Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a narrow, flat peninsula on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Ships dock right in town, and the Malecón, a waterfront walkway, starts near the pier with restaurants, souvenir shops, and small sodas (local eateries) serving casados, the typical rice-and-beans plate with meat or fish. The town itself is modest and doesn't take long to walk through, but it functions as a base for excursions into the surrounding countryside. The Aerial Tram near Jacó takes you on a gondola ride above the rainforest canopy, with guided commentary on the wildlife below, including howler monkeys and toucans. Zip-line tours are available nearby. Crocodile tours on the Tárcoles River are popular and reliably deliver sightings of large American crocodiles basking on the banks. Back in town, fresh ceviche is cheap and good. The currency is the colón, but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, and taxis are affordable.