

BTW, does your itinerary include San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua?

 

Thanks so much for your reply which is VERY helpful. And no, our cruise does not go to Nicaragua.

marise

[libno]

Just look up Puntarenas on Google Earth or Maps. You'll see one long pier on the peninsula. That's where you'll dock and it's right in the center of "town" so you can do as much or little walking around as you want.

 

Thank you pilotdane, for your helpful response.

 

marise:)