Puntarenas, Costa Rica (Pacific Side)

---

One of our Ports of call was Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The sand on the beaches had a black hue due to the volcanic ash/activity on the island over the years. The people were nice, but there did not seem to be any affluence in this city. Scenically, the mountains in the distance were beautiful. There was a small market right off the port -- unlike the other Central American ports, the vendors were ot agressive or pushy. There were a lot of handmade items that I did not see at other port markets. All of the guided tours offered for this port were 2-3 hours away by bus and it became obvious that this was because there was not a "tourism" focus in this city. I found that very few people in this city spoke even basic English, so having someone in the group who could speak basic Spanish was extremely helpful.

---