Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Puntarenas is a province of Costa Rica located in the western part of the country, comprising a major part of Pacific Ocean coast of Costa Rica. Puntarenas is the largest province in Costa Rica, covering an area of 11,265.69 km² (4,349.71 sq mi). It borders with Guanacaste at N; with San José, Alajuela, and Limón at E; with neighbouring Republic of Panama at SE; and the Pacific Ocean from S to W.
The capital is Puntarenas ("Puerto de Puntarenas", "El Puerto"). The province has a population of 368,827. It is subdivided into 11 cantons and 57 districts. Isla del Coco (Cocos island), at 500 km (310 mi) offshore in the Pacific Ocean, is a district of this province.
Province of Puntarenas
Location: At the center & southern Pacific Ocean coast of Costa Rica.
Coordinates: 9°58'N 84°50'W
Subdivisions: Cantons: 11, Districts: 57
Area: 11,265.69 km² (4,349.71 sq mi)
Population: 368,827 (2010)
Capital City: Puntarenas.
Elevation: 4 m ASL (13 feet)
Average Temperature: 27 °C (80.7 °F)
Annual Rainfall: 1,500 - 2,100 mm (59-83 inches)
Features & Attractions:
 "Paseo de los Turistas" Avenue, Puntarenas Church, Marine Historical Museum, Puntarenas Marine Park.
Manuel Antonio, Cocos Island, Corcovado & Carara National Parks, Orotina Iguana Park, Tárcoles river.
Islands: Cocos Island; Chira, Tortuga (aka Alcatraz), San Lucas, Caño.
Cultural celebrations: "Carnavales de Puntarenas" (January) & "Virgen del Mar" boat parade (July).
Esparza and Orotina villages.
Beaches: Montezuma, Tambor, Mal País, Puntarenas; Herradura, Jacó, Esterillos, Bejuco, Espadilla, Manuel Antonio; Dominical, Piñuela, Platanares, Zancudo, Pavones.
Monteverde, Boruca and Térraba Indigenous Museums, Turubari Park.
EcoTourism: Golfo Dulce Lodge, Esquinas Lodge (Golfito, Puntarenas); La Cusinga Lodge (Uvita, Osa), La Leona EcoLodge (Carate, Osa);
Cerro Lodge (Carara, Puntarenas); Southern Expeditions (Osa-Dominical).
The Province of Puntarenas and its Cantons
Notes & References for this table:
[1] IGN 2009.
[2] INEC (Jan 2009).
[3] Range of temperature throughout the province.
[4] Distance (in km) and direction, from the capital of province.
[5] Altitude (in m above sea level) and temperature at the capital city of the province.
[6] Capital of province.
[7] From San José.
| Nº |
Canton Name |
Area [1] (km2) |
Population (2009) [2] |
Temp. [3] |
Capital |
km from CoP [4] |
Altitude (m ASL),
Temp. [5] |
Rainfall
(mm/year) |
Foundation |
| 1 | Puntarenas [6] | 1,842.33 |
119,814 |
20-34ºC | Puntarenas |
80, W [7] |
4 | 27ºC |
1,500 |
Dec 7, 1848 |
| 2 | Esparza |
216.80 |
27,370 |
18-36ºC |
Espíritu Santo |
20, E |
208 |
2,500 |
Dec 7, 1848 |
| 3 | Buenos Aires |
2,384.22 |
47,948 |
| Buenos Aires |
|
361 |
3,500 |
Jun 26, 1914 |
| 4 | Montes de Oro |
244.76 |
12,570 |
26ºC | Miramar |
20, NE |
340 |
2,500 |
Jul 17, 1915 |
| 5 | Osa |
1,930.24 |
29,783 |
| Ciudad Cortés |
180, SE |
6 |
4,000 |
Jul 29, 1940 |
| 6 | Aguirre |
543.77 |
24,123 |
| Quepos |
100, SE |
5 |
4,000 |
Oct 30, 1948 |
| 7 | Golfito |
1,753.96
| 39,965 |
| Golfito |
235, SE |
5 |
5,000 |
Jun 8, 1907 |
| 8 | Coto Brus |
933.91 |
47,606 |
| San Vito |
240, SE |
1,009 |
4,000 |
Dec 10, 1965 |
| 9 | Parrita |
478.79 |
14,041 |
| Parrita |
80, SE |
4 |
3,000 |
Jul 5, 1971 |
| 10 | Corredores |
620.60 |
44,558 |
| Ciudad Neily |
260, SE |
46 |
4,500 |
Oct 19, 1973 |
| 11 | Garabito |
316.31 |
13,404 |
| Jacó |
50, SE |
7 |
3,000 |
Sep 25, 1980 |
Carnival of Puntarenas!:
A sweet cultural memoir from Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
© 2010 (Derechos reservados) Costa Rica 21 S.A.
|
Puntarenas ("El Puerto") is the capital and largest city in the province Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and is located at the coast on an small, elongated and narrow piece of land projecting out into the Pacific, at the very entrance of Nicoya Gulf. It is home of the Puntarenas Marine Park, with an aquarium among its facilities; the well known "Paseo de Los Turistas" avenue, which runs along the beach and is the path for the annual carnival celebration; the "Fiesta de la Virgen del Mar" (Virgin of the Sea) boat parade, celebrated the closest Saturday to July 16. This province features a very irregular shape, and has its largest part in the South, far from the capital and next to Panamá.
The Gulf of Nicoya is an inlet from the Pacific containing several small islands, the largest of these being Chira Island (with a population of less than two thousand). Caldera port is one of the most important in the country. Some 100,000 live in the city and close towns. With beaches on the Pacific Ocean, it also attracts many tourists, especially surfers.
Carara National Park is located in the transition from Tropical Dry Forest, which comes from Guanacaste, to Tropical Rain Forest, which continues along the rest of the coast to Osa. The Tropical Rainforest area at Manuel Antonio and Osa is the habitat of the Squirrel Monkey in Costa Rica. Further inland, at more altitude and more fresh climate, there is Monteverde, whose Cloud Forest, key biodiversity and facilities to enjoy all of them make it a must spot for the serious tourist, and have international recognition because of its nature conservancy efforts and the lifestyle environment respect.
Osa is one of the wildest and natural region in the world, and all the vicinities on the Southern Pacific have protected areas of Tropical Rainforest, home of the Jaguar and Scarlet Macaw, as well as marine territories which are visited by cetaceans like 5 species of Dolphins (Orcas included) and False Killer, Pilot Whales and acrobatic Humpback Whales. In this region are located the Corcovado, Piedras Blancas and Ballena National Parks.
|
