ICT shows the “unmissable” things of Puntarenas and the Islands of the Gulf of Nicoya in a new Cultural Tourist Guide

Would you like to have all the multiple tourist alternatives that Puntarenas and the Gulf Islands offer with just one click and on your cellular devices? The answer is positive, interactive, accessible, friendly and possible starting today with the official launch of the Puntarenas Cultural Tourist Guide, developed by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.

This guide includes interesting sections such as “The 10 things that every tourist should see and do in Puntarenas”. This compilation highlights suggestions for taking a tour through the mangroves, savoring seafood-based cuisine, enjoying its magical beaches or rural tourism in Montes de Oro and Esparza. In addition, the list suggests enjoying the sunsets, tours in the Gulf of Nicoya and its islands, practicing responsible fishing, doing wellness and regeneration activities in Santa Teresa, Montezuma and Tambor, paragliding in Caldera or even learning to surf at Playa Santa Teresa – Malpaís.

By exploring this Cultural Tourist Guide it is possible to get a lot of benefit from the Cultural Tourist Map, the architectural heritage, the implementation of accessible tourism, protected areas, available tours, safety tips for bathers, a directory of services and a lot of complementary information. 

Precisely, on the morning of Friday, November 15, the official ceremony for the delivery of the Cultural Tourist Guide of Puntarenas was held in the headquarters building of the Tourism Promotion Board of the area, located in front of the Tourist Pier. It was attended by representatives of the tourism chambers, tourism businessmen from the areas and representatives of local governments who were part of the achievement of this project and welcomed it. 

“Our intention is always that the travel experience is unforgettable as it is the “Pearl of the Pacific”, this with the purpose of providing updated information about El Puerto and the islands of the Gulf of Nicoya to national and international tourists through useful material. ", highlighted William Rodríguez, Minister of Tourism at the official presentation of the guide. The Tourism chief also highlighted that the guides are an example of joint work between the ICT, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, SINAC, the tourism chambers, the Local Government and the tourism sector, but requested the support of all businessmen and actors of the community to spread them and make the most of them.

Sailing the guide to a good port

From this beginning and by delving into the information in the Puntarenas Cultural Tourist Guide in detail, you can discover multiple links and striking illustrations that invite tourists to learn about the heritage buildings of Puntarenas or San Lucas Island, as well as possible “self-guided” walks in Puntarenas Centro. It includes information on the history of the emblematic places, a synopsis and location of the most attractive beaches, as well as recommendations for visiting protected areas such as the Cabo Blanco Refuge, the Biological Reserves of the Guayabo Islands, Negritos and Pájaros, the Life Refuge Silvestre Curú, Isla San Lucas National Park, among others.

When the enormous variety of tours offered in both Puntarenas and the Islands of the Gulf of Nicoya are mentioned, the guide redirects to the websites of the tourist companies that operate them and an extensive telephone directory of reliable companies, undoubtedly a wide range of alternatives to tour with family, as a couple or with friends this end and beginning of the year or throughout 2024.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the detailed infogram about the phenomenon of Bioluminescence and how it can be observed on some beaches in Puntarenas and the Gulf of Nicoya stands out. 

The guide consists of 87 interactive pages and is the result of the careful and joint work between the Department of Tourism Development of the ICT, the Puntarenas Chamber of Tourism, the Puntarenas Promotion Board, the Paquereña Chamber of Tourism, the Chamber of Tourism of Montes de Oro, the Malpaís and Santa Teresa Development Association, the Athens Chamber of Tourism, the local governments of Puntarenas, Lepanto, Paquera and Esparza. Likewise, the Institute of Pacific Ports, Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Agriculture, the National System of Conservation Areas, the Ministry of Culture and Youth.

Those interested in downloading the Puntarenas Cultural Tourist Guide for free can enter the Services section of the website  www.ict.go.cr and the platform  www.vamosaturistear.com In these spaces you will find this and more than 10 guides and Similar mini-guides from different regions of the country.