Puntarenas inaugurates new oceanside park

Puntarenas inaugurated last week an oceanside park that intends to help revitalize a previously underutilized area of the port city.

Muellero Park extends 800 meters from the Pacific Marine Park to Paseo de los Turistas on the Pacific Ocean. With architecture modeled after a whale skeleton and other marine wildlife, the outdoors area also includes an amphitheater facing the sea.

The park aims to provide an accessible and comfortable area from which to enjoy sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.

“This project of a tourist nature seeks to beautify the seafront of the city of Puntarenas, in order to boost and revive economic activity in that area and offer national tourists and those arriving on cruises more recreational areas,” said Juan Ramón Rivera, president of the Pacific Port Authority (INCOP), in a statement from Casa Presidencial.

Among the other attractions is a lighting system that will “allow the city of Puntarenas to be decorated during special celebrations and commemorative dates.”

The Mullero Park project cost 1.2 billion colones ($2.1 million) and was delivered by INCOP to Puntarenas for administration.

Puntarenas is a popular tourist destination for Costa Ricans and receives several cruise ships each year.

In addition to the beach and the marine park, Puntarenas is a gateway to the southern Nicoya Peninsula via ferry.