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Puntarenas Province

Region · 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Population 4,836
Area 11,403 km²
Time zone America/Costa_Rica
Puntarenas Province

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Featured Lists

José R. / CC BY 3.0

Provincia Puntarenas Must-Sees

Provincia Puntarenas encompasses Costa Rica's diverse Pacific coastline, stretching from the Nicoya Peninsula to the biodiverse Osa Peninsula. The region features the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Corcovado National Park, which protects 2.5% of the world's biodiversity. It preserves pre-Columbian history through the Diquís stone spheres and protects marine life at Marino Ballena National Park, known for its natural tombolo formation. Coastal highlights include the white sand beaches of Manuel Antonio and the multi-tiered Nauyaca Waterfalls.

16 places
Javier Bacchetta / CC BY-SA 2.0

Best Beaches

Puntarenas features a diverse range of coastal landscapes, from the active shores of Montezuma to the protected environments of Manuel Antonio National Park. This selection includes Playa Manuel Antonio and Playa Espadilla Sur, known for white sands and calm waters within the park's boundaries. Playa Grande offers a secluded, clothing-optional setting, while Playa Blanca provides a tranquil escape near Golfo Dulce. These locations cater to various activities including swimming, scuba diving, and wildlife observation along the Pacific coast.

6 places
Denyi Rodríguez / CC BY 3.0

Majestic Waterfalls

This collection highlights the diverse cascades of the Puntarenas province, from the 65-meter two-tiered Nauyaca Waterfalls near Dominical to the 100-foot King Luis fall on the Osa Peninsula. The list includes the cloud forest falls of Monteverde and several natural swimming holes near Uvita, such as Cascada Verde, which features a natural rock slide. These sites offer varying geological features, including deep jungle basins, vertical drops suitable for rappelling, and tiered river pools.

10 places

Majestic Mountains and Peaks

This collection features prominent summits within the Cordillera de Talamanca in Puntarenas. These peaks, including Amú, Utyum, and Dúrika, characterize the rugged topography of southern Costa Rica. Many are located within or adjacent to the La Amistad International Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its cloud forests and high-altitude páramo ecosystems. The terrain is defined by steep ridges, endemic flora, and significant cultural importance to the local Bribri and Cabécar indigenous communities.

12 places

Taste of the Region

This selection highlights the diverse culinary landscape of the Puntarenas province, spanning from the Monteverde highlands to the Osa Peninsula. It features traditional Costa Rican "sodas" serving classic casados and gallo pinto alongside specialized seafood establishments in coastal hubs like Jaco, Manuel Antonio, and Drake Bay. These restaurants focus on locally sourced ingredients, including fresh Pacific snapper, shrimp, and tropical fruits, often served in open-air settings.

20 places

Puntarenas Province — Map

Puntarenas Province — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 32°) · extremes 21°–31°
  • 23° at night
  • 22 rainy days
  • 16 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in February

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 33°) · extremes 21°–31°
  • 24° at night
  • 18 rainy days
  • 19 sunny days
  • 9 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 11 · extreme

Typical weather in March

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 22°–32°
  • 24° at night
  • 21 rainy days
  • 17 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 12 · extreme

Typical weather in April

Poor
  • 30° (feels like 34°) · extremes 23°–32°
  • 24° at night
  • 25 rainy days
  • 7 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 30°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 10 · very high

Typical weather in May

Poor
  • 29° (feels like 33°) · extremes 23°–31°
  • 24° at night
  • 29 rainy days
  • 2 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in June

Poor
  • 28° (feels like 33°) · extremes 23°–30°
  • 24° at night
  • 29 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in July

Poor
  • 28° (feels like 33°) · extremes 22°–30°
  • 24° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in August

Poor
  • 28° (feels like 33°) · extremes 23°–30°
  • 24° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 29°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in September

Poor
  • 28° (feels like 32°) · extremes 22°–29°
  • 24° at night
  • 29 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in October

Poor
  • 27° (feels like 31°) · extremes 22°–29°
  • 23° at night
  • 30 rainy days
  • 1 sunny day
  • 4 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in November

Poor
  • 27° (feels like 32°) · extremes 22°–29°
  • 23° at night
  • 29 rainy days
  • 2 sunny days
  • 5 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in December

Poor
  • 28° (feels like 32°) · extremes 21°–30°
  • 23° at night
  • 26 rainy days
  • 10 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Oppressive humidity
  • Calm winds
  • 28°C · warm for swimming
  • UV index 8 · very high

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5; NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
Costa Rican Colón CRC ₡ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers
911
Electricity
Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz
Languages
Spanish
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+506
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Riverside Hotel
Taxi · 8 min
Puntarenas Province
2h
Walk · 6 min
Corner Café
45 min
Walk · 18 min
Riverside Hotel

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Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata, Wikipedia, Tripomatic, Official websites, geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0).