Carnival of Puntarenas

Post by GuillermoG

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Puntarenas (Sandpoint), as its name suggests, is a prominent edge of sand located by the Costarican Pacific, home of a port with the same name and is a stopping point for many important international cruise liners which each year visit the area to enjoy the festivals and carnivals that the surrounding town celebrates every year in February. This year it takes place from Thursday the 11th to Sunday the 21st.

Precisely on this Sunday the 14th; Valentine’s Day and a day for love and friendship; a series of interviews and meetings took me to Puntarenas, and as a result I got to take a first hand look at the festivities taking place all over town.

At exactly quarter to eleven in the morning, the port gave us a great big welcome with the agitated commotion that surged as a 12-floor cruise linerrrrrr docked at the port, and the “Paseo de Los Turistas” (Tourist’s Walk)- with about 3km in length (almost 2 miles)- buzzed with activity and shoppers around all the kiosks (we call them “chinamos” around here.craft-worktwork vendors, local food stalls, and various others, selling things like t-shirts with local motifs, as well as the hotels that line the boardwalk. Aside from all the commotion caused by the previously mentioned, the 1st Division football/soccer game of internationale between rivals “Puntarenas” and “Deportivo Saprissa” in the stadium “La Olla Magica” (the Magic Pot as the stadium is called due to the temperatures that it reaches while games are being played) was taking place and filled the area with the sounds overflowing from the drums located in the various bars dedicated to each team. It really gave the port a happy and festive feel.

As we came closer to the stadium and made our first street interviews, we heard the people’s jubilant yell: “GOOOL!,” when the local team scored a goal. This in a town where soccer/football is lived with an intense passion every single weekend. End result: Puntarenas FC- 1 ; D. Saprissa – 0.

Soon after, a new ruckus. This one was a bit less intense than the previous one. Suddenly, there’s complete silence in the streets… Saprissa has just scored a penalty shot and, like in all parts of the world, the referee turns into the biggest villain of the moment and the target of all the curses and swears in all sizes and colors that reign supreme. Everyone laughs and celebrates.

In the end the match ends up in a tie – 2-2 - leaving the people with a smile on their faces and ready to start up the partying!

At 4 in the afternoon the concerts started- featuring national musical groups “Percances” and “Mentados.” All along the Paseo de Los Turistas stages were set for “Los Mega Bares” (mega bars)- a concept that to me was unknown, until arriving here in Costa Rica- and which in reality, serve as the temporary extensions of the most popular discotheques here in Tiquicia. Along with the two biggest beer manufacturers in the country (Imperial and Pilsen), these clubs set up stages dedicated to parties and dancing. They’re surrounded by giant plasma screens that play videos and serve during light shows and as special effects.

As the sun drowned in the sea, it lit up the evening with its golden and purple hues, leaving Puntarenas in complete festival mode, with street dancing and you could almost just see “festival” and “party time” written all over the visitor’s faces.

While the town may lack 5-star hotels of international renown, the visitor WILL be able to find quality accommodations at an affordable price, and still enjoy this Pacific-side Costarican town. It’s also possible to jump on a ferry that goes to Paquera, located on the tip of the Guanacaste peninsula. In service daily and conveniently priced.

Pura vida!

Visit: www.puntarenas.com

Image: UniversoInmobiliario

Blogalaxia Tags: Costa Rica, Tourism, San José, Puntarenas, Carnival, Culture