Downtown Puerto Armuelles – Barrio Nacional
Downtown is made up of mostly small commercial shops and buildings. There are a few apartments and some living quarters may be located on the second floor of a business. No building in Puerto Armuelles is over two stories high. For a list of businesses in Puerto Armuelles, please see the Business Directory. Street vendors are common along the sides of the roads, which can often be one-way so watch for arrows painted on the street. There are usually no street signs indicating one direction only. Be very cautious when driving through the downtown area. During the day it is a bustle of activity, with a conglomerate of people, dogs, and bicycles vying for the narrow roadways. You must drive slowly and be alert!
Speaking of being cautious ~ Make sure you WATCH YOUR STEP when walking around Puerto Armuelles too! The sidewalks and streets often have unexpected dips, holes, or protruding objects.
For more Tips on Driving & Walking around Puerto click HERE.
There is a lot to see downtown. If you have a chance to stroll around town you will find a colorful assortment of residents, dogs, and vendors with everything from fresh vegetables to homemade trinkets. There are numerous small shops and little convenience stores where you can pop in for a cold soda or snack. Enjoy the ocean view from the promenade along the beach or relax under the mature trees in the central park. Have a meal at one of the restaurants in town, which you can find in the Business Directory.
If you would like to follow our Walking Tour #2, it will guide you through downtown, pointing out some of the interesting sites along the way. The tour starts at the Dolphin Monument and goes to the pier, then loops back. Find the self-guided tour HERE.
Thank you for all the hard work you are doing on this website. I’m going to be in Puerto next month. and I would love to download the self-guided tour of downtown. However, when I click on “here”, nothing happens. Would it be possible to get these directions via email?
Thanks again & I’m glad you worked out the downloads! Let us know if you have any questions before your trip to Puerto and we’ll try to provide the answers to make your trip the best experience ever.
All these new pictures and information are helping me a lot. Your website has become my morning newspaper.
Would it be possible for you to give driving directions from David Airport to Puerto Armuelles, including the best way to maneuver through town to get to San Vicente?
Thanks Sheryl!
From David Airport to Puerto Armuelles is pretty easy to follow if you request the route on Google Maps. Simply get on the Pan American Highway until you reach to the border of Costa Rica. Literally, right before driving into Costa Rica, turn left and it’s a straight shot to Puerto Armuelles. The whole trip is about 1 1/2 hours.
I can’t add a photo to this comment (as far as I can tell), so I will email you a map showing how to maneuver through town once you get here.