PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA

The port of Puntarenas sits on a very long and narrow peninsula jutting out from the western side of Costa Rica.  The pier itself is extremely long and very narrow, two buses wide plus a few feet.  My best guess would be more than a football field in length.  I understand there to be a free pier shuttle but we never saw one.   What we did see as we stepped off the gangway was at least a dozen or more buses lined up on the pier like soldiers at attention.  It looked like a train down the entire length of the pier.  Each bus had to back down the entire length of the pier due to it’s very narrow width.   Unfortunately for us, another cruise ship docked at the same time of our arrival so the pier quickly became very congested.  The situation quickly became one of the most poorly organized and frustrating experiences of any port I have ever been in, which is numerous over the past 37 years of traveling.

Our shore excursion for the day was arranged by Pat Ansley who we connected with through the Cruise Critics board.  We were instructed to meet with our tour operator Gio Tours,  at the bottom of the gangway at 8:00am.  Our group numbered about 14 and included one in a wheelchair and 2 with canes.  To set the scene - the day was extremely hot and humid, even at 8:00am.   By 8:15am our Gio Tours guide, with group dutifully following behind like ducks in a row, began making our way down the pier, hugging the rail to avoid the constant movement of buses.  Once we had cleared the shadow cast from the cruise ships, the sun became brutally hot.  I had taken an umbrella with me, not because I thought it was going to rain but for this exact situation.  It proved to be invaluable and a very wise choice. 

After we had walked about half way down the pier our guide suddenly stopped and told us we must now wait here.  We would not be allowed to walk off the pier but instead must stand on the pier and wait for our assigned bus with no shade, no seats and clinging as close to the rail as possible so buses could come and go.   As time passed and tempers flared, some couples finally left our group and decided to go off on their own.   The thought certainly crossed my mind several times.  Finally our assigned bus began backing down the pier but it was now 9:05am and we had been over 1 hour standing in the sun waiting.  We actually began moving off the pier at 9:30am, an hour and a half behind schedule.  

Our guide, whose name was Dixon, graciously took a barrage of negative comments from those of us that decided to wait it out.  Luckily for Dixon once we finally boarded tempers began to calm quickly as the bus was well air conditioned, in excellent physical and mechanical condition and we were immediately given a bottle of ice cold water.  

Keep those arms inside the boat

The tour description indicated we would have an 8 hour tour but since we had to be back on the ship by 4:30pm we were only going to get 7, obviously something was going to be left out.   Our first stop would be Jose’sCrocodile River Trip.   Located on the Tarcoles River, our drive time was one hour to reach our boarding point. The next 1 hour river cruise proved to be a true highlight of the day.   This tour definitely takes you up-close and personal with the American crocodile.   The boat sits fairly low in the water with the sides also low so keep those hands inside the boat.  In addition to several crocodiles we also viewed several birds and other wildlife.  Staff entice the crocodile with chicken and are able to bring the crocodiles right up next to the boat.  

The American crocodile up close and personal

Daily feeding of chicken bring them right to the boat

Steve-n-Lisa's roadside restaurant

At the conclusion of our boat tour we then drove a short 15 minutes to our lunch stop, Steve-N-Lisa’s Restaurant.  I have not found a website or facebook page for them but I did rate them on Trip Advisor.  I also have a phone number of 2637-0665 if you find yourself in the area.  This roadside restaurant is a convenient stop with free wi-fi and our meal consisted of rice, beans, salad, picadeo (potatoe mix), and our choice of chicken, beef or fish.  I opted for the fish, which was a breaded marlin and cooked to perfection.  

From here we drove another 20 minutes to the El JardinOrotina souvenir shop which I could have done without.  The store was clean, very large and served samples of local coffee.  All the typical touristy things to buy.  I checked out several of the items but felt the prices were definitely high.   I’m sure that the tour operators probably get a kickback for stopping here so I get it, just would rather have done something else.  Luckily it was only a 20 minute stop.  

White-headed Capuchin Monkey

On our drive back to Puntarenas we stopped at Laroca in Caldera to check out some wild monkeys and kuatimundi.   This was certainly a wonderful experience.  Here you will be able to interact with a group of 27 white-headed capuchin monkeys and at least 2 kuatimundis.  The monkeys are very mischievous and playful and will climb on your head and shoulders trying to get the bananas away from you so guard your glasses and cameras.  I did see one woman lose her sunglasses to one playful little guy. 

Kuatimundi

Hang on to those cameras and glasses

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Time was quickly approaching 4:30pm so we left the monkeys behind and began making our way back to the ship while taking in some last minute views of the beautiful beaches that Costa Rica has to offer.  Our sailing was 5:00pm.