Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a port city on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, the capital of the country's largest province. It sits on a narrow spit of land where the Gulf of Nicoya meets the open ocean, and the region around it is known for its warm climate, working harbour and long stretches of Pacific shoreline. It is a place people pass through on their way to beaches and national parks, and a place others choose to slow down in. We list villas here, which suits travellers who want space of their own rather than a hotel room. Days tend to be unhurried: mornings before the heat builds, afternoons indoors or in the shade, evenings when the light softens over the water. It is a good base for exploring the central Pacific coast, and a good place to do very little.