Typical farm at Guanacaste. Costa Rica. 
Puntarenas is a useful centre for many interesting excur¬ 
sions* The grim island of San Lucas at ithe mouth of the 
harbor, which serves as the nation's penal settlement, is open 
to visitors while the neighboring islands of Los Negritos and 
La Yuca are ideal spots for picnics. 
No more fish ever caiue out of the sea anywhere than 
comes out at Puntarenas. For the epicure there are lobsters, 
shrimps, crayfish, crabs and other delicacies. For the fisher¬ 
man there is deep-sea fishing equal to anything the world over, 
while still farther out at sea there are sharks and giant mantas 
(devilfish) to test the skill and daring. 
Steamships of many lines regularly call at Puntarenas' 
fine wharf and it may be that the tourist who has entered 
the country at Puerto Limon will like to leave by way of 
Puntarenas. One is as accessible to Panama as the other. 
Guanacaste 
Puntarenas is the door to Guanacaste, Costa Rica's fa¬ 
mous cattle country where gay cowboys drive their vasts herds 
across big ranches which seem to have no end and no beg¬ 
inning. Guanacaste is a real man's country and the visitor 
must be prepared to spend his days in the saddle in order to 
get around. But there are compensations to this primitive 
mode of travel in plenty. Fine hunting including deer and 
jaguars, fishing in the rivers, alligator shooting and, above 
all, a welcome for the visitor on the part of the people of the 
cattle country whose hospitality knows no bounds. 
In Guanacaste you will meet the real son of the soil, 
uncontaminated and unspoiled by modern civilization, who 
preserves the centuries-old native customs. This is the home of 
cowboys and bull-fighters. Thousands of fine cattle graze in 
32 
Gran Hotel Costa Rica. 
San Jose. 
horizon-wide green pastures whose aspect is little short of park- 
like. 
In Guanacaste will be found a very interesting variety 
of wild fauna which includes Puma, Deer, Boar, Wild Pig. 
Squirrels, Monkeys, Wild Turkey, Alligators, Rabbits, Ja¬ 
guars, Foxes, Possums, Tapirs, Coyotes, Pizotes , Quail, 
Pigeons, Herons, Ducks, Piches (waterfowl). Macaws and 
Eagles. The rivers abound with fish whose native names 
have no equivalent in English except perhaps the Salmonete 
(small salmon). No special license is required for fishing or 
shooting game but there is an unwritten law, observed by all 
good sportsmen, not to kill female deer, 
Guanacaste miav be reached from San Jose in about one 
hour by the fine planes of the local airplane services which 
call at all important towns and villages almost daily. 
Country Resorts 
El Rodeo and La Gloria are Costa Rica’s mountain ran¬ 
ches, within easy reach of San Jose, where one may enjoy all 
the delights of borseriding, fishing, swimming, hiking, and 
other outdoor sponts by day and at night relax amid an in¬ 
formal social atmosphere brightened by dances and concerts. 
The accommodations and cuisine at La Gloria and El Rodeo 
are unsurpassed and the visitor may eat either American or 
Costa Rican style. 
For the city worker in search of rest and health a week 
at either of these ranches will prove a blessing. 
(Separate illustrated booklets describing “El Rodeo and La Gloria 
in detail are obtained on application). 
33 
