Exuberant tropical forests, abundant wild and marine life, and beautiful beaches create an atmosphere that permeates the entire region and wraps itself around you. You will definitely not run out of things to do. Choose from relaxing in the sun to raising your adrenaline levels, in this close by destination.

Puntarenas is an enchanting port town and a regular stop in many tourist itineraries. Anyone who plans to catch the ferry to the beautiful beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula, or visit any of the others in the Central Park will go through here, since it's a major transport hub.

A short 62 miles from San Jose, the long and narrow peninsula has plenty of attractions for you before heading out to your other destination. The center of town is marked by the central park. But the Paseo de los Turistas is perhaps the most colorful place of all. This long street holds everything from the more upscale restaurants and hotels to midi-priced kiosks that serve seafood and traditional fare.

Vendors line the street with their offers of seashell necklaces, bright beach towels and all sorts of souvenirs. You can buy a churchill or granizado anywhere. It's a tall glass of shaved ice covered in granadine, with a spoonful of powdered and condensed milk each. You can even top it with ice cream. It's the way to go when you visit El Puerto, as Costa Ricans refer to this coastal city.

For study

At one end of this vivid area, lies the Marine Park of the Pacific. This is a center where the area's marine and coastal diversity is used for study, reproduction, education and recreation.

The largest fish tank in central and South America, labs, museums, exhibits, an auditorium and a live mangrove, is a great way to get to know all about the area you're going to be moving around in.

Also, there are labs, videos, games for children and a souvenir store. Everything lies within the 7.41 acres that make up the park. A total of 28 tanks, containing around 50 marine species, show a bit of everything that lies beneath the waters of Costa Rica's Pacific, some of Coco Island's own phenomenal creatures.