Puntarenas Province

The province of Puntarenas (see map), which includes Caño Island, Cocos Island and several other islands scattered across the Gulf of Nicoya, shares a border with the Alajuela, Guanacaste, Limon and San Jose provinces, and borders Panama to the south. The province is split into two distinct parts, with a small section residing on the Nicoya Peninsula just below the Guanacaste province, and another, larger section running north/south along the Pacific coast.

The capital of Puntarenas is the city of Puntarenas, and the province is divided into 11 regions (cantons), which we have listed from north to south. Click on the text links below for accommodations in each region.

Regions: Puntarenas - Montes de Oro - Esparza - Garabito - Parrita - Quepos - Osa - Golfito - Buenos Aires - Coto Brus - Corredores

Puntarenas

Santa Elena - a small, quaint mountain community that you'll pass en route to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Google Map - Santa Elena

Montes de Oro

Miramar - inland

Google Map - Miramar

Esparza

Esparza - inland

Google Map - Esparza

El Castillo de Esparza

Garabito

Tarcoles

Google Map - Tarcoles

Playa Herradura

Google Map - Playa Herradura

Playa Jacó

Google Map - Playa Jacó

Playa Hermosa

Google Map - Playa Hermosa

Parrita

Playa Esterillos Oeste

Google Map - Playa Esterillos

Playa Esterillos Este

Google Map - Playa Esterillos

Playa Bejuco

Google Map - Playa Bejuco

Parrita

Google Map - Parrita

Hotel Paraiso Carlisa

Playa Palo Seco

Google Map - Playa Palo Seco

Quepos

Google Map - Quepos

Manuel Antonio

Google Map - Manuel Antonio

Matapalo

Google Map - Matapalo

Playa Savegre

Google Map - Playa Savegre

Osa

Dominical

Google Map - Dominical

Playa/Punta Uvita

Google Map - Playa/Punta Uvita

The following hotels are scattered along the coast and hillside, where there are several small beaches. Knows as the Bellena Coast, it's where you also find the Marino Ballena National Marine Park. The beaches include Hermosa, Uvita, Colonia, Arco, Piñuela and Ventanas.

Playa Tortuga

Google Map - Playa Tortuga

Playa Ojochal

Google Map - Playa Ojochal

Palmar Norte

Google Map - Palmar Norte

Sierpe

Google Map - Sierpe

Drake Bay

Google Map - Drake Bay

Golfito

The region (canton) of Golfito is comprised of two distinct parts. The smaller portion makes up the southern half of the Osa Peninsula, and the other, larger section lies across the bay "Gulfo Dulce" and runs along the coast until it reaches the Costa Rican/Panamian border.

The hotels, beginning with La Leona and ending with Golfo Dulce, all reside on the Osa Peninsula. La Leona is the entrance point to Corcovado National Park along the Pacific coast, and serves as our starting point. From there we move south along the coast, then around the southernmost part of the peninsula towards Puerto Jimenéz, and then north along the peninsula's eastern coast until we reach Golfo Dulce. The hotels betwen Golfito and Punta Blanco primarily hug the coastline.