Puntarenas (canton)

Puntarenas
Cantón
Location of Puntarenas Canton in Puntarenas Province
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Puntarenas
Area
• Total	1,842.33 km^2 (711.33 sq mi)
Population (June 2013)
• Total	126,515
• Density	69/km^2 (180/sq mi)

Puntarenas is the first canton in the province of Puntarenas in Costa Rica. The canton covers an area of 1,842.33 km²,^[1] and has a population of 126,515.^[2] The provincial capital is the city of Puntarenas.

Geography

The canton includes areas on both sides of the Gulf of Nicoya. From the western coastline, the canton ranges eastward into the Cordillera de Tilarán to include the Monteverde region. The southern portion of the Nicoya Peninsula is also in the canton, including the popular tourist areas of Tambor, Montezuma and Malpais.

The canton of Puntarenas is subdivided into 16 distritos (Spanish: "districts"):

1. Puntarenas
2. Pitahaya
3. Chomes
4. Lepanto
5. Paquera
6. Manzanillo
7. Guacimal
8. Barranca
9. Monteverde
10. Isla de Coco
11. Cóbano
12. Chacarita
13. Isla Chira
14. Acapulco
15. El Roble
16. Arancibia

History

Puntarenas was first mentioned as a canton in a decree dated 7 December 1848.

References

1. Instituto Geográfico Nacional (IGN), 2001.
2. Estadísticas Vitales 2013 - INEC

Coordinates: 9°58′N 84°50′W / 9.967°N 84.833°W