Trip to Puntarenas

Puntarenas FC "Sharks" Stadium

On Sunday the 6th of November I took the 6am bus to Puntarenas so that I could watch the last match of the season.  Once I got there I learned that the games had all been postponed due to landslides throughout the country, so I was not able to watch the game, but I got to walk around Puntarenas.

Catedral de Puntarenas

Puntarenas is a port city on the Gulf of Nicoya (Western Side of Costa Rica). Puntarenas is the capital of the province of the same name, which is the province in which I live.  It is one of the 2 cities where I´m told I shouldn´t drink the water, but has some unique things about it.  It is surrounded by towns known for their beautiful beaches, but Puntarenas´s beaches aren´t that impressive because they are in the city. 

But Puntarenas is only a 3hr bus ride away.  And it only costs 1235 colones (about $2.40) each way.  The bus comes back around 2pm, so you can spend about 5hrs on the beach for under $5!

Also, Puntarenas is known for a dessert called a churchill, named after Winston Churchill.  A Churchill is a snow cone with powered milk, fruit and condensed milk on top.  My co-workers say you haven´t been to Puntarenas if you haven´t had a churchill.  The story is that Winston Churchill came to Puntarenas and was providing support and aid for the area.  He ordered a dessert and so the community decided to name it after him.