Puntarenas

Puntarenas is the capital city of the province of the same name, on the central Pacific of Costa Rica, laid out along a narrow tongue of sand that reaches into the Gulf of Nicoya. Popularly known as 'El Puerto' —and its inhabitants as 'porteños'— it owes its character to its dual condition as a historic port and a beach destination, with a life bound to the sea, fishing and tourism. It was for decades the country's main maritime outlet to the Pacific, and that port heritage still marks its urban and cultural identity.

The city's main sporting venue is the Miguel 'Lito' Pérez stadium, nicknamed 'La Olla Mágica' for the heat and the pressure of its pitch, named in 1974 in honour of a pioneering porteño footballer. It is home to Puntarenas Fútbol Club, founded in 2004, which went on to be crowned champion of the UNCAF Interclub Cup and national runner-up. The city has reinforced its sporting profile with major beach events: in 2025 it was the main host of the Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe de Playa, which brought together more than 1,500 athletes from some thirty countries across several disciplines.

In 2025, ACES América recognised Puntarenas as American Region of Sport, a title of regional scope that the network publishes in its own official register. The award recognises the sporting calling of a province devoted to the Pacific, with beach sport as its hallmark, and reinforces the Costa Rican presence in the continental network of ACES.