Moving On From Puntarenas
Puntarenas is a jumping-off point for the southern Nicoya Peninsula . The Playa Naranjo and Paquera car ferries , run by Coonatramar (tel 661-1069, fax 661-2197), currently leave from the docks at the western end of the northern side of town for Paquera (3 daily at 8.45am, 2pm & 8.15pm; 1hr 30min; US$10). Another company, Naviera Tambor, runs car ferries from here to Paquera at 5am, 12.30pm and 5pm. In summer (Dec-April), especially, arrive ninety minutes before sailing to be sure of a space. Bear in mind that, though it's possible to drive to Paquera from Naranjo in about an hour, the roads are not in great shape, and you'll need a 4WD. A much better option if you've got a car is to take one of the ferries to Paquera. Buses meet each Coontramar car ferry in Paquera (but not the Naviera Tambor ferry; best to get a taxi or try to hitch a lift) - it's a drive of about 45 minutes to Tambor and about an hour to Montezuma. The passenger ferry (lancha) to Paquera currently leaves from behind the mercado, three times daily in the high season, twice in low season (1hr 30min; US$1.50). Schedules are posted outside the blue kiosk where you buy tickets. Buses for Tambor and Montezuma are timed to meet the Paquera lancha and leave once everyone is on board. Be quick to get off the ferry when it docks and you'll have a better chance of getting a seat on the bus. The only buses meeting the Playa Naranjo car ferry go north to Nicoya, a dusty and uncomfortable two-hour trip over horrible roads. Buses leave at least every hour on the hour for San Jose from the San Jose bus terminal just off the Paseo de los Turistas on C 2. Services to Liberia (6 daily; 3hr) and Santa Elena (daily 2.15pm; 3hr 30min) depart from just across the road. For Manuel Antonio , take the Quepos service from the same place (3 daily; 2hr). This bus will also drop you off just 2km from Jaco .
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