Puntarenas

Puntarenas sits on Costa Rica's Pacific coast and serves ships on Panama Canal and Pacific-coastal itineraries. The town is built on a narrow sand spit into the Gulf of Nicoya, with a pleasant beach promenade near the pier. Most passengers head inland — Manuel Antonio National Park for monkeys and beaches, the Tárcoles River for crocodile-spotting, or the Arenal volcano on longer tours. Expect humidity even at the coast.