Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
accommodation facing a swimming pool. The rooms are comfortable enough, with heavy
wood and wicker furniture, though the showers are cold. There is a restaurant here, too.
Getting There & Away
All transportation is geared to the arrival and departure of the Puntarenas ferry, so don't
worry - if one is running late, the other will wait.
BOAT
car US$2/1/4/6/18)
to Puntarenas departs daily at 8am, 12:30pm, 5:30pm and 9pm, and can
accommodate both cars and passengers. The trip takes 1½ hours. If traveling by car, get
out and buy a ticket at the window, get back in your car and then drive on to the ferry. You
cannot buy a ticket on board. Show up at least an hour early on holidays and busy week-
ends, as you'll be competing with a whole lot of other drivers to make it on.
BUS
Buses meet the ferry and take passengers on to Nicoya (US$3, three hours). You can also
catch a bus to Paquera at 10:30am and 5:30pm, though it's not clear why you would want
to. If you're headed to Montezuma or Mal País, take the other ferry from Puntarenas to
Paquera.
CAR & TAXI
It's possible to get to Paquera (and further to Mal País or Montezuma) via a scenic, rugged
and steep but passable road over three inland ridges with magical vistas of Bahía Gigante.
A 4WD is recommended, especially in the rainy season when there might be rivers to
cross. A 4WD taxi costs around US$40.
Islands near Bahía Gigante
The waters in and around the isolated Bahía Gigante, 9km southeast of Playa Naranjo, are
studded with rocky islets and deserted islands. Since there is very little here, and a 4WD is
a necessity almost year-round, the area feels very quiet and unhurried. However, travelers
are drawn here for its range of activities, namely sportfishing, snorkeling, diving and
kayaking, which can all be arranged through hotels and travel agencies from Paquera to
Montezuma.
