Paseo de los Turistas

The Paseo de los Turistas runs along the southern edge of the Puntarenas peninsula for about two kilometres, facing the Gulf of Nicoya. It is a broad seafront promenade lined with palm trees, benches, seafood stalls, and simple restaurants. The sunsets from the western end of the peninsula are the real reason to be here — the Gulf of Nicoya turns gold and then red as the sun drops behind the hills of the Nicoya Peninsula across the water.

It is a pleasant evening walk, and the ceviche and grilled fish on offer from the street stands are cheap and fresh. Avoid the midday heat — like all of Puntarenas, the Paseo is best in the early morning or evening.

things to do sight
A story
The Paseo was developed in the early 20th century as Puntarenas grew into Costa Rica's main Pacific port, and the city's prosperous merchant families built weekend houses along the waterfront. The port activity began to decline after the Pan-American Highway was completed in the 1940s, redirecting commerce overland, and Caldera eventually took the remaining commercial shipping. What's left is a pleasant boulevard that remembers a grander era without quite achieving it.