Where in The World: Puntarenas, Costa Rica

By George Fontana

Costa Rica is known for coffee, pineapples, sugarcane, corn, one of the highest literacy rates in the Western Hemisphere and the most stable government and economy in Mesoamerica. Add to that mix a rich and carefully protected biodiverse ecology, and Costa Rica is a most attractive travel destination.

Indeed, the Ticos – the people of Costa Rica – joyfully extoll “Pura Vida”, the good life. Puntarenas is a low-lying neck of coastal real estate extending westward into the scenic Gulf of Nicoya on Coasta Rica’s Pacific coast. The town is defined by its beach-front main street which abounds with small tiendas (shops), cafes and vendors hawking coconut milk, helada (ice cream) and various fried foods (fritos).

Puntarenas was our gateway to Costa Rica’s interior where my compadre John and I boarded an aerial tramway to be transported to the summit of high hill surrounded by a tropical cloud forest. Once at the summit, we rode a series of switchback zip lines, ten in all,  which returned us in high fashion (pun intended) to the base. Our young macho guides rode the zip lines suspended upside down. We did not follow suit.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]