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In 1502, Columbus landed at Quiribri Isle near Cariari (now Limon) and stayed for several days. When the local people showed his crew golg, he named the area Costa Rica (“rich coast”). It was really a misnomer though. The tiny tribes hadn’t accumulated anywhere near the vast wealth that later drew Spaniards to the bigger empires in the Americas.
Puntarenas is the main Pacific Costa Rican port. Restaurants and shops line the waterfront on the southern side of town (Paseo de los Turistas). Local vendors sell many hand crafted souvenir items. Puntarenas is a pleasant place and may have once been an attractive beach town, but there is little of historic interest and very little to see and do in the immediate vicinity of the pier. There is a coffee shop in the modern terminal that serves excellent cappuccino, espresso and other hot and cold Costa Rican coffee beverages. International telephones can be found inside the terminal building as well. For a bit local color, visit the Mercado or browse the shops along the paseo.
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