December 26, 2017 – Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica

Situated on the scenic Gulf of Nicoya, a shimmering expanse dotted with pristine islands and surrounded by Costa Rica’s tropical splendor, the former fishing village of Puntarenas is the gateway to magnificent beaches and rich wildlife. The port prospered on the shoulders of coffee barons as oxcarts delivered satchels of beans to the docks from the mountains. With the opening of a railroad in 1879, the oxcarts disappeared, but coffee remains Cota Rica’s major export. Today, Puntarenas retains its walking trails under a dense canopy rich in vegetation and echoing with the screeches of howler monkeys.

Here are a couple of pictures of the port as we were coming in.

Our tour here consisted of a scenic ride along the Nicoya Peninsula. Here are some pictures of the countryside.

We drove east from the port to Esparza, a picturesque town founded in 1574 by the Spanish that is now known for its hardworking people. Local dancers greeted us at the city park dressed in traditional costumes, and they also had crafts stalls in the park.

Located across from the park was the Holy Trinity Church. It was built in 1849; however, in 1888 a strong earthquake hit and most of the church was destroyed. They kept the front, but the rest had to be rebuilt and you can see it is white.

When we got back to the ship we went for a walk in the town. They have a lighthouse about two miles from the port, so we went in search of it. To get there, you walk along the water, where they have black sand beaches. They were hit by hurricane Nate this year and there is still a lot of debris washed up on the beach. It was a pretty walk out there. Our friends Sue and Graham Sharman from Plantation, FL went with us. There is a drink, like a slushy, they drink here. It is called a Churchill. It contains shaved ice, syrup, condensed milk and powered milk.

We got to the lighthouse and then headed back to the port.

The Cathedral was located here, so we also walked to see it. They were having services so we could only take a picture from the door.

Lastly, we stopped for a beer and then took the trolley down the long peer to the ship.