| New Marina Is Open in Puntarenas, Costa Rica |
| By: Capt. Pat Rains | Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:00:00 AM |
| Last updated: Thursday, November 13, 2008 11:26:00 AM |
PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica — Puerto Azul Marina and Resort appears to have won the four-way race to open a new marina in Costa Rica.
 | | | Photo by: /www.CentralAmericanBoating.com | | More Slips for Costa Rica — Puerto Azul Marina has opened the first 55 of 90 floating slips, as part of the larger Puerto Azul Resort. Located in a sheltered lagoon north of Puntarenas, Puerto Azul is the second upscale marina with floating slips to locate in the Gulf of Nicoya. | | |
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The first 55 slips are already being occupied by cruising sailors and sportfishers, but Puerto Azul’s grand opening of the marina will be held in January 2009.
Located in the sheltered lagoon on the north side of the Puntarenas peninsula, this private marina encompasses three floating docks decked in teak, each with 30 finger slips for yachts up to 60 feet. According to marina officials, the GPS position is 09 degrees, 58 minutes, 944 seconds North Latitude; 84 degrees, 47 minutes, 916 seconds West Longitude; and the marina has 8-foot depths at MLLW.
Floating docks with a ramp to shore are a rarity in the Gulf of Nicoya, due to extreme tidal ranges. Puerto Azul is next door to the venerable Costa Rica Yacht Club, which has only moorings.
Both boating facilities are accessible by the Puntarenas Channel, which has about 8-foot maximum depth — but much less in some spots at low tide. The port captain’s office at Puntarenas announces channel depths and current on VHF Channel 16.
Costa Rica has long been famous for world-class sportfishing and recreational diving, so it has been growing in popularity as a year-round cruising destination, thanks to its location south of the hurricane belt.
The lagoon side of Puntarenas enjoys freedom from southerly swell and surge during summer storms. The only other marina with floating slips in the Gulf of Nicoya is Los Sueños Marina at Herradura.
Visiting boaters are using Puerto Azul’s shore power, water, 24-hour security, Internet service, showers and laundry — and by July, the first on-site restaurants will be open. There will also be a chandlery, a small shopping center and a 100-suite boutique hotel. The first of four seven-story towers of upscale condos is completed and in sales process.
This is a private marina, part of the Puerto Azul Resort, so condo buyers have first dibs to dock their boats. Meanwhile, slips not being occupied by condo owners are being rented to boaters visiting Puntarenas.
Three other marinas are speeding toward completion in Costa Rica: Marina Papagayo in Bahia Culebra, Marina Pez Vela at Quepos and Bahia Escondida Resort Marina in Golfito. We’ll have more news as they open.
For information on Puerto Azul Marina and Resort, visit www.puertoazulcr.com or call the resort’s Ft. Lauderdale office toll-free at (866) 790-2874.
This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of The Log Newspaper. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
