national park
Monteverde Cloud Forest
A misty cloud forest reserve harboring incredible biodiversity including the resplendent quetzal, explored via hanging bridges and ziplines.
36 km · about 40 min drive
North AmericaCosta RicaPuntarenas Province
Puntarenas
Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica · North America
About Puntarenas
Puntarenas sits on the route: 10 minutes from Chacarita, 36km from Monteverde Cloud Forest.
Puntarenas is in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, with about 36,000 people. The nearest town is Chacarita, about 7 km away.
Puntarenas (Spanish pronunciation: [puntaˈɾenas]) is a city in the Puntarenas Province, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. As the seat of the Municipality of Puntarenas canton, it is awarded the title of city, which comprises the Puntarenas, Chacarita and El Roble districts. As the city of the first canton of theRead more
province, it is the capital city of the Puntarenas Province as well, according to the Administrative divisions of Costa Rica.
Where to Stay in Puntarenas
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Puntarenas.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Puntarenas.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Puntarenas?
Within an hour or so of Puntarenas: Monteverde Cloud Forest (36 km), Santa Teresa (52 km), La Fortuna Waterfall (55 km), Arenal Volcano (56 km).
Are there any good drives near Puntarenas?
The nearest famous roads are Cerro de la Muerte.
Where is Puntarenas?
Puntarenas is in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, about 7 km from Chacarita.
Road trip
Drive to Puntarenas
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Puntarenas. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 35,650
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Region
- Puntarenas Province
- Timezone
- America/Costa_Rica
- Coordinates
- 9.9769, -84.8379
Tags
Worth the detour from Puntarenas
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
beach
Santa Teresa
A bohemian surf town on the Nicoya Peninsula with consistent waves, yoga retreats, and stunning Pacific sunsets.
52 km · about 60 min drive
waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall
A powerful 70-meter waterfall plunging into an emerald pool at the base of Arenal Volcano, reached by descending 500 steps.
55 km · about 65 min drive
natural wonder
Arenal Volcano
A near-perfect cone-shaped active volcano surrounded by hot springs, hanging bridges, and lush rainforest in northern Costa Rica.
56 km · about 65 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Puntarenas.
Plan a trip around Puntarenas
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Puntarenas.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.